Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 11.pdf/148

 Secession and Annexation of Nantucket. Again to justify Nantucket's action by ap peal to history, it should be remembered how statesmen in France and England, and elsewhere too, have appealed for support of their views to a larger and a foreign power. Both island statesmen resorted to this method of gaining the victory and sought to be forehanded against defeat by the court. Edward Macy found means of communicat ing to the Dutch Governor of New York that a Dutch ship ashore on the island was liable to be seized by a disloyal minority against the better judgment of the loyal town of Sherburne. James Coffin, in a letter about a cargo of rum and sugar, sent secretly to a kinsman of prominence in Boston, asked that gentleman to convey his account of this " most doleful affaire " to his Excellency, Governor Leverett, whom he earnestly hoped might send aid to the Venture should a British frigate happen to be in the vicinity of Nantucket. So both island statesmen felt themselves secure of ultimate victory and, like others who have played at the interna tional game before and since, they opened the way to results reaching far beyond their expectations. On the 20th of October, 1673, the entire population of the island, not more than two hundred persons, crowded about the inn where the court held its sitting. The magistrate took his place and six canny sea men were impannellcd as a jury. To this august body Isaac Melyne told his story, — every man of them had heard him tell it many times before, — and then he earnestly begged leave to sail away with the cargo for his own. His plea received the sympathy of all, but Nantucket men were not to be moved by mere sentiment, and they reserved their judgment until they should learn the opinion of the court. The jurymen long deliberated upon the case. A deep sense of their responsibility as English-Dutchmen weighed heavily upon them, outbalancing the necessity of con demning or justifying Isaac's desire to con

127

fiscate the cargo. After three hours of hard work they brought in a verdict which justly has been called one of the masterpieces of New England diplomacy, broad in its sym pathies and silent on all important points. The jury found : — "In the appeal of Isaac Melyne: "We do not find he is a subject of the King of England, and concerning the ship, we do not find it is his." Mary Coffin and Rebecca Macy each had sought a certain seat. Arriving at precisely the same moment they had been forced to sit side by side, or else appear to retreat, than which they would have preferred a lingering death, and so it happened that when the verdict was rendered both these colonial dames for once perfectly agreed. "It's a sickly lot of men you are!" said Mary Coffin, addressing herself with pleas ing informality to the jury. "And it's the same word I'd say to them, Mary Coffin," said Rebecca Macy. " And what can Melyne do with his cargo, will you tell him that now?" she continued, speaking to the jurymen. How they would have defended them selves unfortunately is unknown, for the magistrate immediately dissolved the session and the talk became general in the little court-room. Melyne made some wild state ments about appealing his case, but Edward Macy dryly asked him " Where? " to which question Melyne could find no answer. Nantucket had shown herself truly loyal and Dutch, but it must be remembered how often the best official utterance on state issues is but partial, and so it was in this instance. Nantucket was silent, but she was not satisfied and Boston and New York were preparing to take action profound in its results. It is certain that the Dutch Governor had the earlier information of the crisis. We do not know whether his delay was caused by an inherited love of sitting still and attend ing to no business not immediately his own,