of the expediency of
proroguing, and in effect of putting an end to, an American legislative
assembly."

The Lieutenant-Governor had now to meet the severest pressure brought to
bear on him by the Tory faction for the employment of the troops,
occasioned by a violation on the part of his sons of their agreement as
to a sale of goods. They had stipulated with the merchants that an
importation of teas made by them should remain unsold, and, as security,
had given to the committee of inspection the key of the building in
which it was stored. Yet they secretly made sales, broke the lock, and
delivered the teas. This was done when the non-importation agreement was
the paramount measure,--when fidelity to it was patriotism, was honor,
was union, was country,--and when all eyes were looking to see Boston
faithful. "If this agreement of the merchants," said "Determinatus" in
the "Boston Gazette," "is of that consequence to all America which our
brethren in all the other governments and in Great Britain itself think
it to be,--if the fate of unborn millions is suspended upon it, verily
it behooves not the merchants only, but every individual of every class
in city and country to aid and support them, and peremptorily to insist
upon its being strictly adhered to. And yet what is most astonishing is,
that some two or three persons, of very little consequence in
themselves, have dared openly to give out that they will vend the goods
they have imported, though they have solemnly pledged their faith to the
body of merchants that they should remain in store till a general
importation takes place." The merchants met in Faneuil Hall in a large
and commanding gathering; for it was composed of the solid men of the
town. After deliberation, they proceeded in a body to the residence of
the Lieutenant-Governor to remonstrate against the course of his sons.
Meantime, the ultra Loyalists pressed him to order the troops to
disperse the meeting; the Commissioners savagely urged, that "there
could not be a better time for trying the strength of the government";
and others said, "It were best to bring matters to extremities." The
commanding officers of the troops now expected work, and prepared for
it. Dalrymple dealt out twelve rounds of cartridges to the men. But
Hutchinson involuntarily shrank from the bloody business of this
programme. He tried other means than force. He appealed to the justices
of the peace, and through the sheriff he comman