The Rebels; or, Boston before the Revolution/Chapter I
Geve place, you ladies, and be gone.
Boast not yourselves at all,
For here at hand approacheth one
Whose face will stayne you all.
Song of the Sixteenth Century
There was hurrying to and fro through the principal
streets of Boston on the night of the 14th of August,
1765. A brilliant bonfire was blazing on Fort Hill.
Column after column of light died away to rise again
with redoubled grandeur, and at each succeeding burst
of flame, the loud shouts of the rabble were heard with
dreadful distinctness.
At this time, Henry Osborne was passing down Union-street, with the rapid pace of one who struggles with the intensity of thought. He leaned a moment on Union Stone, listening to the distant tumult, as he said, "Be the sin on the heads of those who have provoked this,---I have done all I could to prevent it."
As he spoke, a graceful stranger, in a rich military undress, stept from a neighbouring court. The moon shone full on the countenances of both, and as he approached, he hesitatingly said, "Mr. Osborne, I believe."
"You are welcome, Captain Somerville," replied the other, giving him his hand.
"Thank you," rejoined the stranger. "I have found you very opportunely; for I have been some time in search of a house which every child in this loyal town might point out to me. The spirit of rebellion, however, has induced some of your promising lads to mislead me by four contradictory directions; and I am not, even now, certain that I am in the vicinity of Governor Hutchinson."
"We are very near his dwelling," replied Osborne; "and I myself will accompany you thither, to meet my sister, whom I left there this afternoon."
A few questions relative to the riot were asked by the officer, and obviously avoided by his companion, before they arrived at Friezel Court. [1]
Both paused a moment opposite the Lieutenant Governor's elegant mansion, struck by the uncommon beauty, and almost fearful stillness of the scene. The dim light of a lamp suspended from the roof gave a rich twilight view of the interior, and displayed a spacious arch, richly carved and gilded, in all the massy magnificence of the times, and most tastefully ornamented with busts and statues. The light streamed full on the soul-beaming countenance of Cicero, and playfully flickered on the brow of Tulliola, the tenderness of whose diminutive appellation delightfully associates the father with the orator, and blends intellectual vigour with the best affections of the heart. The silence was so deep that the gentlemen could distinctly hear a light, quick step, as a young lady passed from room to room, and paused beneath the arch in a listening attitude.
The exquisite proportion of her aerial little figure, and her beauty, pale and unearthly as Guido has represented his Madonnas, showed finely beneath the severely intellectual brow of Cicero. In the living figure, the soul was shrouded in its loveliest and most transparent veil; in the marble, its glowing fires seemed gleaming through the shrine they were consuming.
"It is my sister Grace," whispered Osborne.
"Grace, indeed!" ejaculated his companion, in a tone of fervent admiration.
"Hark!" said she, raising her beautiful finger, and speaking to some one behind her,---"as I live, there is the murmur of voices now. How could the servants leave us thus."
She turned, and the last fold of her blue drapery was just disappearing, when Henry exclaimed, "It is I, dear Grace."
The tiny beauty bounded to the door. "I am so glad you have come,---we have been so frightened,"--- said she; and she paused and blushed deeply as she noticed the handsome stranger.
"My sister, Captain Somerville," said Henry, evidently proud of her heightened loveliness.
A dignified courtesy answered the courtly salutation of the officer; and her brother, turning to two other ladies that now advanced, said, "Her friend Lucretia Fitzherbert, and Madam Sandford."
The ceremony of introduction over, Miss Sandford opened a door on the right hand, and led the way into a dimly-lighted parlour. The pannelling was of the dark, richly-shaded mahogany of St. Domingo, and ornamented with the same elaborate skill as the hall they had just quitted. The busts of George III. and his young queen were placed in front of a splendid mirror, with bronze lamps on each side, covered with beautiful transparencies, one representing the destruction of the Spanish armada, the other giving a fine view of a fleet of line-of-battle ships drawn up before the Rock of Gibraltar. On either side of the room there were arches surmounted with the arms of England, in the recesses of which the company were soon seated, forming a group of exceedingly varied and interesting character. The sharp countenance and prim figure of Miss Sandford, gave her the air of an antediluvian image; the inelegant form and very plain face of Lucretia, though transiently lighted up with expression that almost atoned for the want of beauty, formed a contrast extremely favourable to the etherial loveliness of Grace; and the Grecian outline of Henry's mild countenance served to place in bold relief the aquiline nose, and the open, fearless brow of Somerville, shaded by a profusion of curls, as dark and clustering as the beautiful locks of the Roman Antinous.
