over our heads, which made me expect to be knocked down every
moment, on which lieutenant Dixon and I found it necessary to
take every precaution to prevent the towns-people from entering the
barrack yard, as they declared they would have revenge of them, and
also to hinder any of the soldiers to pass into the streets, as many of
them were much wounded by the inhabitants, which made me try
every expedient I could think of to prevent farther mischief.
Signed, PAUL MINCHIN,
Lieutenant in the 29th regiment.
Suffolk, ss. Boston, March 13th, 1770.
Sworn before me, JAMES MURRAY, J.P.

(No. 108.)

I John Goldfinch, captain lieutenant in his Majesty's 14th regiment
of foot, do hereby depose, that on Monday the 5th instant, about
the hour of nine in the evening, as I was going to my barrack, I
heard a great disturbance near the barracks of the 29th regiment. I
went to see the occasion of it, and found that a few of that corps
were defending themselves in a narrow passage leading to their bar-
racks against a great number of the inhabitants; with some difficulty
and danger, as the people of the town were pelting them with stones
and other things, I got to the head of those men of the 29th regi-
ment, and prevailed on them to go to their barracks, which they
readily did, although insulted in the most opprobrious manner by the
inhabitants, who followed them to the gate of the barracks, calling
them "rascals and cowards," still pelting them with stones, daring
them to come out and fight them; but lieutenant Dixon, and other
officers of the said corps, who were at the barracks, exerted themselves
so much, that they prevented any accident happening, as they kept
the soldiers within the gates. When the people of the town saw that
they could not gain their point by drawing the men off their duty,
they went to the main guard; and within a few minutes, I heard the
drum of the said guard beat to arms, on which I went to the bar-
racks where some of the officers of the 14th regiment were quartered,
told them of it, and desired them to go with me and join the regi-
ment: directly lieutenant Mattear, second lieutenant Napier, ensign
Laurie, and ensign Hallwood, went with me part of the way, but
by some mistake, owing to the disturbance in the streets, we divided,
which had not happened above a minute before I was surrounded by
a great number of inhabitants, the greatest part of which threatened
to murder me, which I firmly believe would have been the case, as
they were armed with bludgeons and cudgels, and endeavoring to
strike at me, saying "They would soon get rid of the soldiers in the
same manner." I got clear of this party by being known to one or
two, who let me pass them untouched. I had not gone from them
but a small distance, when six or seven men rushed out from behind
a house, and knocked me down; the strike was so sudden, and not