about 1684 the colony of massachusetts, which had dared to open up a trade with the west indies, using its own vessels for that purpose, was hauled over the coals by the mother-country for violation of the navigation act, and an officer sent over to enforce the latter. the colonists defied him, and when he was speaking to them publicly in a tone of reprimand, he got an ovation in the way of eggs and codfish, both of which had been set aside for that purpose when the country was new, and therefore had an air of antiquity which cannot be successfully imitated.