Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-01-18
LECTURE BEFORE THE HtsTORI
CAL SOCIETY,

LECTURE BEFORE THE HtSTORL-
CAL SOCIETY.
The lecture was delivered by George
Bancroft, upon the exceedingly interest
ing subject ofT'The Secret journal and
Letters of the Committee of Correspon.
dence of Boston, from l772 to ITS, and
other unpublished documents of that Pc
riOd."
Mr.. Bancroft explained the manner by
which he became possessed of these val
liable papers, which were calculated to
place the character of that disinterested
patriot, Samuel Adams, in proper light
before the public, and add new fame to
the city of Boston. These papers had
come into the possession of Samuel Ad-
ans Wells, grandson of Samuel Ad-
ans Shortly before the death Of Mr..
Wells, Mr.. Bancroft had an interview
with him, when Mr.. W, expressed solici.
tude respecting these papers. Previous
to his death, which took place shortly
afterwards, Mr.. Wells ordered the chest,
containing the documents, 10 be placed
in the hands of Mr.. Bancroft. It appear
ed by these documents, that Samuel Ad-
ans was the master-spirit, who first con
yceived the design of the American revo-
luton, and was foremost among the noble
patriois who carried it on, step by step,
until independence was declared.
Mr.. Bancroft explained to whom the
country owed the origin Of the Boston
Committee Of Correspondence, in I772.
At that time the measures of the British
Government were so adrotly managed
as to lull the apprehensiOns of the colo
nists, and produce sense OF false secu-
rily, which threatened the entire destruc-
ton of their liberties. 1t was for the
purpose OF awakening the slumbering
energies of the people--to arouse them
from their torpor, that this Committee Of
Correspondence was established. Mr..
Bancroft showed from the records OF the
Committee, as we'll as from other docu-
ments and authorities Of the most con-
elusive character, that Samuel Adams
first conceived and proposed the plan OF
establishing the Committee, which con-
sisted of himself, Joseph Warren, and
Others, twenty.one in all. Al this time
the affairs of the colonists were in crit
icaI situation-the Legislature could be
prorogued or dissolved at the will of the
Governor-lhs Judiciary was taken from
the hands Of the people, the judges hold
ing their Offices Immediately from the
crown-and it was deemed necessary BY
the friends of liberty TO get up an organ
ization, separate from and outside Of the
government: and for this object the Bos
ton Committee of Correspondence con
sidered it necessary to address, in spirit
stirring language, every town in the colo
nv, and to urge consultation among the
citizens, and the establishment Of loca
Committees of Correspondence anC
here was seen the first decided step to
wards independence. Town meetings
were also held in every town, where the
people met and freely discussed the af
fairs OF the colonies, and the oppressive
conduct of Great Britain, and responded
10 the strong appeals from,th COmmitte'
of Correspondence in Boston.
Extracts from many Uf these answers
we're read by Mr.. Bancroft, as all ha'
been preserved among the records of tn
COmmItteeSan tHey aII sooiIOu " VLoe'h
one spirit--that of patriotism, of virtue
of religion. They were all written in
style Of simplicity, but in a tone of deter
mination, and with an eloquence whic
came from the heart. Extracts of lei
ters we're read and all Of them exhibite
one feeling, that Of indignation at the cor
duct Of Great Britain, reliance on tn
aid Of Providence in righteous caus'
and Q determination TO resist tyrann.
and vindicate their rights, even at tn
sacrifice Oftheir fortunes or their lives
Mr.. Bancroft next inquired into II
origin Of the inter-colOnial corresPo
Jdence, which commenced in l773, al
which had been claimed for the HOu
of Burgesses in Virginia. But he shO
ed COnClusively by extracts of let'e
found among these records, from Ca
bridge in December l792-from Salisb
~, from m'Lexington in January l773
from Stoneham, Shirley, Shrewsbu
Littleton, &C., THAI from the bosom
New England, from many Of our sec