on his honour the lieutenant-governor, most fervently praying,
That his power and influence may be exerted for the immediate
removal of the troops, as nothing less could rationally be ex-
pected to restore the peace of the town, and prevent bloodshed
and carnage. No question was put to the council; but the seve-
ral gentlemen of the council present expressed their sense of the
necessity of the immediate removal of the troops from the town:
and after they had conferred with colonel Dalrymple and colonel
Carr upon the subject, his honour gave the following answer to
the committee of the town, the same having been first read to the
council, viz.

GENTLEMEN,

I AM extremely sorry for the unhappy differences between the in-
habitants and the troops, and especially for the action of the last
evening; and I have exerted myself upon the occasion, that a due
inquiry be made, and that the law may have its course. I have in
council consulted with the commanding officers of the two regiments
which are in town: They have their orders from the general at
New York; it is not in my power to countermand his orders. The
council have desired that the regiments may be removed to the castle.
From the particular concern which the 29th regiment has had in
these differences, colonel Dalrymple, who is the commanding officer
of the troops, has signified to me, that that regiment shall be placed
in the barracks at the castle, until he can send to the general and re-
ceive his further orders concerning both the regiments; and he has
given me assurance that the main guard shall be removed, and the
14th regiment shall be so disposed, and laid under such restraint, that
all future differences may be prevented.

The council was then adjourned to the afternoon, and being met,
his honour received a second message from the town by a committee
appointed for the purpose, in the words following, viz.

Voted, That a committee be appointed to wait on his honour the
lieutenant-governor, and acquaint him, that it is the opinion of this
meeting, consisting of near 3000 people, that his honour's reply is
by no means satisfactory, and that nothing will satisfy the town, less
than a total and immediate removal of the troops.

His honor the lieutenant-governor laid before the board the
foregoing message of the town presented to him this afternoon, and
then addressed them as follows, viz.

Gentlemen of the council, I lay before you a vote of the town of
Boston, which I have just now received from them; and I now ask
your advice what you judge necessary to be done upon it.

The council thereupon expressed themselves to be unanimously of
opinion, That it was absolutely necessary for his Majesty's service,
the good order of the town, and the peace of the province, that the