a getting up to go to the window, but had scarce got there, until I
heard them shouting, huzzaing, and making a prodigious noise ; at
the same time observed several people running past the front of the
house into King-street, many of them armed with large clubs and
sticks, threatening something, but what the deponent did not hear;
upon which more still passing by, saying, "Damn the rascals, damn
them all;" abusing both the officers and soldiers, neither of whom
I saw; presently there was a grand huzza, and from the voices must
have been great numbers collected together. I then heard them cry,
"Down with them repeatedly for a set of bloody back rascals, we
will do for them all;" and in an instant the bells began to ring, as
if an alarm for fire. Remaining most of the time at the window, saw
more people pass by armed as before, some crying out "Fire;" but
others said, "You fools, it's no fire;" then said, "Damn the rascals
all, we will soon drive them;" upon which I ran up stairs in order
to look out, to see if there really was a fire, but found it only a
finesse, heard a prodigious huzzaing, and often repeated, the bells
ringing all this time, when I heard the people crying out, "Damn
you all, fire, fire, why don't you fire, we dare you to fire, knock
them down, murder them all;" and in an instant saw the flash of
three pieces before the report, and immediately after three more went
off to the best of my memory; the people then gave another huzza,
though but a faint one; others came running into the square before
the house, crying out, "Murder, murder;' the soldiers had fired
amongst them, and had killed several dead on the spot; I then run
down stairs to see for my servant, whom I found a-bed, on which I de-
sired he would get up directly and go to the barracks. I then went
up stairs again, soon after he came and told me that his arms, &c
were at the barracks, upon which I countermanded the former or-
ders, having heard the threats against both the officers and soldiers ;
and from the numbers that were all this time about the house, did
not think it safe either to stir out myself or let my servant, having
frequently tried but without success. My servant told me that he
suspected something would happen one time or other, as he himself
had seen the centry at the custom-house pelted by a number of
people that evening before dark: being at the front door, saw Mr.
Nathaniel Hard, my next door neighbour, I called him in, and asked
how the affair began; but he made answer he did not exactly know,
but that for his part throught the people were all run mad, and go-
ing headlong to destruction; that the soldiers had fired upon them,
meaning the people, and killed three dead on the spot; that they
insisted upon the officers being given up to them. As the governor
and council were then sitting, I told him my situation, with my in-
tention of trying to get to the barracks, but he advised me against
it, as the people seemed very much irritated, therefore took his ad-