On the 8th of June the sloop Hannah, Benjamin Lindsey, master, arrived at Newport from New York, and having reported at the custom house set sail the next day for Providence. No sooner was she seen from the deck of the Gaspee than the watchful servant of the King gave chase, and venturing too near a point which ran out from the right bank of the river took ground. Captain Lindsey kept on his course with the welcome tidings that the common enemy was at bay. At the beat of the drum the exasperated citizens came crowding to the gathering place, James Sabin's house in South Main Street. Eight long boats with five oars each were manned. Powder was prepared and bullets run, and when night set in with its friendly shades the resolute band set forth on its mission of vengeance. It was long after midnight when they came within sight of the doomed vessel hard set in the sand, and heard the first hoarse challenge of the guard. Without heeding it they dashed forward and as a second challenge came were at her side. Duddingston sprang upon the gunwale--he had no time to dress, no time to arm himself or call his men to quarters--but as he stood full in view his figure caught the eye of Joseph Bucklin who was standing on one of the main thwarts. "Eph.," said Bucklin to Ephraim Bowen, who was sitting on the thwart on which Bucklin was standing and who lived to tell the story in his eighty-sixth year, "reach me your gun, I can kill that fellow." As Eph. was reaching him the gun, Whipple, one of the leaders was beginning to answer Duddingston's hail:--"I am the sheriff of the County of Kent, God damn you,"--but while he was yet speaking Bucklin fired and Duddingston fell, wounded in the stomach. The surprise was complete. The crew with their wounded commander were sent ashore and the vessel burned to the water's edge. Who were these bold men? Everybody in Providence knew; but although large rewards were offered for their detection and a special tribunal formed to try them, nobody was ever found to bear witness against them. So deep were the feelings that prepared the way for the separation from England. CHAPTER XXIV. PROPOSITION FOR THE UNION OF THE COLONIES.--ACTIVE MEASURES TAKEN LOOKING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.--DELEGATES ELECTED TO CONGRESS.--DESTRUCTION OF TEA AT PROVIDENCE.--TROOPS RAISED.--POSTAL SYSTEM ESTABLISHED.--DEPREDATIONS OF THE BRITISH.--"GOD SAVE THE UNITED COLONIES."