ction "to prevent this accursed tea" from
coming among them. "Shall we abide by our former resolution with respect
to the not suffering the tea to be landed?" was now the question. Samuel
Adams, Dr. Thomas Young and Josiah Quincy, Jr.,[17] an ardent young
patriot devotedly attached to the liberties of his country, were the
principal speakers. Only a fragment of the speech of Quincy remains.
Counselling moderation, and in a spirit of prophecy, he said:

"It is not, Mr. Moderator, the spirit that vapors within
these walls that must stand us in stead. The exertions of
this day will call forth the events which will make a very
different spirit necessary for our salvation. Whoever
supposes that shouts and hosannas will terminate the trials
of the day, entertains a childish fancy. We must be grossly
ignorant of the importance and value of the prize for which
we contend; we must be equally ignorant of the power of
those who have combined against us; we must be blind to that
malice, inveteracy and insatiable revenge which actuates our
enemies, public and private, abroad and in our bosom, to
hope that we shall end this controversy without the
sharpest, the sharpest conflicts; to flatter ourselves that
popular resolves, popular harangues, popular acclamations,
and popular vapor will vanquish our foes. Let us consider
the issue. Let us look to the end. Let us weigh and
consider before we advance to those measures which must
bring on the most trying and terrific struggle this country
ever saw."

But the time for weighing and considering the business in hand had
passed. Time pressed and decisive action alone remained. "Now that the
hand is at the plough," it was said, "there must be no looking back."

At half-past four it was unanimously voted that the tea should not be
landed. An effort was now made to dissolve the meeting, but it was
continued at the request of some of those present from the country, who
wished to hear the result of Rotch's application to the governor.

It was an unusual time of the year to be at a country seat, but Governor
Hutchinson was found at his Milton residence by Rotch, who renewed his
request for a pass. Questioned by the governor as to the intentions of
the people, Rotch replied that they only intended to force the tea back
to England, but that there might be some who desired that the vessel
might go down the harbor and be