n England, will have a tendency to seduce the people from their
allegiance to a great principle. How to thwart the plans of the
ministry is the all-important question for us to consider. Mr.
Franklin writes that several vessels are soon to leave London for
different colonial ports--three of them for Boston."

"There is an old song," said Doctor Warren, "about a crafty old spider
inviting a silly little fly into his parlor. I don't believe the fly
will accept the invitation this time."

"The consignees," said Mr. Adams, "are Elisha and Thomas Hutchinson,
the governor's two sons; Richard Clark and sons, Benjamin Faneuil,
Junior, and Joshua Winslow,--all honorable merchants; but their
sympathies, as we know, are not with the people. If we allow the tea
to be landed, I fear the consequences. We must not permit the levying
of a tax, without our consent, in any form."

"I move," said John Rowe, "that we do not permit the landing of any
tea."

The meeting voted to adopt the motion. The formal business ended, they
refilled their pipes, helped themselves to crackers and cheese, punch
and flip.

* * * * *

Berinthia Brandon, the following week, could not understand why Tom
wanted Dinah to make him a pot of paste; nor why he was out so late at
night,--not getting home till three o'clock in the morning. None of
the watchmen, going their rounds, saw anybody pasting handbills on the
walls of the houses, but everybody saw the bills in the morning.

TO THE FREEMEN OF THIS AND NEIGHBORING TOWNS.

GENTLEMEN,--You are desired to meet at Liberty Tree, this
day at twelve o'clock noon, then and there to hear the
persons to whom the tea shipped by the East India Company is
consigned make a public resignation of their office on oath
as consignees; and also swear that they will reship any tea
that may be consigned to them by said company, by the first
vessel sailing for London.

O. C.
_Secretary._

BOSTON, NOV. 3, 1773.

_Show us the man that dare take this down!!!!!_

Early in the morning the town crier was jingling his bell and calling
upon the people to be at the Liberty Tree at the appointed hour.
Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Doctor Warren, and William Molineux were
there, and a great crowd. The consignees were assembled in Richard
Clark's store. The people voted to choose a committee to inform them
that, if they di