inflammatory speeches that had been
made, but could find no person willing to give it.

A quiet week followed. The tea-ships were nearing the harbor, and the
journals were filled with political essays generally, strong, well put,
and elevating in tone. Locke, in the "Boston Gazette," said: "It will be
considered by Americans whether the _dernier ressort_, and only asylum
for their liberties, is not an American Commonwealth." It was evident to
the leaders on both sides, that a crisis was at hand. Hutchinson foresaw
that this "would prove a more difficult affair than any which had
preceded it;" and in his letters admits that the mass of the people
acted in the conviction that their rights were invaded. Believing the
supremacy of parliament was in issue, he determined, though standing
almost alone, and in opposition to the advice of his political friends,
to make no concession. In a letter written at this period, to Lord
Dartmouth, Secretary for the Colonies, he describes, with minuteness,
the state of political affairs. He says:

... "At present, the spirits of the people in the town of
Boston are in a great ferment. Everything that has been in
my power, without the Council, I have done, and continue to
do, for the preservation of the peace and good order of the
town. If I had the aid, which I think the Council might
give, my endeavors would be more effective. They profess to
disapprove of the tumultuous, violent proceedings of the
people, but they wish to see the professed end of the people
in such proceedings attained in the regular way; and,
instead of joining with me in proper measures to discourage
an opposition to the landing of the teas expected, one and
another of the gentlemen, of the greatest influence,
intimate that the best thing that can be done to quiet the
people, would be the refusal of the gentlemen to whom the
teas are consigned, to execute the trust; and they declare
they would do it if it was their case, and would advise all
their connexions to do it. Nor will they ever countenance a
measure which shall tend to carry into execution an act of
parliament which lays taxes upon the colonies, for the
purpose of a revenue. The same principle prevails with by
far the greater part of the merchants who, though in general
they declare against mobs and violence, yet they as
generally wish the tea may not be imported. T