For this one night, the
first for many weeks, they have left me in peace, and I deem it is no
desecration of the beloved memory of my departed companion, that we
should avail ourselves of so melancholy an opportunity to take counsel
for the restoration of law and order in this sorely troubled
community. I have this day received from his excellency, the governor,
and the honorable council at Boston, a proclamation, directed to all
justices, sheriffs, jurors, and citizens, authorizing and strictly
commanding them to suppress, by force of arms, all riotous
proceedings, and to apprehend the rioters. I have called you privately
together, that we might arrange for concerted action to these ends."
In a low voice, so that no chance listener from without might catch
its tenor, the Squire then proceeded to read Governor Bowdoin's
proclamation, closing with that time-honored and impressive formula,
"God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." Captain Stoddard was
first to break the silence which followed the reading of the document.
"I, for one, am ready to fight the mob to-morrow, but how are we to go
about it. There are ten men for the mob to one against it. What can we
do?"
"How many men in your company could be depended on to fight the mob,
if it came to blows?" asked Woodbridge.
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