Boston, 21 July, 1776.
Last Thursday, after hearing a very good sermon, I went with the
multitude into King Street to hear the Proclamation for Independence
read and proclaimed. Some field-pieces with the train were brought
there. The troops appeared under arms, and all the inhabitants assembled
there (the small-pox prevented many thousands from the country), when
Colonel Crafts read from the balcony of the State House the
proclamation. Great attention was given to every word. As soon as he
ended, the cry from the balcony was, "God save our American States," and
then three cheers which rent the air. The bells rang, the privateers
fired, the forts and batteries, the cannon were discharged, the platoons
followed, and every face appeared joyful. Mr. Bowdoin then gave a
sentiment, "Stability and perpetuity to American independence." After
dinner, the King's Arms were taken down from the State House, and every
vestige of him from every place in which it appeared, and burnt in King
Street. Thus ends royal authority in this State. And all the people
shall say Amen.
I have been a little surprised that we collect no better accounts with
regard to the horrid conspiracy at New York; and that so little mention
has been made of it here. It made a talk for a few days, but now seems
all hushed in silence. The Tories say that it was not a conspiracy, but
an association. And pretend that there was no plot to assassinate the
General.[149] Even their hardened hearts feel----the discovery----we
have in George a match for "a Borgia or a Catiline"--a wretch callous to
every humane feeling. Our worthy preacher told us that he believed one
of our great sins, for which a righteous God has come out in judgment
against us, was our bigoted attachment to so wicked a man. May our
repentance be sincere.