Lot 235
Boston Port Bill, First Edition, 1774. "Anno Regni Georgii III Regis…Decimo Quarto…" London: Printed by Charles Eyre and William Strahan. Folio, later boards (loosening at spine), pages 513-522. "An Act to discontinue…the landing and discharging, lading or shipping, of Goods, Wares, and Merchandise, at the Town, and within the harbour, of Boston, in the Province of Massachuset's Bay, in North America." The Act refers to "dangerous Commotions and Insurrections…fomented and raised in the Town of Boston," one of them being the Boston Tea Part (which had taken place on Dec. 16, 1773), in which "certain valuable Cargoes of Teas, being the Property of the East India Company, and on Board certain Vessels lying within the Bay or harbour of Boston, were seized and destroyed…." This Act closing the port of Boston was the first of four important Acts (Intolerable Acts) passed by the British Parliament in 1774 for the discipline of the colonies. No ships were to be allowed to enter or clear the port of Boston until the East India Company was remunerated for its losses and the Crown received the taxes due on the tea. On May 13, General Gage landed in Boston with his troops to enforce the law. Rather than isolating Boston and forcing it to submit, the closure of the port had the effect of uniting the colonies. They sent clothing and supplies to Boston and pledged to boycott British goods. The first Continental Congress was called for September 1774 to decide on a course of action and the road to revolution was set.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
Purchased at Goodspeeds, 1972.
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