But we shall leave them to their own reflec-
tions, after observing, that as they had some
months before the arrival of the troops, under
pretence of safety to their persons, retired from
town to the Castle, so after the arrival of the
troops, and their being quartered in the town,
they thought proper to return : having answered,
as they doubtless thought, the purpose of their
voluntary flight.
We shall next attend to the conduct of the
troops, and to some circumstances relative to
them. -- Governor Bernard without consulting
the Council, having given up the State-house to
the troops at their landing, they took possession
of the chambers, where the representatives of the
province and the courts of law held their meet-
ings ; and (except the council-chamber) of all
other parts of that house : in which they conti-
nued a considerable time, to the great annoyance
of those courts while they sat, and of the mer-
chants and gentlemen of the town, who had al-
ways made the lower floor of it their exchange.
They had a right so to do, as the property of it
was in the town : but they were deprived of
that right by meer power. The said Governor
soon after, by every stratagem and by every me-
thod, but a forcibly entry, endeavored to get
possession of the manufactory-house, to make a
barrack of it for the troops : and for that pur-
pose caused it to be besieged by the troops, and
the people in it to be used very cruelly; which
extraordinary proceedings created universal un-