one of them damn'd my soul and said,
"I was a soldier;" another
said,
"I looked more like an officer, and that if I was either they
would immediately sacrifice me;" another said,
"he would soon
discover if I belonged to the army;" upon which he came up to me
and lifted my great coat to examine my dress; finding me in
colour'd
cloaths, told the people,
"I was neither soldier nor officer." I heard
them repeatedly say,
"they had but one life to lose, and that they
were willing to lose it for their country;" and also said,
"that Mr.
Hancock said he had but one life, that he would lost if for his
coun-
try, and why should not they? that they would oppose the troops,
and prevent them taking the damn'd bougers out of jail."
HENRY DOUGAN.
Suffolk, ss.
Boston, March 14th, 1770.
Sworn before me, JAMES MURRAY, J.P.
(No.122.)
I James Vibart, lieutenant in the 29th regiment of foot,
being
duly sworn, do depose and say, that I have been many times in-
sulted and abused in the streets of
Boston, but most particularly on
the 12th day of March instant, about 8 o'clock in the evening, as I
was returning home from the coffee-house to my lodgings, I then
re-
ceived a blow from some person unknown with a stick or other
wea-
pon on my head, which wounded me on two places, and brought me
to the ground, where I lay senseless some time. And I do further
depose, that I did not at that time, or before the blow, speak a word,
or give the least offence or provocation whatsoever, to any one for
such treatment.
JAMES VIBART.
Suffolk, ss.
Boston, March 14th, 1770.
Sworn before me, James Murray, J.P.
(No.123.)
Messieurs EDES & GILL,
Gentlemen,
AS the villainy of my servant (who is a boy under age, without
principle, sense, or education, and indeed unacquainted with our
language) has subjected myself and one of my friends to a suspicion
that we were concerned in the unhappy transaction of Monday
the 5th instant, I thought it necessary to publish the following affidavit
as an additional (till further) proof of my innocence, and the
ex-
treme injury done my sentiments and reputation.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your humble servant, 16th March, EDWARD MANWARING. 16th March,
1770.