consider this Petition, and report what may be proper to be done."[404] It was a remarkably strong committee.  There were the patriotic Hancock, the scholarly Greenleaf, the philosophic Pickering, and the eloquent Samuel Adams.  It was natural that the Negro petitioners should have expected something.  Three days after the committee was appointed, on the 28th of June, they recommended “that the further Consideration of the Petition be referred till next session.”  The report was adopted, and the petition laid over until the “next session."[405]

But the slaves did not lose heart.  They found encouragement among a few noble spirits, and so were ready to urge the Legislature to a consideration of their petition at the next session, in the winter of 1774.  The following letter shows that they were anxious and earnest.

     “SAMUEL ADAMS TO JOHN PICKERING, JR.

     “BOSTON, Jan’y. 8, 1774.

     “Sir,—­

As the General Assembly will undoubtedly meet on the 26th of this month, the Negroes whose petition lies on file, and is referred for consideration, are very solicitous for the Event of it, and having been informed that you intended to consider it at your leisure Hours in the Recess of the Court, they earnestly wish you would compleat a Plan for their Relief.  And in the meantime, if it be not too much Trouble, they ask it as a favor that you would by a Letter enable me to communicate to them the general outlines of your Design.  I am, with sincere regard,” etc.[406]

It is rather remarkable, that on the afternoon of the first day of the session,—­Jan. 26, 1774,—­the “Petition of a number of Negro Men, which was entered on the Journal of the 25th of June last, and referred for Consideration to this session,” was “read again, together with a Memorial of the same Petitioners, and Ordered, that Mr. Speaker, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Adams, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Pain, and Mr. Greenleaf consider the same, and report."[407] The public feeling on the matter was aroused.  It was considered as important as, if not more important than, any measure before the Legislature.

The committee were out until March, considering what was best to do about the petition.  On the 2d of March, 1774, they reported to the House “a Bill to prevent the Importation of Negroes and others as slaves into this Province,” when it was read a first time.  On the 3d of March it was read a second time in the morning session; in the afternoon session, read a third time, and passed to be engrossed.  It was then sent up to the Council to be concurred in, by Col.  Gerrish, Col.  Thayer, Col.  Bowers, Mr. Pickering and Col.  Bacon.[408] On the next day the bill “passed in Council with Amendments,"[409] and was returned to the House.  On the 5th of March the House agreed to concur in Council amendments, and on the 7th of March passed the bill as amended.  On the day following it was placed upon its passage in the Council, and carried.  It was then sent down to the governor to receive his signature, in order to become the law of the Province.  That official’s approval was withheld, and the reason given was, “the secretary said (on returning the approved bills) that his Excellency had not had time to consider the other Bills that had been laid before him."[410]