Page:History of Journalism in the United States.djvu/129

Rh "The Morning Gun of the Revolution," Mayhew died, but in the two years that the Independent Advertiser was being published, Adams had opportunity to study and gauge the men in the community who might be drawn together in the fight which he had undertaken. John Adams soon became closely associated with him in the group, which numbered, among others, such men as James Otis, Oxenbridge Thatcher and Joseph Warren.

The office of the Boston Gazette, on Court Street, was recognized as the headquarters of the Revolutionary leaders, and here Warren, Otis, Quincy, John Adams, Church and others less known, held frequent meetings. Here they watched the public sentiment of the country respond to their publications, read the exchanges, went over the proofs of their contributions, in fact went through what to-day would be considered an editorial council. It was in the back room of the Gazette office that the "Boston Tea-Party "was planned.

It was said that the ablest and most interesting of all the proteges of Samuel Adams was Joseph Warren. Warren was then about twenty-seven years of age and for some years had been a contributor to the newspapers, thereby attracting to himself the attention and respect of Adams. In February, 1768, he vigorously attacked Governor Bernard in the Gazette. His attack "drew blood," for Bernard endeavored to have the legislature act in the matter, and, upon its refusal, prorogued that body.

James Otis was the counterpoise for the impetuous Samuel Adams. He was the scholar and the cultivated writer. In 1762 he published a pamphlet, "A Vindication of the Conduct of the House of Representatives of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay." John Adams