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tion。
As ominous storms threatened the common weal； he found less delight in his library than in the stern strife of the forum。
As he prognosticated the coming tempest and comprehended its fearful issue； he became transformed in aspect like one inspired。
His appearance in public always commanded prompt and profound attention； he both awed and delighted the multitudes whom his bold wisdom so opportunely fortified。
〃Old South；〃 the 〃Old Court House；〃 and the 〃Cradle of liberty；〃 in Boston； were familiar with his eloquence； that resounded like a cheerful clarion in 〃days that tried men's souls。〃 It was then that his great heart and fervid intellect wrought with disinterested and noble zeal； his action became vehement； and his eyes flashed with unutterable fire； his voice； distinct； melodious； swelling； and increasing in height and depth with each new and bolder sentiment； filled； as with the palpable presence of a deity； the shaking walls。 The listeners became rapt and impassioned like the speaker； till their very breath forsook them。
He poured forth a 〃flood of argument and passion〃 which achieved the sublimes〃 earthly good； and happily exemplified the description which Percival has given of indignant patriotism expressed in eloquence：
〃Its words Are few； but deep and solemn； and they break Fresh from the fount of feeling； and are full Of all that passion； which； on Carmel； fired The holy prophet； when his lips were coals； The language winged with terror； as when bolts Leap from the brooding tempest； armed with wrath Commissioned to affright us； and destroy。〃E。 L。 Magoon。
OTIS COMPARED WITH AMERICAN ORATORS。
〃His eloquence； like that of his distinguished successors； was marked by a striking individuality。
〃It did not partake largely of the placid firmness of Samuel Adams； or of the intense brilliancy and exquisite taste of the younger Quincy； or the subdued and elaborate beauty of Lee； or the philosophical depth of John Adams； or the rugged and overwhelming energy of Patrick Henry； though he； most of all Americans； resembled the latter。〃E。 L。 Magoon。
OTIS COMPARED WITH ENGLISH ORATORS。
〃Compared with English orators；〃 Dr。 Magoon says； 〃our great countryman was not unlike Sheridan in natural endowment。
〃Like him； he was unequaled in impassioned appeals to the general heart of mankind。
〃He swayed all by his electric fire； charmed the timid； and inspired the weak； subdued the haughty； and enthralled the prejudiced。
〃He traversed the field of argument and invective as a Scythian warrior scours the plain； shooting most deadly arrows when at the greatest speed。
〃He rushed into forensic battle； fearless of all consequences； and as the ancient war…chariot would sometimes set its axle on fire by the rapidity of its own movement； so would the ardent soul of Otis become ignited and fulminate with thought； as he swept irresistibly to the goal。
〃When aroused by some great crisis； his eloquent words were like bolts of granite heated in a volcano； and shot forth with unerring aim； crashing where they fell。〃
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE。
In respect to physical ability； Otis was happily endowed。 One who knew him well has recorded； that 〃he was finely formed； and had an intelligent countenance： his eye； voice； and manner were very impressive。
〃The elevation of his mind； and the known integrity of his purposes； enabled him to speak with decision and dignity； and commanded the respect as well as the admiration of his audience。
〃His eloquence showed but little imagination； yet it was instinct with the fire of passion。〃
〃It may be not unjustly said of Otis； as of Judge Marshall； that he was one of those rare beings that seem to be sent among men from time to time； to keep alive our faith in humanity。
〃He had a wonderful power over the popular feelings； but he employed it only for great public benefits。 He seems to have said to himself； in the language of the great master of the maxims of life and conduct：
〃This above all；to thine own self be true； And it must follow； as the night the day； Thou canst not then be false to any man。〃
PORTRAIT OF OTIS。
The portrait of James Otis； Jr。； published as a frontispiece to this sketch； is from the oil…painting loaned to the Bostonian Society； by Harrison Gray Otis； of Winthrop； Massachusetts。 The painting from which it is taken； now hanging in the Old State House of Boston； is a reproduction of the original portrait by I。 Blackburn； to whom Mr。 Otis sat for his portrait in 1755。 The original in possession of Mrs。 Rogers； a descendant of James Otis； may be seen at her residence； No。 8 Otis Place； Boston。 But the original is not so well adapted as is the copy to photographic reproduction。 The two portraits are identical in feature and character； but the original having a light background offends the camera。
