it through fear. In most places, indeed, it was conceived
more dangerous to oppose the popular will, than to risk a war with Great
Britain. And it was in vain that the governor sought to stem the onward
progress of the tide of revolution. He issued a proclamation, forbidding
such unlawful and traitorous combinations, and warned the people against
countenancing them; but his orders were disregarded, and his very power
questioned. In Boston all became sullen and threatening, and General
Gage at length deemed it advisable to take means more efficacious than
proclamations in repressing tumult. A detachment of artillery, with some
regiments of infantry were ordered to encamp near Boston, and these were
soon reinforced by fresh troops from Great Britain and Ireland. But it
was soon found that the troops could not be depended upon:--bought by
gills of ardent spirits and promises of reward, many, and especially the
raw recruits, deserted their ranks; and General Gage next placed a guard
on the Isthmus, called Boston-neck, which joins the peninsula whereon
the town is built to the main land. This movement, like all the other
movements made by the officers of government, was misrepresented, and
hastened on the crisis. A cry was raised and a report spread that the
governor intended to cut off all communications, and compel the town to
submit to terms. The exciting cry produced the effect that was wished
far and near. Even those provinces which had hitherto been slow to join
the Bostonians in their hostility towards government, now earnestly
exhorted them to brave their supposed doom, as the eye of all America
was upon them; and the hands of all the Americans ready to be stretched
forth for their deliverance.

In conformity to the bill for regulating the government of Massachusets
Bay, General Gage reorganised the Massachusets council. Commissions
arrived in August for the new council, and thirty-six were appointed,
but twelve out of that number refused to accept office; and even those
who did accept office, were soon glad, for the most part, to throw
up their commissions, from the odium which they had incurred and the
threats by which they were intimidated. General Gage, however, issued
writs for convening an assembly in October. But order and law were now
out of the question in Boston. The juries would not serve under the new
judges, and the very officers refused, from disaffection or fear, to
summon them. The colonists had now, i