"Uncle Hutchinson has expected you several days," said Lucretia, as Somerville seated himself. "You wrote that you should sail in the William and Mary,--- and a vessel arrived several days since, which had spoken her below the harbour."
"It was many miles below the harbour, however," answered Somerville; "and I was becalmed, according to my usual fortune. After so many delays, I am really anxious to meet my uncle."
"He would, of course, have been among the first to welcome you, had he been at home," she replied; "but, followed by all the servants, he has gone to watch the bonfires on Fort Hill; where, I suppose, either indignation or anxiety has led two-thirds of the population."
"I have heard some brief hints of this day's uproar," rejoined the Englishman; "but I could not have imagined any cause powerful enough to seduce Governor Hutchinson from the place where beauty claimed his protection."
"Nor would there have been, in my day," said Miss Sandford, in the squeaking tones of antiquated coquetry. "It was a toilsome process to please a lady when I was young; but times are sadly altered now."
"I dare say Cain scolded his wife about the degeneracy of the ladies in Nod," said Lucretia, laughing.
"And Cain might have reproached his mother, since, lacking mortals, she carried on her dangerous flirtation with Satan," continued Somerville.
No one smiled at this speech, for its levity was offensive to those whose associations with the Bible were all sacred; and to Henry Osborne, the irreverence it argued, was peculiarly painful.
Anxious to interrupt the awkward silence, Lucretia hastily said, "My uncle left the servants with us; but, after all, it seems that bonnets and hats cover brains of very similar formation; for, one by one, the eagerness of curiosity tempted them from us, till we were left to the protection of aunt Sandford."
"And really we have been much frightened," added Grace. "I had no idea the citizens of Boston could utter sounds so terrific as those we have heard to-night"
"It would be well if their echo could reach across the Atlantic," observed her brother.
"And what would be heard, if they did?" asked Somerville.
"Liberty and property! No stamps!" exclaimed Henry, with startling energy.
A darkening expression passed over the fine face of Somerville, as rapidly as the shadows of autumnal clouds over the sunny brow of some verdant hill.
"Then you," said he, "are among the unhappy men who encourage popular outrage, and will thus drive the mother country to severity repugnant to her nature?"
"You talk sir, as many others do, who know nothing of the subject," rejoined Henry. "You mistake the unanimous voice of a free and intelligent people, for the factious zeal of a few office-seeking demagogues."
"And what farther proof need we than James Otis, the Aaron of your tribes, the Goliath of your hosts. Had his father been chief justice of the Supreme Court, the world would have lost his fiery speech against writs of assistance, as well as his never ceasing clamour about taxation without representation."
"That is a common, but most unjust slander upon the character of a generous and noble-minded man. He is disgusted, as every honest individual must be, with that rapacity for office, which distinguishes some friends of the administration; but he is too high minded to place the interest of his family above that of his country. Besides, if avarice or ambition guides the course of James Otis, why is he not a tory? The ministry would gladly buy him over, on any conditions."
"Crystals would fetch the price of diamonds if they were as rare," replied Somerville. "England has quite too many great men, to come and purchase in such a market as her Colonies."
"We have some, however, that Britain herself might be proud to boast. Such men as Adams, Hawley, Quincy, Hancock, Mayhew, and Otis, would even there obtain the influence and reputation which talents, joined with integrity, never fail to procure from those who can appreciate them."
"Stop now, dear brother," said Grace, playfully putting her hand before his mouth. Governor Hutchinson is coming, and I cannot have you always disputing about subjects on which you will never agree."
The shadow of the Chief Justice [2] darkened the threshold as she finished speaking. He bowed to the ladies with all the Parisian gallantry that usually characterized his manner; and after warm congratulations had passed between him and his nephew, he inquired,
"What news from England?"
