the ladies diverted themselves by riding out, but were followed by a mob, pelted and abused with the most indecent Billingsgate language. These things happened at the time when some of the people of Plymouth, in conjunction with the Committee-men from other Towns in that County, aided and assisted by four dissenting Clergymen, were presenting to the General by their Memorial, the peaceable state they were in before the arrival of a party of Soldiers at Marsh-field, in that County.

The Honourable Israel Williams, Esquire, one who was appointed of his Majesty's new Council, but had declined the office through infirmity of body, was taken from his house by the mob in the night, carried several miles, put into a room with a fire, the chimney at the top, and doors of the room being closed, and kept there for many hours in the smoke, till his life was in danger, then carried home, after being forced to sign what they ordered, and a guard put over him to prevent his coming from home.

To recount the suffering of all from mobs, rioters, and trespassers, would take more time and paper than can be spared for that purpose. It is hoped the foregoing will be sufficient to put you upon the use of proper means and measures for giving relief to all that have been injured by such unlawful and wicked practices.

Boston, February 23, 1775.

INSTRUCTIONS OF GENERAL GAGE TO CAPTAIN BROWN AND ENSIGN D'BERNICRE.

Boston, February 22, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: You will go through the Counties of Suffolk and Worcester, taking a sketch of the country as you pass; it is not expected you should make out regular plans and surveys, but mark out the Roads and Distances from Town to Town, as also the situation and nature of the country; all Passes must be particularly laid down, noticing the length and breadth of them, the entrance in and going out of them, and whether to be avoided by taking other routes.

The Rivers also to be sketched out, remarking their breadth and depth, and the nature of their banks on both sides; the Fords, if any, and the nature of their bottoms; many of which particulars may be learned of the country people.

You will remark the Heights you meet with, whether the ascents are difficult or easy; as also the Woods and Mountains, with the height and nature of the latter, whether to be got round or easily passed over.

The nature of the country to be particularly noticed, whether enclosed or open; if the former, what kind of enclosures, and whether the country admits of making Roads for Troops on the right or left of the main Road, or on the sides.

You will notice the situation of the Towns and Villages, their Churches, and Churchyards, whether they are advantageous spots to take post in, and capable of being made defencible.

If any places strike you as proper for encampments, or appear strong by nature, you will remark them particularly, and give reasons for your opinions.

It would be useful if you could inform yourselves of the necessaries their different Counties could supply, such as Provisions, Forage, Straw, &c., the number of Cattle, Horses, &c., in the several Townships.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

THOMAS GAGE.

To Captain Brown, Fifty-second Regiment, and Ensign D'Bernicre, Tenth Regiment.

NARRATIVE OF ENSIGN D'BERNICRE.

The latter end of February, 1775, Captain Brown and myself received orders to go through the Counties of Suffolk and Worcester, and sketch the Roads as we went, for the information of General Gage, as he expected to have occasion to march Troops through that country the ensuing Spring.

We set out from Boston, on Thursday, disguised like countrymen, in brown clothes and reddish handkerchiefs round our necks; at the Ferry of Charlestown, we met a sentry of the Fifty-second Regiment, but Captain Brown's servant, whom we took along with us, bid him not to take any notice of us, so that we passed unknown to Charles-town. From that we went to Cambridge, a pretty Town, with a College built of brick; the ground is entirely level on which the Town stands. We next went to Watertown, and were not suspected. It is a pretty large Town for America, but would be looked upon as a Village in England; a little out of this Town we went into a Tavern, a Mr. Brewer's, a Whig; we called for dinner, which was brought in by a black woman, at first she was very civil, but afterwards began to eye us very attentively; she then went out and a little after returned, when we observed to her that it was a very fine country, upon which she answered so it is, and we have got brave fellows to defend it, and if you go up any higher you will find it so. This disconcerted us a good deal, and we imagined she knew us from our papers, which we took out before her, as the General had told us to pass for surveyors; however, we resolved not to sleep there that night, as we had intended, accordingly we paid our bill, which amounted to two Pounds odd Shillings, but it was old tenor. After we had left the house we inquired of John, our servant, what she had said; he told us that she knew Captain Brown very well, that she had seen him five years before at Boston, and knew him to be an officer, and that she was sure I was one also, and told John that he was a regular—he denied it; but she said she knew our errant was to take a plan of the country; that she had seen the River and Road through Charles-town on the paper; she also advised him to tell us not to go any higher, for if we did we should meet with very bad usage. Upon this we called a council, and agreed that if we went back we should appear very foolish, as we had a great number of enemies in Town, because the General had chose to employ us in preference to them; it was absolutely necessary to push on to Worcester, and run all risk rather than go back until we were forced. Accordingly we continued our route and went about six miles further; we met a country fellow driving a team, and a fellow with him whom we suspected to be a deserter; they both seemed very desirous to join company with us, and told us, upon our saying we were going towards Worcester, that they were going our way. As we began to suspect something, we stopped at a Tavern, at the sign of the Golden-ball, with an intention to get a drink and so proceed; but upon our going in the landlord pleased us so much, as he was not inquisitive, that we resolved to lie there that night; so we ordered some fire to be made in the room we were in, and a little after to get us some Coffee; he told us we might have what we pleased, either Tea or Coffee. We immediately found out with whom we were, and were not a little pleased to find, on some conversation, that he was a friend to Government; he told us that he had been very ill used by them some time before, but that since he had shewed them that he was not to be bullied, they had left him pretty quiet. We then asked him for the Inns that were on the road between his house and Worcester; he recommended us to two, one at about nine miles from his house, a Mr. Buckminster's, and another at Worcester, a namesake of his own, a Mr. Jones.

The second day was very rainy, and a kind of frost; with it, however, we resolved to set off, and accordingly we proceeded to Mr. Buckminster's; we met nothing extraordinary on the road; we passed some time in sketching a Pass that lay on our road, and of consequence were very dirty and wet on our arrival. On our entering the house we did not much like the appearance of things; we asked for dinner, and they gave us some sausages; we praised every thing exceedingly, which pleased the old woman of the house much; when we told them we intended staying the night, they gave us a room to ourselves, which was what we wanted; after being there some time we found we were pretty safe, as by that time we perceived that the côte du pays was not a dangerous one; of consequence we felt very happy, and Brown, I, and our man John, made a very hearty supper, for we always treated him as our companion, since our adventure with the black woman. We slept there that night, and the next morning being a very fine one we resolved to push on for Worcester, which was about thirty miles from us; we proceeded about nine miles without anything extraordinary happening, except meeting two men whom we suspected to be deserters.