"Sam": or The history of mystery./ By C. W. Webber.

" SAM:" OR, THIE HISTORY OF MIYSTERY.
The town meeting, the next day, sent a committee to the
the cornsigne es, to inquire definitely, whether or not they intended to resign. Upon receipt of an answer in the negative, the meeting dissolved without a word. This evidence
of a determination to act instead of resolving, struck terror
into the consignees. They presented a petition the next day,
to the governor and council, asking to resign themselves
and the property committed to their care, into the hands
"of his excellency and their honors," and praying them to
take measures for landing and securing the teas. The
council, led by Bowdoin, were very little inclined to interfere.
They deprecated the late riot at Clarke's house, at least in
words, and advised that the rioters be prosecuted; but they
asked further time to consider the petition. Several aljourlnments accordingly took place, and before any decision was
reached, one of the tea ships arrived. The council having
met next day, presented a paper to the governor, declinilng
to become parties to an unconstitutional attempt to levy
taxes, against which the General Court had so repeatedly
protested, or to make themselves chargeable for the tea, by
interfering to receive it. Meetings in all the neighboringr
towns had resolved to sustain Boston; and while the council
was thus declining to intermeddle with the matter, a mass
meeting, or "body," as they called themselves, of the people
of Boston and the neighboring towns, assembled in Faneuil
Hlall, sent for the owner of the tea ship, ordered her to be
moored at a certain wharf, and appointed a watch of twentyfive volunteers to watch her. it was resolved to send her
back with her cargo, and the master and the owner were
charged not to attempt, at their peril, to unlade her. The
consignees, among whom were two of the governor's sons,
frig,htened at these demonstrations, took refuge at the castle,
where was a regiment of British regulars. The "body"
having met again the next day, the governor sent the sheriff
of the county with a proclamation, declaring the meeting illegal, and ordering the people to disperse. They heard the
miessage, hissed it, and voted unanimously not to regard it.
The governor was powerless. He had ordered the Cadets,
his guard of honor, to be in readiness; but what could he
expect of a company commanded by Hancock? The troops
at the castle, and the ships of war in the harbor, had no
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