overriding the general at every step, until his
weak amiability gave way to outbreaks of testy
ill-nature.

The General Court which had convened on
the 26th of May was memorable as the last
under the colonial charter. The other colo-
nies, as well as Massachusetts, were now ripe
for the Congress, and Samuel Adams, who in
the gathering Revolution had attained in his
own Province an almost autocratic ascendency,
prepared to secure the nomination of dele-
gates. For a few days nothing could be done,
for Gage prorogued the Court, to meet early
in June at Salem. The session presently took
place in that town, and never had the hand of
the great master been so deft and at the same
time so daring: one moment pulling strings
with the nicest caution, the next it was, as it
were, clenched and delivered in a telling blow.
But whether in the form of flattering palm or
doubled fist, it ruled the hour omnipotently,
and brought to pass a triumphant success.

Samuel Adams, working with the Commit-
tee of Correspondence to the last moment, then
hurrying over the country roads to Salem, was
late in reaching the palace of meeting, giving
much anxiety to the patriots, who followed him
now like children, and much joy to the Tories,
for the report spread that at last the soldiers

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