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There can be no doubt, the Boston of that era could be exquisitely cruel in enforcing its canons of behavior.

The gentle Channing, revered by all Bostonians, orthodox or Unitarian, wrote to a friend in Louisville that among its many virtues Boston did not abound in a tolerant spirit, that the yoke of opinion crushed individuality of judgment and action: `` No city in the world is governed so little by a police, and so much by mutual inspections and what is called public sentiment.

We stand more in awe of one another than most people.

Opinion is less individual or runs more into masses, and often rules with a rod of iron ''.

Even more poignantly, and with the insight of a genius, Channing added -- remember, this is Channing, not Parker!!

-- that should a minister in Boston trust himself to his heart, should he `` speak without book, and consequently break some law of speech, or be hurried into some daring hyperbole, he should find little mercy ''.