"Maidstone" lying at a wharf. Dragging
this ashore, the crowd procured ropes, and, after pulling the captured
trophy up and down the streets, took it to the common in front of the
Court-House, where it was burned in the presence of a great crowd,
which heaped execrations upon the heads of the officers of the
"Maidstone," and King George's press-gang.

After this occurrence, there was a long truce between the people of
Newport and the officers of the British navy. But the little town was
intolerant of oppression, and the revolutionary spirit broke out again
in 1769. Historians have eulogized Boston as the cradle of liberty,
and by the British pamphleteers of that era the Massachusetts city
was often called a hot-bed of rebellion. It would appear, however,
that, while the people of Boston were resting contentedly under the
king's rule, the citizens of Newport were chafing under the yoke, and
were quick to resist any attempts at tyranny.

It is noticeable, that, in each outbreak of the people of Newport
against the authority of the king's vessels, the vigor of the
resistance increased, and their acts of retaliation became bolder.
Thus in the affair of the "St. John" the king's vessel was fired on,
while in the affair of the "Maidstone" the royal property was actually
destroyed. In the later affairs with the sloop "Liberty" and the
schooner "Gaspee," the revolt of the colonists was still more open,
and the consequences more serious.

In 1769 the armed sloop "Liberty," Capt. Reid, was stationed in
Narragansett Bay for the purpose of enforcing the revenue laws. Her
errand made her obnoxious to the people on the coast, and the
extraordinary zeal of her captain in discharging his duty made her
doubly detested by seafaring people afloat or shore.

On the 17th of July the "Liberty," while cruising near the mouth of
the bay, sighted a sloop and a brig under full sail, bound out.
Promptly giving chase, the armed vessel soon overtook the merchantmen
sufficiently to send a shot skipping along the crests of the waves, as
a polite Invitation to stop. The two vessels hove to, and a boat was
sent from the man-of-war to examine their papers, and see if all was
right. Though no flaw was found in the papers of either vessel, Capt.
Reid determined to take them back to Newport, which was done. In the
harbor the two vessels were brought to anchor under the guns of the
armed sloop, and without any reason or explanation were kept there
sev