"He renders his military independent of and superior to civil power.
"He protects these troops, by mock trials, from punishment for murders committed on the inhabitants of this province.
"He has cut off our trade with the whole world.
"He taxes us without our consent.
"He deprives us of the benefits of trial by jury.
"He transports us beyond the seas for trial for pretended offences.
"He takes away our charters, abolishes our laws, suspends our legislatures."
Hancock looked up, still holding the paper unrolled.
"Why," he said, lightly, "this is no King, but a Cæsar amid his prætorians! Faith, I have been reading some history of the tyrants—surely not the history of our beloved monarch, George the Third!"
There was a grim silence. Hancock's manner changed. He folded the paper, placed it in the bosom of his white waistcoat, and turned soberly to the rows of silent, seated men.