the 16th of May, 1766, however, the Harrison,
a brigantine, six weeks out from England, cast
anchor in the inner harbor with news of the
repeal of the Stamp Act. The powerful voices
raised in opposition to it in Parliament, the
pressure from the trading and manufacturing
centers, the clamor of the people, had brought
about the change. The measure, however, was
accompanied by the Declaratory Act, in which
the ground of Pitt was by no means taken, but
the assertion was made that Parliament was su-
preme over the colonies in all cases whatsoever.
For expediency's sake the obnoxious tax was
repealed, but the right to tax and to legislate in
every other way for the colonies was plainly
stated. The people in general, nevertheless, no-
ticed only the repeal, and were transported with
joy. Salutes were fired from the different bat-
teries, the shipping was dressed with flags, the
streets were full of music. At night Liberty
Tree was hung full of lanterns, transparencies
were shown, fire-works were displayed on the
Common, and high and low feasted and reveled.
John Hancock, a rich young merchant, twenty-
nine years old, lately come into a great fortune
through the death of his uncle, Thomas Han-
cock, particularly signalized himself by his lib-
erality. Before his handsome mansion opposite
the Common, a pipe of Madeira wine was dis-

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