THE SOURCE AND OCCASION OF THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION。
〃The question is； perhaps more curious than profitable； that relates to the source and occasion of the first of that series of events which produced the war of the Revolution。 Men have often asked； what was its original cause； and who struck the first blow？ This inquiry was well answered by President Jefferson； in a letter to Dr。 Waterhouse of Cambridge； written March 3rd； 1818。
〃'I suppose it would be difficult to trace our Revolution to its first embryo。 We do not know how long it was hatching in the British cabinet； before they ventured to make the first of the experiments which were to develop it in the end； and to produce complete parliamentary supremacy。
〃'Those you mention in Massachusetts as preceding the Stamp Act might be the first visible symptoms of that design。 The proposition of that Act； in 1764； was the first here。 Your opposition； therefore； preceded ours； as occasion was sooner given there than here； and the truth； I suppose； is； that the opposition； in every colony； began whenever the encroachment was presented to it。
〃'This question of priority is as the inquiry would be； who first of the three hundred Spartans offered his name to Leonidas。 I shall be happy to see justice done to the merits of all。'〃
〃In the primitive opposition made by Otis to the arbitrary acts of Trade； aided by the Writs of Assistance； he announced two maxims which lay at the foundation of all the subsequent war； one was； that 'taxation without representation was tyranny；' the other； 'that expenditures of public money without appropriations by the representatives of the people； were arbitrary； and therefore unconstitutional。 '〃
〃This early and acute sagacity of our statesman； led Burke finely to describe the political feeling in America as follows；
〃'In other countries； the people； more simple； of a less mercurial cast； judge of an ill principle in government； only by an actual grievance； here they anticipate the evil； and judge of the pressure of the grievance； by the badness of the principle。
〃'They augur misgovernment at a distance； and snuff the approach of tyranny in every tainted breeze。'〃E。 L。 Magoon。
STAMPS AND THE STAMP ACT。
During Robert Walpole's administration ＇1732＇； a stamp duty was proposed。 He said 〃I will leave the taxation of America to some of my successors； who have more courage than I have。〃
Sir William Keith； governor of Pennsylvania； proposed a tax in 1739。 Franklin thought it just； when a delegate in the Colonial Congress at Albany； in 1754。 But when it was proposed to Pitt in 1759 the great English statesman said： 〃I will never burn my fingers with the American stamp act。〃
THE STAMPS。
The stamps were upon blue paper； and were to be attached to every piece of paper or parchment； on which a legal instrument was written。 For these stamps the Government charged specific prices； for example； for a common property deed； one shilling and sixpence。
THE MINUTE…MAN OF THE REVOLUTION。
The Minute…man of the Revolution！ He was the old； the middle…aged； and the young。 He was Capt。 Miles； of Concord； who said that he went to battle as he went to church。 He was Capt。 Davis； of Acton； who reproved his men for jesting on the march。 He was Deacon Josiah Haynes； of Sudbury； 80 years old； who marched with his company to the South Bridge at Concord； then joined in the hot pursuit to Lexington； and fell as gloriously as Warren at Bunker Hill。 He was James Hayward； of Acton； 22 years old； foremost in that deadly race from Concord to Charlestown； who raised his piece at the same moment with a British soldier； each exclaiming； 〃You are a dead man！〃 The Briton dropped； shot through the heart。
James Hayward fell mortally wounded。 〃Father；〃 he said； 〃I started with forty balls； I have three left。 I never did such a day's work before。 Tell mother not to mourn too much； and tell her whom I love more than my mother； that I am not sorry I turned out。〃George W。 Curtis。
THE BOSTON COMMON SCHOOLS。
The Boston Common Schools were the pride of the town。 They were most jealously guarded； and were opened each day with public prayer。
They were the nurseries of a true democracy。 In them the men who played the most important part in the Revolutionary period received their early education。
The Adamses； Chancey； Coop