“The awful suggestions with which the recent visitation of God has invested my house for the time being, has enabled us to meet to-night without danger that our deliberations will be interrupted, either by the curiosity or the violence of the rabble. For this one night, the first for many weeks, they have left me in peace, and I deem it is no desecration of the beloved memory of my departed companion, that we should avail ourselves of so melancholy an opportunity to take counsel for the restoration of law and order in this sorely troubled community. I have this day received from his excellency, the governor, and the honorable council at Boston, a proclamation, directed to all justices, sheriffs, jurors, and citizens, authorizing and strictly commanding them to suppress, by force of arms, all riotous proceedings, and to apprehend the rioters. I have called you privately together, that we might arrange for concerted action to these ends.” In a low voice, so that no chance listener from without might catch its tenor, the Squire then proceeded to read Governor Bowdoin's proclamation, closing with that time-honored and impressive formula, “God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” Captain Stoddard was first to break the silence which followed the reading of the document. “I, for one, am ready to fight the mob to-morrow, but how are we to go about it. There are ten men for the mob to one against it. What can we do?” “How many men in your company could be depended on to fight the mob, if it came to blows?” asked Woodbridge. “I'm afraid not over twenty or thirty. Three-quarters are for the mob.” “There are a dozen of us here, and I presume at least a score more gentlemen in town could be depended on,” said Dr. Partridge. “But that would give not over three score, and the mob could easily muster four times that,” said Gleason. “They have no leaders, though,” said Bacon. “Such fellows are only dangerous when they have leaders. They could not stand before us, for methinks we are by this time become desperate men.” “You forget this Hamlin fellow will stop at nothing, and they will follow him,” remarked Seymour. “He is going to leave town this week, if he be not already gone,” said Dr. Partridge. “What?” exclaimed Woodbridge, almost with consternation. “He is going away,” repeated the doctor. “Perhaps it would be expedient to wait till he has gone,” was Gleason's prudent suggestion. “And let the knave escape!” exclaimed Woodbridge, looking fiercely at the schoolmaster. “I would not have him get away for ten thousand pounds. I have a little reckoning to settle with him. If he is going to leave, we must not delay.” “My advices state that Squire Sedgwick will be home in a few days to attend to his cases at the October term of the Supreme Court at Barrington. His co-operation would no doubt strengthen our hands,” suggested Ephraim Williams.