Chap. XXXVII.} 1768. Oct. |
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fight,’ wrote Hutchinson, ‘1 when they know death
by the sword, or the halter will be the consequence.’-‘Great Britain,’ remarked a wise observer, “will sooner or later repent her mistaken policy.”
2
Dalrymple encamped the twenty-ninth regiment, which had field equipage; for the rest, he demanded quarters of the Selectmen.
They knew the law too well to comply; but as the night was cold, the compassion of the inhabitants was moved for the soldiers, and about nine o'clock the Sons of Liberty allowed them to sleep in Faneuil Hall.3 ‘By management,’ said he, ‘I got possession of the School of Liberty, and thereby secured all their arms.’4
‘I will keep possession of this town, where faction seems to prevail beyond conception,’ he blustered;5 we shall see how he redeemed his word.
For the present, the passive resistance which he encountered compelled him to ask aid of the Commander of the fleet.
The troops were in a miserable condition, having neither quarters nor any means to dress their provisions.
On Monday, the third, Bernard laid before the Council Dalrymple's requisition for the enumerated allowances to troops in barracks.
‘We,’ answered the Council, ‘are ready, on our part, to comply with the Act of Parliament, if the Colonel will on his.’6
After two days reflection, the Council consented to the appointment of a commissary, if he would
1 Letter of Hutchinson to———, 8 Dec. 1768.
2 A Eliot to T. Hollis, 17 Oct. 1768.
3 Dalrymple to Gage, 2 Oct. 1768.
4 Dalrymple to Hood, 4 Oct. 1768.
5 Dalrymple to Gage, 2 Oct. 1768.
6 Bernard to Hillsborough. Letters to the Ministry, 94, 5 October, 1768; Dalrymple to Commodore Hood, 4 October, 1768; Captain Smith to Commodore Hood, 5 October, 1768.
Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1859.
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