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ion of the Massachusetts legislature added to the temper of the ministry。 In May of 1768； Bernard sent to the assembly a requisition that that body should rescind the resolution which they had passed for sending a circular letter to the other colonies。
To this Mr。 Otis； acting for the assembly； prepared a reply which； while it was not less severe； was more respectful and concessive than were most of his communications。 At the conclusion he says：
〃We have now only to inform your Excellency； that this House have voted not to rescind； as required； the resolution of the last House； and that； upon a decision on the question； there were ninety…two nays and seventeen yeas。〃
In this manner the controversy dragged on through the years 1768…69； but in the summer of the former year an event occurred which roused the people to a high pitch of excitement。 Some of the custom…house officers seized a vessel belonging to John Hancock。 For this they were assailed by a mob which burned the boat of the collector of customs。 The officers fled to the castle。 It was for this business that a body of British soldiers was first sent to Boston。
On the 12th of September； 1768； a great meeting was held in Faneuil Hall； but the crowd was such as to make necessary and adjournment to Sewall's Meeting…house。 James Otis was moderator of the meeting。 The presence of British soldiers； evidently sent to Boston to enforce the decrees of an arbitrary government； was sufficient to bring into play all the elements of patriotism。
The British soldier's coat in the old town was of the same color as the scarf which the picador shakes in the face of the enraged animal！ The effect in either case was the same。
At the meeting just mentioned； Mr。 Otis presided and spoke。 A report of what occurred was written （presumptively by some enemy of the patriots）； and was sent as a report to the British ministry。 In this Otis was charged with saying； 〃In case Great Britain is not disposed to redress our grievances after proper application； the people have nothing more to do； but to gird the sword on the thigh and shoulder the musket。〃 Doubtless this report was a perversion of the truth。
Other meetings were held； and resolutions were the order of the day。 On the 22nd of June； Faneuil Hall was again crowded。 James Otis； Thomas Cushing； Samuel Adams； and John Hancock were selected as representatives to meet Committees of other towns in a convention。 At this meeting it was voted that the people should arm themselves。 The convention met with delegates present from nearly ninety towns。 The movement against the ministerial scheme had already become revolutionary。
Meanwhile in 1768； the general assembly was unceremoniously prorogued by Governor Bernard； but in May of the following year； the body was re…convened。 On the meeting day the building was surrounded with British troops。
Otis made an address； declaring that free legislation would be impossible in the presence of an armed soldiery。 He moved the appointment of a committee to remonstrate with the Governor； and to request the withdrawal of the soldiers。 To this the Governor replied evasively that he had not the authority to order the withdrawal of the military。 Otis in answer reported that the Governor's reply was according to English law； more impossible than the thing which the Assembly had petitioned for。
The matter resulted in the adjournment of the body to meet at Cambridge； in the chapel of Harvard College。 Assembled at that place the legislature was addressed by Otis with impassioned eloquence。 The people as well as the legislators were gathered。
〃The times are dark and trying；〃 said the speaker。 〃We may soon be called on in turn to act or to suffer。〃 〃You；〃 he continued； 〃should study and emulate the models of ancient patriotism。 To you your country may one day look for support； and you should recollect that the noblest of all duties is to serve that country； and if necessary to devote your lives in her cause。〃
The House soon prepared a paper to be sent to the British Ministry denouncing the administration of Governor Bernard and protesting against the further presence of a British Soldiery in Boston。 On the 27th of June； 1769； the representatives went further and prepared a petition； praying for the removal of Bernard from the government。 This they might well do for the king had already recalled him！
The Governor went away in such odor as the breezes of the Old Bay have hardly yet dissipated。 He went away； but in the fall added his compliments to the Americans by the publication of sundry letters in which they were traduced and vilified。 To this James Otis and Samuel Adams； were appointed a committee to reply。 They did so in a pamphlet entitled 〃An Appeal to the World； or a Vindication of the Town of Boston；〃 etc。
It was in these tumultuous and honorable labors and excitements extending over a period of fully ten years that the intellect of James Otis became overstrained and； at length； warped from its purpose。
We may regard his rational career as ending with the year 1769。 In September of this year it was noticed that he had become excitable； and that his natural eccentricity was accented at times to the extent of rendering his conduct irrational。
It was at this time that he published in the Boston 〃Gazette〃 what he called an advertisement； in which he placarded the four commissioners of customs； on the ground that they had assailed his character； declaring that they had formed a confederacy of villainy； and warning the officers of the crown to pay no attention to them。
On the evening of the following day； Mr。 Otis went into a coffee…house where John Robinson； one of the commissioners whom he had lampooned； was sitting。 On entering the room； Mr。 Otis was attacked by Robinson who struck him with his cane。 Otis struck back。 There was a battle。 Those who were present were Robinson's friends。 The fight became a melee。
A young man named Gridley undertook to assist Otis； but was himself overpowered and pitched out of the house。 Mr。 Otis was seriously wounded in the head； and was taken to his house； bleeding and exhausted。 The principle wound appeared to be inflicted with a sword； it was in the nature of a cut； and an empty scabbard was found on the floor of the room in which the altercation occurred。
On the morrow； Boston was aflame with excitement。 Otis was seriously injured； in fact he never recovered from the effects of the assault。 He brought suit against Robinson； and a jury gave a judgment of two thousand pounds damages against the defendant。 The latter arose in court with a writing of open confession and apology； and hereupon the spirited and generous Otis refused to avail himself of the verdict。
Could he have thrown off the effects of the injury in like manner； his last years might have been a happier sequel to a useful and patriotic life。
During the sessions of the Assembly； in the years 1770 and 1771； James Otis retained his membership； but the mental disease which afflicted him began to grow worse； and he participated only at intervals （and eccentrically） in the business of legislation。
In May of 1770； a town meeting was