George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

Bernard received the address with obsequious courtesy; and the next day gave in writing an in offensive answer, clearing himself of the responsibility for the measures complained of, and promising not indeed to remove the Romney, but to stop impressments. ‘I shall think myself,’ he said, ‘most highly honored if I can be in the lowest degree an instrument in preserving a perfect conciliation between you and the parent state.’²

No sooner had he sent this message, than he, and all the officers of the Crown at once busied themselves in concert³ to get regiments ordered to Boston. The Commissioners of the Customs saw in the disturbances of the tenth of June, ‘an insurrection rather than a riot.’⁴ A nameless writer, vouched for by the Commissioners, declared, ‘that there was certainly a settled scheme to oppose even the King's troops' landing; that the promoters of the present evils were ready to unmask and openly discover their long and latent design to rebel.’ ‘He that runs may read,’ wrote another; ‘without some speedy interposition, a great storm will arise.’⁵ The Comptroller and even the worthy Collector reported a ‘general spirit of insurrection, not only in the town, ’