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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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1774.] REVOLUTION—PRELIMINARY EVENTS. 343<br />

Slimmer all bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> the city was completely para-<br />

lyzed, and great suffer<strong>in</strong>g ensued. The Legislature <strong>in</strong> session<br />

on the 17"" <strong>of</strong> June, resolved that the towns <strong>of</strong> Boston<br />

and Charlestown, "suffer<strong>in</strong>g under the hand <strong>of</strong> power by<br />

the shutt<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>of</strong> the harbor by an armed force," ought<br />

to be relieved, and recommended "to all more especially<br />

the <strong>in</strong>habitants <strong>of</strong> the Prov<strong>in</strong>ce to afford them speedy and<br />

constant relief <strong>in</strong> such a way and manner as shall be suitable<br />

to their circumstances." Afterwards the Prov<strong>in</strong>cial<br />

Congress passed resolutions solicit<strong>in</strong>g aid <strong>from</strong> all sections<br />

<strong>of</strong> the country. The response was speedy and gratify<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and substantial. From the eastern part <strong>of</strong> the Prov<strong>in</strong>ce<br />

much was donated, but <strong>in</strong> Western <strong>Massachusetts</strong> the<br />

amount was not large. Hatfield and one or two other<br />

towns answered the appeal, but <strong>Northampton</strong> was unresponsive.<br />

It was not till December that the subject came<br />

before the town at all. At that time a committee <strong>of</strong> twelve<br />

persons was appo<strong>in</strong>ted "to receive, preserve & convey<br />

Silch articles as Shall be contributed by the Inhabitants <strong>of</strong><br />

this Town for the relief <strong>of</strong> their Suffer<strong>in</strong>g brethren <strong>in</strong> the<br />

Towns <strong>of</strong> Boston and Charlestown." Another committee<br />

was also chosen " to consider the proper method to effect<br />

said contribution." With this elaborate preparation a lib-<br />

eral gift was to be anticipated. But it proved to be only a<br />

shadow <strong>of</strong> generosity. To the last<strong>in</strong>g discredit <strong>of</strong> our<br />

beautiful town, it must be said that not a penny was col-<br />

lected. Lists <strong>of</strong> all the contributions have been published,<br />

as well as the correspondence between the Boston committee<br />

and the town authorities, but the name <strong>of</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong><br />

nowhere appears.<br />

Commercial No n-<br />

<strong>in</strong>temourse with<br />

A meet<strong>in</strong>g was held <strong>in</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong> June<br />

°^ '^"<br />

Iq^^' ^ Called probably without a warrant, to<br />

'<br />

consider the "covenant sent out by the<br />

committee <strong>of</strong> correspondence <strong>of</strong> Boston," regard<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

proposition "to suspend all commercial <strong>in</strong>tercourse with<br />

England and forgoe the use <strong>of</strong> all British merchandise."<br />

After appo<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g a committee to consider and report upon<br />

the question, the meet<strong>in</strong>g adjourned for two weeks. The<br />

response <strong>of</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong> can only be conjectured, as no<br />

record <strong>of</strong> the meet<strong>in</strong>g has come to light. This covenant

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