George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 5, 13th edition.

[314] and for ten days could not be got sight of. Several

chap. XVI.} 1765. Aug.

persons who thought themselves obnoxious, left their houses and removed their goods. Hutchinson fled to the castle, wretched from anxiety and constant agitation of mind. His despair dates from that moment. He saw that England had placed itself towards the colonies in the dilemma, that, ‘if parliament should make concessions, their authority would be lost; if they used external force, affection was alienated for ever.’

‘We are not bound to yield obedience,’ voted the freemen of Providence, echoing the resolves of Virginia. The patriots of Rhode Island, remembering the renowned founders of the colonies, thanked God, that their pleasant homes in the western world abounded in the means of ‘defence.’¹ ‘That little turbulent colony,’ reported Gage,² ‘raised their mob likewise.’ And on the twenty-eighth day of August, after destroying the house and furniture of one Howard, who had written, and of one Moffat, who had spoken in favor of the power of parliament to tax America, they gathered round the house of their stamp officer, and, after a parley, compelled him to resign.

At New-York, the Lieutenant-Governor expressed a wish to the General for aid from the army. ‘You shall have as many troops as you shall demand, and can find quarters for,’ replied Gage; and at the same time, he urged Colden to the severe exertion of the civil power. ‘The public papers,’ he continued, ‘are crammed with treason, and the people excited to revolt.’³ But mean time, McEvers, the stamp officer of New-York resigned; ‘for,’ said he, ‘if I attempt ’