"Nothing new to you, I imagine, sir. Lord Bute's ministry continues to keep the king unpopular among the commons. Chatham holds the people in the hollow of his hand; and if his demands for himself and friends were not so excessively exorbitant, a coalition of parties would no doubt be formed, and he would be, what he has long desired to be, secretary of state, and disposer-general of offices."
"And the queen and the young princes?" said Hutchinson.
"Her popularity is unbounded. She and her rosy children unite all parties. Prince George is as handsome and clever a scion as ever sprung from a royal root; the Duke of York is healthy and promising; and a third is now added to the charming family group."
"And the king is as gallant as ever, I suppose?"
"Too much so to leave three distressed damsels to guard a house on such a night as this, I fancy," said Lucretia, smiling.
"Nay," said the Lieutenant-Governor, "I will not plead guilty to that charge. I left the servants with you, and I knew the rioters were employed at a safe distance. Besides it would have been ungenerous in me to have deserted Mr. Oliver, if there was the least chance of being useful to him. Then there is your friend Doctor Byles, Lucretia, it behoved me to inquire about his safety; for we well know that his wit and his loyalty make him very abominable in the eyes of this liberty-mad race."
Mr. Osborne frowned, and Grace looked more grave than usual.
"`Oh, what a deal of scorn looks beautiful in the contempt and anger of that lip,"' said the gallant Chief Justice, handing her a handkerchief that had just fallen on the floor. "But really, Mr. Osborne, the scenes of this day and night must convince the most obstinate whig that the designs of the popular party in these Colonies are altogether subversive of good government, and must eventually bring ruin on the people."
"I know not the extent of your meaning, when you speak of the popular party, sir," replied Osborne; "but of one thing I am very certain, and that is, that outrages of any kind have never been incited, and will never be countenanced, by such men as Adams, Quincy, Hancock, and Whiting. Indeed it is worse than foolish, Governor Hutchinson, to trace the present commotions to the party spirit of individuals. The truth is, whenever government heap up combustibles, a hand will always be found ready to kindle them; and if it were otherwise, they would take fire spontaneously."
"And what damage has been occasioned by the explosion at this time," inquired Somerville.
"They have merely suspended images of Lord Bute and your cousin Oliver, upon the Liberty tree; razed Oliver's stamp office to the ground; carried the images and timber to Fort Hill; burned them before his house; pulled down his fences; broken his windows, and destroyed some furniture;" answered the Lieutenant-Governor.
"This will doubtless sound well at St. James's, and will mightily serve to heighten the king's respect for Bostonian loyalty," said the young officer.
"It may at least serve to convince his most gracious majesty that we are in earnest," rejoined Henry.
The politics of the gentlemen and the confidential tête-à-tête of the ladies were here interrupted by the entrance of fruit and wine. A light and general conversation ensued, and in a few moments Grace rose to depart.
"You have forbidden politics once this evening, Miss Osborne," said Somerville; "and I perceive by your glances at your brother, that you think us most disobedient. However, I trust you will forgive what the circumstances of the night seem to have compelled; and permit me to say, that I am particularly rejoiced that in meeting Mr. Osborne, I not only meet an old friend, whom I had known in England, but likewise your brother."
Grace slightly blushed, and said she hoped no unhappy political divisions would interrupt their former friendship.
Osborne warmly seconded his sister's wish, and extended a polite invitation to the uncle of his friend.
"I see no reason why you should leave us at all to-night, my dear Miss Osborne," said Hutchinson.
"Why Grace would think me a lunatic if I should propose to her to live one night without her father's kiss and blessing" said Lucretia.
"And not far from right, my mad-capped niece," replied he, playfully touching her shoulder. "However, as you both will; you know your lovely friend is always welcome twenty-four hours in a day."
Grace smiled and bowed. Somerville took his hat, said that nothing but such a cause could tempt a few moments' absence, and joined the young people as they left the house.
Footnotes:
- [1] Now called Garden Court Street.
- [2] At the period I have mentioned, Bernard was governor, and Hutchinson lieutenant-governor. Among the various offices held by the latter, was that of chief justice. I have applied his different titles indiscriminately.