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for their part resented with scant courtesy。
On one occasion they said （the language being Otis's） in a concluding paragraph： 〃With regard to the rest of your Excellency's speech； we are sorry we are constrained to observe； that the general air and style of it savor much more of an act of free grace and pardon； than of a parliamentary address to the two Houses of Assembly； and we most sincerely wish your Excellency had been pleased to reserve it； if needful； for a proclamation。〃
The state papers on affairsat least that portion of them emanating from the legislative departmentwere； up to the year 1769； nearly all prepared by Mr。 Otis； but it was generally necessary to tone down the first drafts of his work。 For this duty the speaker （Thomas Cushing） and Samuel Adams were generally selected。 It was reckoned necessary to put the damper on the fire！
The popular tendency at this time was illustrated in a proposition made by Mr。 Otis to open the gallery of the House to such of the people as might wish to hear the debates。
Otis continued his correspondence； a great deal of which was official。 His style and spirit suited the temper of the representatives； and they kept him occupied as chairman of a committee to answer messages from the Government； and； indeed； messages from anybody who might assail the patriot party。
In the meantime the animosity between him and the Governor of the province waxed hot。 The Governor constantly charged the patriot leader with being an incendiary； and the latter replied in a manner to convict Governor Bernard of despotic usages and a spirit hostile to American liberty。
The next measure adopted by Parliament inimical to the colonies was the act of 1767 imposing duties on glass； paper； painters' colors； and tea； and appointing a commission for the special purpose of collecting the revenues。 The commissioners so appointed were to reside in the colonies。
This measure； hardly less odious than the Stamp Act； was strangely enough resisted with less vehemence。 Several of the popular leaders were disposed to counsel moderation。 Among these was Otis himself。 But nearly all outside of the official circles were united against the new act。 They formed associations and signed agreements not to use any of the articles on which the duty was imposed。 This was equivalent to making the act of no effect。
In the legislative assembly of 1768； Mr。 Otis was appointed with Samuel Adams to prepare an important paper on the state of public affairs。 This they did by drawing up a petition which has been regarded as one of the ablest of its kind。
There is some controversy as to who actually wrote this famous paper； but it appears to have been done mostly by Mr。 Otis； though the refining hand of Samuel Adams may be clearly seen in the style。 The publication of the paper still further strained the relations between Governor Bernard and the representative branch。
Meanwhile； the news of the assembling of the Colonial Congress in New York had produced a sensation in England； and the petition of the Massachusetts legislature added to the temper of the ministry。 In May of 1768； Bernard sent to the assembly a requisition that that body should rescind the resolution which they had passed for sending a circular letter to the other colonies。
To this Mr。 Otis； acting for the assembly； prepared a reply which； while it was not less severe； was more respectful and concessive than were most of his communications。 At the conclusion he says：
〃We have now only to inform your Excellency； that this House have voted not to rescind； as required； the resolution of the last House； and that； upon a decision on the question； there were ninety…two nays and seventeen yeas。〃
In this manner the controversy dragged on through the years 1768…69； but in the summer of the former year an event occurred which roused the people to a high pitch of excitement。 Some of the custom…house officers seized a vessel belonging to John Hancock。 For this they were assailed by a mob which burned the boat of the collector of customs。 The officers fled to the castle。 It was for this business that a body of British soldiers was first sent to Boston。
On the 12th of September； 1768； a great meeting was held in Faneuil Hall； but the crowd was such as to make necessary and adjournment to Sewall's Meeting…house。 James Otis was moderator of the meeting。 The presence of British soldiers； evidently sent to Boston to enforce the decrees of an arbitrary government； was sufficient to bring into play all the elements of patriotism。
The British soldier's coat in the old town was of the same color as the scarf which the picador shakes in the face of the enraged animal！ The effect in either case was the same。
At the meeting just mentioned； Mr。 Otis presided and spoke。 A report of what occurred was written （presumptively by some enemy of the patriots）； and was sent as a report to the British ministry。 In this Otis was charged with saying； 〃In case Great Britain is not disposed to redress our grievances after proper application； the people have nothing more to do； but to gird the sword on the thigh and shoulder the musket。〃 Doubtless this report was a perversion of the truth。
Other meetings were held； and resolutions were the order of the day。 On the 22nd of June； Faneuil Hall was again crowded。 James Otis； Thomas Cushing； Samuel Adams； and John Hancock were selected as representatives to meet Committees of other towns in a convention。 At this meeting it was voted that the people should arm themselves。 The convention met with delegates present from nearly ninety towns。 The movement against the ministerial scheme had already become revolutionary。
Meanwhile in 1768； the general assembly was unceremoniously prorogued by Governor Bernard； but in May of the following year； the body was re…convened。 On the meeting day the building was surrounded with British troops。
Otis made an address； declaring that free legislation would be impossible in the presence of an armed soldiery。 He moved the appointment of a committee to remonstrate with the Governor； and to request the withdrawal of the soldiers。 To this the Governor replied evasively that he had not the authority to order the withdrawal of the military。 Otis in answer reported that the Governor's reply was according to English law； more impossible than the thing which the Assembly had petitioned for。
The matter resulted in the adjournment of the body to meet at Cambridge； in the chapel of Harvard College。 Assembled at that place the legislature was addressed by Otis with impassioned eloquence。 The people as well as the legislators were gathered。
〃The times are dark and trying；〃 said the speaker。 〃We may soon be called on in turn to act or to suffer。〃 〃You；〃 he continued； 〃should study and emulate the models of ancient patriotism。 To you your country may one day look for support； and you should recollect that the noblest of all duties is to serve that country； and if necessary to devote your lives in her cause。〃
The House soon prepared a paper to be sent to the British Ministry denouncing the administration of Governor Bernard and protesting against the further presence of a British Soldiery in Boston。 On the 27th of June； 1769； the representatives went further and prepared a petition； praying for the removal of Bernard from the government。 This they might well do for the king had already recalled him！
The Governor went away in such odor as the breezes of the Old Bay have hardly yet dissipated。 He went away； but in the fall added his compliments to the Americans by the publication of sundry letters in which they were traduced and vilified。 To this James Otis and Samuel Adams； were appointed a committee to reply。 They did so in a pamphlet entitled 〃An Appeal to the World； or a Vindication of the Town of Boston；〃 etc。
It was in these tumultuous and honorable labors and excitements extending over a period of fully ten years that the intellect of James Otis became overstrained and； at length； warped from its purpose。
We may regard his rational career as ending with the year 1769。 In September of this year it was noticed that he had become excitable； and that his natural eccentricity was accented at times to the extent of rendering his conduct irrational。
It was at this time that he published in the Boston 〃Gazette〃 what he called an advertisement； in which he placarded the four commissioners of customs； on the ground that they had assailed his character； declaring that they had formed a confederacy of villainy； and warning the officers of the crown to pay no attention to them。
On the evening of the following day； Mr。 Otis went into a coffee…house where John Robinson； one of the commissioners whom he had lampooned； was sitting。 On entering the room； Mr。 Otis was attacked by Robinson who struck him with his cane。 Otis struck back。 There was a battle。 Those who were present were Robinson's friends。 The fight became a melee。
A young man named Gridley undertook to assist Otis； but was himself overpowered and pitched out of the house。 Mr。 Otis was seriously wounded in the head； and was taken to his house； bleeding and exhausted。 The principle wound a