TEA LEAVES: - Yesterday Image

At this meeting, a Tory handbill, called the "Tradesmen's Protest," against the
proceedings of the merchants on the subject of tea importation, was introduced. After the
reading, without comment, the tradesmen present were desired to collect themselves at
the south side of the hall, where[xxx] the question was put whether they acknowledged
the "Tradesmen's Protest," and the whole, amounting to at least four hundred, voted in the
negative. The paper, its printer, and those who circulated it, were denounced as base,
false and scandalous. This gave a finishing blow to the "Protest," of which nothing more
was heard.
After voting that it was the just expectation of the town that no one of its merchants
should, under any pretext whatever, import any tea liable to duty, the meeting adjourned
until three o'clock.
At that hour there was again a full assembly. The committee reported that they had
communicated the resolves of the town to the Messrs. Clarke and Mr. Faneuil, who
informed them that they must consult Thomas and Elisha Hutchinson, the other
consignees, who were at Milton, and could not give an answer until the following
Monday. Samuel Adams, Joseph Warren, and Molineux were then desired to acquaint
Messrs. Clarke and Faneuil, that the town expected an immediate answer from them. This
was very soon received, and pronounced unsatisfactory, by a unanimous vote. John
Hancock, John Pitts, Samuel Adams, Samuel Abbott, Joseph Warren, William Powell,
and Nathaniel Appleton,[8] were chosen a committee to wait on the[xxxi] Hutchinsons,
and request an immediate resignation, and the meeting adjourned until the next day.
On Saturday, Faneuil Hall was again crowded. The committee reported that it could not
find Elisha Hutchinson, either at Milton or Boston. Thomas Hutchinson, Jr., informed
them, in a letter, that when he and his brother were appointed factors, and the tea arrived,
they would be sufficiently informed to answer the request of the inhabitants.
This reply stirred up some of the hot blood in the assembly, and a cry of "to arms! to
arms!" was received with applause and clapping of hands. Discretion, as usual, prevailed,
and the meeting voted that the replies were "daringly affrontive" to the town, and then
dissolved. The governor tried to collect evidence of the 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