按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
； the subject of this sketch； the talents and many of the characteristics of his progenitors。 A brother of our hero； Samuel Alleyne Otis； rose to prominence in the politics of the State and as Secretary of the Senate administered to Washington the oath of office as President； holding the Bible on which he was sworn as honored chief of the future nation。 A sister； Mercy； an ardent and loyal patriot； married the notable republican； James Warren of Plymouth； and lived herself to write a compend of the 〃History of the American Revolution；〃 together with a collection of patriotic verse。
James Otis； whom we know as one of the most eloquent orators of the Revolutionary era and an ardent promoter of American independence； was educated for his career at Harvard； which institution he entered as a freshman in 1739； having previously been prepared for college by the Rev。 Jonathan Russell。 His university course； so far as can be gathered from any account of it that has come down to us； was not a notable one； though he had a fair scholastic career and graduated at the age of nineteen in 1743。 While popular after a fashion at college； he was a bit of a recluse and a diligent student of literature； with a predilection； it is said； for music； playing well on the violin。 After graduating； he wisely spent two years in general reading before entering upon the study of the law； which he did in 1745 under James Gridley； a prominent jurist of Massachusetts and sometime Crown Attorney…General。 Three years later； he was admitted to the bar； and in 1748 began to practice his profession at Plymouth； Mass。 In 1750； he removed to Boston； and there became known as an advocate of note and high promise； actuated by nice professional instincts； with a fine sense of honor； and keenly appreciating； it is recorded； his responsibilities in his relations with his clients； which led him to accept only such cases as he could conscientiously defend and take retainers from。
This characteristic scruple in the lawyer gave him a high standing in his profession； and naturally led to success at the bar； besides winning for him the respect and admiration of troops of warm and attached friends。
About this time he appears to have developed uncommon gifts as an orator； and his rather irascible nature gave scope to his keen wit and powers of sarcasm。 His extensive reading and ultimate study of good literary models naturally bore fruit in the practice of the forensic art and gave him prestige at the bar； as well as； later on； in taking to public life and to the advocacy of the rights of the Colonists in the controversy with the Crown。
In 1755； when he had attained his thirtieth year； Otis married Ruth Cunningham； the daughter of an influential Boston merchant。 The lady； from all accounts； was undemonstrative and devoid of her husband's patriotic ardor； traits that did not tend to domestic felicity or lead； on the wife's part； to a commanding influence over her vehement and somewhat eccentric husband。 The fruit of the union was one son and two daughters。 The son entered the navy； but unhappily died in his eighteenth year。 One of the daughters； the elder of the two； probably under the mother's influence； angered her father by espousing the English cause and marrying a Captain Brown； a British officer on duty at Boston。 The marriage was a source of irritation and unhappiness to Otis； who； after his son…in…law had fought and been wounded at Bunker Hill； withdrew with his wife to England； and was there disowned and cut off by the irate patriot； whose affection was also dried up for the erring daughter。 The younger daughter； on the other hand； was a devoted and patriotic woman； who shared her father's enthusiasm for the popular cause。 She married Benjamin Lincoln of Boston； but early became a widow。
By this time； Otis had become not only a man eminent in his profession in Boston； but a powerful factor in the public life of the city。 The New England commonwealth was then beginning to be greatly exercised over the aggressions of the Motherland； and this was keenly watched by Otis； who took a lively and patriotic interest in Colonial affairs。 Beyond his profession； which had closely engrossed him； he had heretofore taken little part in public life； his leisure； indeed； he had employed more as a student of books rather than of national affairs； as his work on the 〃Rudiments of Latin Prosody；〃 published in 1760； bears witness。 As the era of a conflict with England neared； he however altered in this respect； and became a zealous advocate of non…interference on the part of the Crown in the affairs of the Colonies and an ardent protester against English oppression and injustice。 Soon grievances arose in the relations between the Colonies and England which gave Otis the right to denounce the Motherland and excite dissaffection among the people of the New World。 These grievances arose out of the strained commercial relations between the two countries and the attempt of England to devise and enforce irritating schemes of Colonial control。 Of these causes of outcry in the New World the two chief were the revival and rigid execution of the English Navigation Acts； designed to limit the freedom of the American Colonies in trading with West Indian ports in American built vessels； and the insistence； on the part of the Crown and the British government； that the Colonies should be taxed for the partial support of English garrisons in the country。 In the development of trade in the New World； the Colonies reasonably felt that they should not be harassed by the mother country； and so they permitted commerce to expand as it would； and when this was enjoined by England they naturally resented interference by her and began to evade the laws which she imposed upon the young country and bid defiance to the Crown customs officers in the measures resorted to in the way of restriction and imposed penalty。 This attitude of the Colonists in ignoring or defying English laws was soon now specially emphasized when the Crown resorted to more stringent measures to curb Colonial trade and impose heavy customs duties on articles entering New World ports。 Flagrant acts of evasion followed； and defiant smuggling at length brought its legal consequencesin the issue by the English Court of Exchequer of search warrants； or Writs of Assistance； as they were called； by which it was sought to put a stop to smuggling； by resorting to humiliating arbitrary measures sure to be resented by the Colonies。 These Writs of Assistance empowered the King's officers； or others delegated by them； to board vessels in port and enter and search warehouses； and even the private homes of the Colonists； for contraband goods and all importations that had not paid toll to His Majesty's customs。 This attempted rigid execution of the Acts of Trade； together with other arbitrary measures on the part of the Crown which followed； such as the imposition of the Stamp Act； and the coercive levy of taxes to pay part of the cost of maintaining English troops in the Colonies； was soon to cost England dear and end in the loss of her possessions in America and the rise of the New World Republic。
One of the most active men