30.

mand of lieutenant colonel Nefbit. The firmness, refolution and freedom, with which the people both of town and country have conducted, when their business called them to an intercourfe with the governor, have often embarraffed and convinced him, that they were not wholly deftitute of fterling courage. There might be fome ground for punishing the perfon, whose case produced the remonftrance; but the punishment fhould have been under the direction of a civil and not a military officer, and of another kind; for, though it may be deemed a retaliation upon the country, it has tended greatly to irritate.

The Maffachusetts congrefs were folicitous to keep their proceedings from coming to the knowledge of general Gage; but from several circumstances which occurred, they entertained a strong fufpicion, that they had fome one among them, who betrayed their counfels. A gentleman, who is not a ftranger to many confiderable defects in the moral and political character of Dr. Church, is apprehenfive that he is the perfon; but is exceedingly cautious of mentioning his fufpicion, confidering the high reputation in which the doctor is among the fons of liberty.

General Gage marched out about eleven hundred men into the country; who, doing much damage by throwing down the ftone fences, occafioned a committee's waiting upon the Maffachusetts congrefs on the Saturday, when upon the point of adjourning; which kept them fitting till they received on the Monday following, accounts by a veffel from Falmouth, of what parliament had done and was doing, in relation to their colony.

It was a providental circumftance that they had fo early intelligence, and obtained it before general Gage had received his dispatches: they were careful to improve it.

The intelligence spread faft, and induced more of the inhabitants of Bofton to remove out of town. A number had been for fome time withdrawing themfelves. The town was liable to be converted inftantly, at the difcretion of the governor, into a fecure prifon; and the people of it might be held as hostages for the conduct of the province at large, or be kidnapped and fent to England, to ftand trial for fuppofed offences. Continuance in it was hazardous to many, who had diftinguished themselves by taking an active part against the meafures of government. But the dauntlefs courage of fome fuch inclined them to remain, though there was no knowing what private orders might be fent to general Gage; who was not inattentive to the fervice in which he was employed, while he evidenced a prevailing defire after a peaceable accommodation. He fent private orders to the commanding officer at New York, to purchase up all the duck, blankets, pickaxes, pots and other articles proper for camp fervice. Application was made by the officer to the Philadelphia merchants, who penetrated the defign, and no less nobly than unanimously refufed a compliance. Three of the New York merchants had for fome time been buying up, felling and fending the several articles to Bofton; but at length a stop was put to their proceedings by the influence of captain Sears, who, upon his return from Philadelphia, argued that they might want thofe things themfelves, and made a confiderable ftir upon the oc

cafion.

cafion. But a great number were purchased at Portfmouth, before the discovery of the general's intention.

The news of the parliamentary proceedings encouraged the foldiery to infult the people more than ever: their conduct feemingly intimated, that they meant to provoke the other to begin the quarrel; while these bore all with patience, as they were determined not to be the aggreffors. Nothing was wanting, but a fpark to set the whole continent in a flame. The important moment, big with inconceivable confequences, was evidently approaching, when, through accident or defign, it would be applied to those combustibles, which had been long collecting.

The grenadier and light infantry companies were taken off duty, upon the plea of learning a new exercife, which made the Bostonians jealous, that there was some scheme on foot. A daughter of liberty, unequally yoked in point of politics, fent word, by a trusty hand, to Mr. Samuel Adams, refiding in company with Mr. Hancock at Lexington, about thirteen miles from Charlestown, that the troops were coming out in a few days. Upon this their friends at Bofton were advised to move out their plate, &c. and the committee of fafety voted,

that all the ammunition be deposited in nine different towns; and that other articles be lodged, fome in one place, fome in another, fo as to the 15 medicinal chests, 2000 iron pots, 2000 bowls, 15000 canteens, and 1100 tents; and that the fix companies of matroffes be stationed in different towns."

Mr. Adams inferred from the number to be employed, that these were the objects, and not himself and Mr. Hancock, who might be more easily seized in a

private way by a few armed individuals, than by a large body of troops that muft march, for miles together, under the eye of the publiċ.

The provincial ftores had been hitherto depofited at Worcester and Concord. To the laft of thefe places, but half the distance of the other from Boston, the general turned his attention; and, being continually peftered by the repeated folicitations of the American tories, with whom he was furrounded, and who perfuaded him there was no danger of refiftance, their whig countrymen being too cowardly, he determined, without the advice of the council, when and in what way to attempt the feizure of the many ftores fuppofed to be in the place.

18.

A number of officers dined together at Cambridge, April and toward night fcattered themselves upon the road leading to Concord; and took their station fo as to be ready to intercept any expreffes going from Bofton to alarm and raise the country, with intelligence of the troops being upon their march. When the corps was nearly ready to proceed upon the expedition, Dr. Warren, by a mere accident, had notice of it juft in time to fend meffengers over the neck and acrofs the ferry, on to Lexington, before the orders for preventing every perfon's quitting the town were executed. The officers intercepted feveral, but fome being well mounted, efcaped their vigilance; and the alarm, being once given, fpread apace, by the ringing of bells, and the firing of fignal guns and vollies. By eleven at night, eight hundred grenadiers and light infantry, the flower of the army, embarked at the common, proceeded and landed at Phipps's farm, from whence they marched for Concord,

19.

cord, under the command of lieutenant colonel Smith, aided by major Pitcairn, who led the advanced corps.

About two in the morning, the Lexington company of militia, to the amount of one hundred and thirty, repaired to the green, clofe in with the meeting house. The air being chilly, and the intelligence refpecting the regulars fomewhat uncertain, the men, after the rollcall, were dismissed, with orders to appear again at beat of drum. Some went home, others to the adjoining public houfe. Word being brought between four and five, that the troops were not far off, they that were at hand collected, to the number of about feventy, by the time the regulars made their appearance. They were mostly in a confused state, and a few only were drawn up. There were prefent at the time about forty spectators without arms. The militia were too few to think of beginning an attack. But major Pitcairn rode round the meeting (as the meeting-houfe is generally called) and approaching them called out, "Difperfe you rebels, throw down your arms and difperfe." An inftant compliance not taking place, which he might conftrue into contempt, he rode a little further, fired his piftol, flourifhed his fword, and ordered the foldiers to fire, with which they complied, huzzaing upon the occafion. This produced an immediate difperfion; but the firing was continued. Individuals finding they were fired upon though difperfing, had fpirit enough to ftop and return the fire. Three or four were killed upon the the reft, making the whole number of the flain eight, were shot on the other fide of the walls and fences, over which they had fled in order to escape. During this interefting period, Meffrs. S. Adams and Hancock, whofe re

green;

fidence