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with desperate bludgeons. People in general at that time talked of
the expected engagement; and many declared that should a towns-
man be killed in the fray, not a soldier should survive three hours.
On the Monday following, being the fifth of the month, as I was re-
turning from a visit, a little after nine o'clock in the evening, I heard
a bell ring, which I imagined to be the usual signal for fire ; but per-
ceiving no light in the air, I readily concluded from the foremen-
tioned circumstances, that the designed attack of the ropemakers had
taken place. It was not long before I was convinced of the justness
of my conjecture, by the repeated huzzas of a large mob collected
before the town-house, armed with clubs, &c. I enquired of seve-
ral the cause of the disturbance ; all the answer I could get was, "Damn
the rascals (meaning the soldiers); we'll murder every dog of them."
Upon this I walked toward the guard-house, where I heard some
men, towns-men I took them to be, tell the officer of the guard,
that if he did not send relief to the centry at the custom-house, he
certainly would be killed, for that he was attacked in a most violent
manner. That immediately on the discharge of a few muskets, which
instantly proved fatal to three of them, the before mentioned Gray and
another worthless fellow in particular; upon this most of the bells
in town were set a ringing, and continued so a long while without
intermission; and the voice of the people was, "To arms, to arms." I
saw numbers with arms, and many loading them, declaring seemingly
with a satisfaction, "That now the soldiers had done for themselves, it
was all they wanted, and that it was the happiest night America
ever knew." And I firmly believe, that had not the trooops left the
town, they would have fired the Beacon, and put the whole of them
to death. And that, to my knowledge, notice was accordingly given
to the country inhabitants to hold themselves in readiness for a mas-
sacre, and that four or five hundred people from Roxbury sent word
into town, that they were ready at a minute's warning. A great
number from Charles Town, &c. did the same, resolved, as they
must die, to die like men. Furthermore, I am confident, it is the
determined resolution of the sons of liberty to oppose the landing of
any of his Majesty's troops in future, and that they are (if people in
this world ever were) ripe for rebellion.

I don't recollect any thing further at present material. Should be
glad of your opinion of these minutes.