The Litchfield County post., 1827-09-20

rlLual eIcVatlOn winch Lney suggest L SL tHelF
spirit is so idiomatic to Greece, that though
you might find an English version of Homer
moving even illiterate tastes to ccstacy, yet If
Milton had translated Pindar, he could not
have made him popular. TIC.
THROWING THE TEA OVERHEARD.
[From the July number ofFlnts Western Monthly
Review.l
~ These reflections occur
red to US, in consequence of meeting the
other day with person, and probably the
only surviving one, who took a part in
throwing the tea overheard from the Brit
ish ships in Boston Harbour, -undoubte
ly one of the measures which precipitated
the Revolution His name is Joshua Wy
eth, relative of the celebrated John Wy
eth, of Cambridge, whom every Harvard
scholar of the times. of the venerable Will
lard and Tappan, so we'll remembers. He
lives in this city, is turned of seventy-6ve
years, appears to be uncommonly cheerful
although it is believed his circumstances
are Strengthened. His simple narrative
gave US vivid impressions of the feelings
which actuated his fellow townsmen, on
the occasion of bringing the tea into Bos-
ton harbour. News of the most interest,"
ing nature transpired every day. Never
was period so full of rumors and reports,
which had not yet acquired the horrible
and bloody interest to unfit them for the
tea-table. The patriots saw that the fair
could not resist the seasoning Of the fra
grant beverage, with the discussion of the
themes of universal interest, and it was de-
termned that they should not be led into
such an irresistible temptation, and that it
should be removed by throwing the tea o.
verboard. 1t was proposed that young
men not much known in town, and not liza
bic to be easily recognized, should lead in
the business. Our narrator believes that
most of the persons selected for the occa-
sion were apprentices and journeymen !;
not a few of them, as was the case with
himself, living with tory masters. He had
but few hours warning of what was in
tended to be done. The part which he
took in the business, is related as fol-
lows, and nearly in his own words;
/ laboured as Journeyman Blacksmith
with Western & Gridley, blacksmiths by
trade and Baptists' by profession. West
ern, at the time, was neutral, but after
wards became tory. Our numbers were
between % and 80. Of my associates, l
only remember the names of Cunningham,
Mead, Martin, and Grant. We were met
together one evening, talking over the tyr
amy of the British Government, such as
the duties, shutting up the Port of Boston,
the numbering of Mr.. Gfay's family, send
ing people to England for trial, and sun
dry other acts of oppression. Our indig-
nation was increased by having heard of
the arrival of the tea ships at this time.
We agreed that if the tea was landed, the
people could not withstand the temptation
and would certainly buy it. We came to
a sudden determination to make sure work
of it, by throwing it all overheard. We
first talked of firing the ships, but we fear
ed the fire would communicate to the town.
We then proposed sinking them, but we
dropped this project, through fear that we
should alarm the town, before we could
get through with it. We had observed
that very few persons remained on board
the three vessels, and we finally concluded
that we could take possession of them and
discharge the tea into the harbor without
danger or opposition. The greatest OBJ
lection to our plan was, that it would take
such great length of time to carry it
through, and render us more liable to de-
lection. We agreed, one and all, that we
should go on at tho risk of our lives. We
proceeded to contrive the mode of accom-
plishing our business. One of the ships
laid at Hancock's Wharf, and the other
few PAGES out in the stream, with their
warps made fast to the same wharf. We
agreed in order, as much as we might pre-
vent ourselves from being discovered, to
wear ragged clothes, and disfgure ourselves
as much as possible. We concluded to
meet at an old building, at the head of the
wharf, and to fall in one after another as
if by accident,so as not to excite suspicion.
After having pledged our honour that we
would not reveal our secret plan, we sepa-
rated.
AT the appointed time we all met accord
ing to agreement. We were dressed to re-
semble indians, as much as possible. We
had smeared our faces with grease and SCOT
or lantpblack. We should not have known
each other save by our voices, and we sure
ly resembled devils from the bottomless pit
rather than men. We placed one sentry
~ tI,o hoal rs IL - - Al 4