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feveral difputes have happened between the towns-
people and foldiers of both regiments, the former
being encouraged thereto by the countenance of even
fome of the magiftrates, and by the protection of all
the party agamft government. In general fuch dif-
putes have been kept too fecret from the officers.
On the 2d of March, two of the 29th going through
one Gray's rope-walk, the rope-makers infultingly
afked them if they would empty a vault. This un
fortunately had the defired effect, by provoking the
foldiers, and from words they went to blows. Both
parties fuffered in this affray, and finally the foldiers
retired to their quarters. The officers, on the first
knowledge of this tranfaction, took every precaution
in their power to prevent any ill confequences. Not-
withstanding which, fingle quarrels could not be pre-
vented; the inhabitants conftantly provoking and
abufing the foldiery. The infolence, as well as utter
hatred of the inhabitants to the troops, increafed dai-
ly; infomuch, that Monday and Tuesday, the 5th and
6th inftant, were privately agreed on for a general
engagement; in confequence of which, feveral of the
militia came from the country, armed to join their
friends, menacing to deftroy any who fhould oppose
them. This plan has fince been discovered.

On Monday night, about eight o'clock, two foldiers
were attacked and beat. But the party of the townf-
people, in order to carry matters to the utmost length,
broke into two meeting houfes and rang the alarm
bells, which I fuppofed was for fire as ufual, but was
foon undeceived. About nine fome of the guard came
to and informed me, that the town inhabitants were af-
fembling to attack the troops, and that the bells were
ringing as the fignal for that purpofe, and not for fire,
and the beacon intended to be fired to bring in the

diftant

1

diftant people of the country. This, as I was captain of the day, occafioned my repairing immediately to the main-guard. In my way there I faw the people in great commotion, and heard them ufe the most cruel and horrid threats against the troops. In a few minutes after I reached the guard, about an hundred people paffed it, and went towards the Custom-house, where the King's money is lodged. They immediately furrounded the centinel pofted there, and with clubs and other weapons threatened to execute their vengeance on him. I was foon informed by a townfman, their intention was to carry off the foldier from his poft, and probably murder him. On which I defired him to return for further intelligence; and he foon came back and affured me he heard the mob declare they would murder him. This I feared might be a prelude to their plundering the King's cheft. I immediately fent a non-commiffioned officer and twelve men to protect both the centinel and the King's money, and very foon followed myself, to prevent (if poffible) all diforder; fearing left the officer and foldiery by the infults and provocations of the rioters fhould be thrown off their guard and commit fome rash act. They foon rushed through the people, and, by charging their bayonets in half circle, kept them at a little distance. Nay, fo far was I from intending the death of any perfon, that I fuffered the troops to go to the spot where the unhappy affair took place, without any loading in their pieces, nor did I ever giveorders for loading them. This remifs conduct in me perhaps merits cenfure; yet it is evidence, refulting from the nature of things, which is the beft and fureft that can be offered, that my intention was not to act offenfively, but the contrary part, and that not without compulfion. The mob ftill increafed, and were

more

more outrages, striking their clubs or bludgeons one against another, and calling out, Come on, you Raf cals, you bloody Backs, you Lobster Scoundrels; fire if you dare, G- damn you, fire and be damn'd; we know you dare not; and much more fuch language was ufed. At this time I was between the foldiers and the mob, parleying with and endeavouring all in my power to perfuade them to retire peaceably; but to no purpose. They advanced to the points of the bayonets, ftruck some of them, and even the muzzles of the pieces, and feemed to be endeavouring to clofe with the foldiers. On which fome well-behaved perfons asked me if the guns were charged; I replied, yes. They then asked me if I intended to order the men to fire; I anfwered no, by no means obferving to them, that I was advanced before the muzzles of the men's pieces, and muft fall a facrifice if they fired; and that the foldiers were upon the halfcock and charged bayonets, and my giving the word fire, on those circuftamces, would prove me no offiçer. While I was thus fpeaking, one of the foldiers, having received a fevere blow with a stick, stepped a little on one fide, and instantly fired; on which turning to, and asking him why he fired without orders, I was ftruck with a club on my arm, which for fome time deprived me of the use of it; which blow, had it been placed on my head, moft brobably would have destroyed me. On this a general attack was made on the men by a great number of heavy clubs, and fnow-balls being thrown at them, by which all our lives were in imminent danger; fome perfons at the fame time from behind calling out, Damn your bloods, why do not you fire?' Instantly three or four of the foldiers fired, one after another, and directly after three more in the fame confufion and hurry.

The mob then ran away, except three unhappy men who instantly expired, in which number was Mr Gray, at whofe rope-walk the prior quarrel took place; one more is fince dead, three others are dangerously, and four flightly wounded. The whole of this melancholy affair was tranfacted in almost twenty minutes. On my asking the foldiers why they fired without orders, they faid they heard the word Fire,' and fuppofed it came from me. This might be the eafe, as many of the mob called out, Fire, fire,' but I affured the men that I gave no fuch order, that my words were, Don't fire, ftop your firing:' In fhort, it was fcarce poffible for the foldiers to know who faid fire, or don't fire, or stop your firing. On the people's affembling again to take away the dead bodies, the foldiers, fuppofing them coming to attack them, were making ready to fire again, which I prevented by striking up their firelocks with my hand. Immediately after a townsman came and told me, that 4 of 5000 people were affembled in the next street, and had fworn to take my life with every man's with me; on which I judged it unfafe to remain there any longer, and therefore fent the party and centry to the main-guard, and when they arrived there, telling them off into street firings, divided and planted them at each end of the street to fecure their rear, momently expecting an attack, as there was a conftant cry of the inhabitants, To arms, to arms-turn out with your guns,' and the town drums beating to arms. I ordered my drum to beat to arms, and being foon after joined by the different companies of the 29th regiment, I formed them as the guard into ftreet firings. The 14th regiment alfo got under arms, but remained at their barracks. I immediately fent a ferjeant with a party to Colonel Dalrymple, the commanding

officer,

officer, to acquaint him with every particular. Several officers going to join their regiment were knocked down by the mob, one very much wounded, and his fword taken from him. The lieutenant-governor and Colonel Carr, were foon after met at the head of the 29th regiment, and agreed that the regiment fhould retire to their barracks, and the people to their houses; but I kept the piquet to ftrengthen the guard. It was with great difficulty that the Lieutenant-governor prevailed on the people to be quiet and retire at last they all went off, excepting about a hundred.

A council was immediately called, on the breaking up of which, three juftices met, and issued a warrant to apprehend me and eight foldiers. On hearing of this procedure, I inftantly went to the fheriff, and furrendered myself, though for the space of four hours I had it in my power to have made my escape, which I moft undoubtedly fhould have attempted, and could eafily have executed, had I been the leaft confcious of any guilt. On the examination before the juftices, two witneffes fwore that I gave the men orders to fire; the one teftified he was within two feet of me; the other, that I fwore at the men for not firing at the first word. Others fwore they heard me use the word, fire; but whether do or do not fire, they could not fay; others, that they heard the word fire, but could not fay if it came from me. The next day they got five or fix more to fwear I gave the word to fire. So bitter and inveterate are many of the malecontents here, that they are induftriously ufing every method to fish out evidence to prove it was a concert, ed fcheme to murder the inhabitants. Others are infufing the utmoft malice and revenge into the minds of the people, who are to be my jurors, by falfe publications,