of the bark had assembled on the quarterdeck, stout English
tars every man of them, armed with pikes and belaying-pins; and at
a word from the mate they rushed in a body over the plank. Some were
thrust off into the water, but so fierce was their onset that others
gained the wharf, laying sharply about them in all directions, but
getting full as many knocks as they gave. For a space there was a
very bedlam of cries and broken heads, those behind in the mob surging
forward to reach the scrimmage, forcing their own comrades over the
edge. McNeir had his thigh broken by a pike, and was dragged back after
the first rush was over; and the mate of the bark was near to drowning,
being rescued, indeed, by Graham, the tanner. Mr. Hood stood white in
the gangway, dodging a missile now and then, waiting his chance, which
never came. For many of the sailors were captured and carried bodily
to the "Rose and Crown" and the "Three Blue Balls," where they became
properly drunk on Jamaica rum; others made good their escape on board.
And at length the bark cast off again, amidst jeers and threats, and
one-third of her crew missing, and drifted slowly back to the roads.

From the dock, after all was quiet, Mr. Carvel stepped into his barge
and rowed to the Governor's, whose house was prettily situated near
Hanover Street, with ground running down to the Severn. His Excellency
appeared much relieved to see my grandfather; Mr. Daniel Dulany was
with him, and the three gentlemen at once repaired to the Governor's
writing-closet for consultation.

Mr. Carvel's town house being closed, we stopped with his Excellency.
There were, indeed, scarce any of the gentry in town at that season save
a few of the Whig persuasion. Excitement ran very high; farmers
flocked in every day from the country round about to take part in the
demonstration against the Act. Mr. Hood's storehouse was burned to the
ground. Mr. Hood getting ashore by stealth, came, however, unmolested to
Annapolis and offered at a low price the goods he had brought out in the
bark, thinking thus to propitiate his enemies. This step but inflamed
them the more.

My grandfather having much business to look to, I was left to my own
devices, and the devices of an impetuous lad of twelve are not always
such as his elders would choose for him. I was continually burning with
a desire to see what was proceeding in the town, and hearing one day a
great clamour and tolling of bells, I ran out o