National Humanities Center Colonists Respond to the Tea Act & the Boston Tea Party, 1773
5. Belzebub, the Prince of Devils, whispering to K
y,” Speak in favor of ye [the] Scheme Now’s the time to push
your fortune.”
6. The writer of the Papers (signed Poplicola) in favor of the Tea who is dressed in clerical gown and bands,
gestures toward No. 7, saying “I have prostituted my reason and my Conscience to serve You, and am therefore
entitled to some reward.” Poplicola was the name signed to three articles appearing in Rivington’s New York
Gazetteer, November 18, December 2 and 23, and republished as pamphlets, attempting to defend the
government and the East India Company. . . . [see excerpts, pp. 6-7 of this compilation]
7. The Chairman of the India Company replies “If we had succeeded, you should have been provided for.”
Standing behind the Director are:
8. A Group of India Directors, who say to one another, “We have just now received the disagreeable intelligence
[news] that the Bostonians have destroyed the Tea”; “and that the Philadelphians have compel’d the Ship for
their Port to return with the Tea”; “and likewise that the People of New York, are determined to act in the same
spirited manner.” . . .
9. The Patriotic Duke of Richmond [sympathetic to Americans’ grievances] standing in the background, observes
“Had my advice been follow’d, you would not have met with this loss and disappointment.”
At the feet of this group are several boxes of tea. One, labeled “Tea for America” has resting on it a paper
inscribed, “Plan for an India Warehouse in America.” Nearby are three boxes labeled “Tea from America.”
Above this group on the banks of the Thames [River in London], are two allegorical figures.
10. The Genius of Britain” asks “Britannia why so much distress’d”; to which
11. Britannia replies, “The conduct of those my degenerate Sons will break my Heart.”
In contrast to the grief-stricken Britannia, and the ship From Philadelphia just entering the Thames, is the scene
on the other side of the ocean [America].
12. America represented by a Woman is an Indian queen, with drawn bow about to loose an arrow at Lord North.
Behind her are six Indian warriors. They are:
13. The Sons of Liberty, represented by the Natives of America, in their savage garb. They emerge from the forest,
armed with bows and spears, saying “We will secure our freedom, or die in the Attempt”: “ Lead us to Liberty
or Death”; “Lead on, Lead on.”
Above them the shores of America stretch out from Boston to the Delaware. Seated in comfort on these shores,
holding a liberty cap on her staff, a tabby cat curled somewhat incongruously at her feet, is:
14. The Goddess of Liberty, addressing herself to Fame and pointing To her Sons, saying proudly “Behold the
Ardor of my Sons and let not their brave Actions be buried in Oblivion.”
15. Fame, resting on a cloud and holding a trumpet and laurel wreath, replies “I will trumpet their Noble Deeds,
from Pole to Pole.”
16. A View of the Tea Ships in the Harbour of Boston
17. Capt. Loring’s Vessel with the Tea, Shipwrecked on Cape Cod [Massachusetts]. The Boston letter of Dec. 27 to
the Pennsylvania Gazette reported the wreck, adding “We have not yet heard what has become of the detested
Tea.” Two weeks later, it was reported that the tea had been brought to the Castle [Castle William, a British fort
on an island in Boston harbor] by order of the Customs officials. The letter added, “It is reported that the Tea
Consignees had better have had a Millstone tied round their necks, than suffered [allowed] the Tea, saved out of
the Wreck of Capt. Loring, to be landed at the Castle.”
18. A Group of Disappointed Americans, who were for landing the Tea; in hopes of sharing in the Plunder of their
Country. These eight figures in the foreground wear mourning crepes on their hats.
– The first, at the left laments, “The People have discovered our design to divide them, & we shall never be
able to regain their confidence.”
– Next to him stands a two-faced man, saying, “I am ready to die with grief and vexation, at our Disappoint-
ment, As it will blast my hopes of preferment.”
– The third man exclaims, “Damn the Bostonians, they have been a great means of frustrating our design.”
Finally there are a group of four.
– The first says, “We must now make a Virtue of necessity & join against landing the Tea.”
– His companion answers, “I approve of your Scheme as it will save appearances with the people who are
easily deceived.”
– “Agreed.” “Agreed” say the last two.