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

‘He has bound himself,’ they cried, ‘by oath, to be the chief murderer of our rights.’ ‘He was a rebel in Scotland, a Jacobite.’ ‘He is an enemy to his king, to his country, and mankind.’ At the same time, a party of volunteers sacked the house occupied by James, and bore off the colors of the royal regiments.

On Saturday, the second of November, Colden gave way. The council questioned his authority to distribute the stamps, and unanimously advised him to declare that he would do nothing in relation to them, but await the arrival of the new governor; and his declaration to that effect, duly authenticated, was immediately published. But the confidence of the people was shaken. ‘We will have the stamp papers,’ cried Sears to the multitude, ‘within fourand-twenty hours;’ and as he appealed to the crowd, they expressed their adherence by shouts. ‘Your best way,’ added Sears to the friends of order, ‘will be to advise Lieutenant-Governor Colden to send the stamp papers from the fort to the inhabitants.’ To appease their wrath, Colden invited Kennedy to receive them on board the Coventry. ‘They are already lodged in the fort,’ answered Kennedy, unwilling to offend the people. The Common Council of New-York next interposed.¹ They asked that the stamped paper should be delivered into the care of the corporation, to be