refore
thought fit, with the advice of his Majesty's council, to
issue forth this proclamation," etc.

On Sunday, the 18th of April, 1723, the Rev. Joseph Sewall preached a
sermon suggested "by the late fires y't have broke out in Boston,
supposed to be purposely set by y'e negroes." The town was greatly
exercised. Everybody regarded the Negroes with distrust. Special
measures were demanded to insure the safety of the town. The selectmen
of Boston passed "nineteen articles" for the regulation of the
Negroes. The watch of the town was increased, and the military called
out at the sound of every fire-alarm "to keep the slaves from breaking
out"! In August, 1730, a Negro was charged with burning a house in
Malden; which threw the entire community into a panic. In 1755 two
Negro slaves were put to death for poisoning their master, John Codman
of Charlestown. One was hanged, and the other burned to death. In 1766
all slaves who showed any disposition to be free were "transported and
exchanged for small negroes."[390] In 1768 Capt. John Willson, of the
Fifty-ninth Regiment, was accused of exciting the slaves against their
masters; assuring them that the soldiers had come to procure their
freedom, and that, "with their assistance, they should be able to
drive the Liberty Boys to the Devil." The following letter from Mrs.
John Adams to her husband, dated at the Boston Garrison, 22d
September, 1774, gives a fair idea of the condition of the public
pulse, and her pronounced views against slavery.

"There has been in town a conspiracy of the negroes. At
present it is kept pretty private, and was discovered by one
who endeavored to dissuade them from it. He being threatened
with his life, applied to Justice Quincy for protection.
They conducted in this way, got an Irishman to draw up a
petition to the Governor [Gage], telling him they would
fight for him provided he would arm them, and engage to
liberate them if he conquered. And it is said that he
attended so much to it, as to consult Percy upon it, and one
Lieutenant Small has been very busy and active. There is but
little said, and what steps they will take in consequence of
it I know not. I wish most sincerely there was not a slave
in the province; it always appeared a most iniquitous scheme
to me to fight ourselves for what we are daily robbing and
plundering from those who have as good a r