[June 10.] Mr. _Joseph Harrison_, the collector, and Mr. _Benjamin Hallowell_, the comptroller, repaired to Hancock’s wharf. Mr. _Harrison_ objected to the unseasonableness of the time, being between six and seven, when the lower class of people were returning from their day labour. The seizure however was made before sun-set, so as to be perfectly legal. Mr. _Harrison_ thought the sloop might lie at the wharf, after clapping the broad arrow upon her; but Mr. _Hallowell_ judged it would be best to move her under the guns of the _Romney_, and made signal for her boats to come ashore. The people upon the wharf cried out, “There is no occasion, she will lie safe, and no officer has a right to remove her;” but the master of the man of war cut her moorings and carried her off. Every mean was used to interrupt the officers in the execution of their business, and numbers swore that they would be revenged. A mob was soon collected, which increased to a thousand or two, chiefly of sturdy boys and negroes. The minds of the people were inflamed by the seizure and removal of the vessel. They had been before irritated by the captain of the man of war’s pressing some seamen belonging to the town; add to that; their aversion to the board of commissioners, the popularity of the owner, and the name of the sloop—these of course excited their resentments, and wrought them up into a combustible body. Captain Malcolm, who was deeply engaged in running the wines, headed a number of men after the seizure, and was very active in attempting to prevent the sloop’s being removed. Mr. _Harrison_ was pelted with stones, bricks, and dirt, and received several blows with sticks, particularly one on the breast, so that it was with difficulty he could keep from falling; he was afterward confined to his bed from the injuries he had received. Mr. _Hallowell_, Mr. _Irving_, inspector of imports and exports, and the collector’s son were sharers in the treatment. They all escaped with the utmost hazard of their lives. Mr. _Hallowell_ was confined to his house under the care of a surgeon from wounds and bruises. Mr. _Richard Harrison_, the collector’s son, was thrown down, dragged by the hair of his head, and otherwise treated barbarously. Mr. _Irving_ was beaten with clubs and sticks; had his sword broken to pieces, and received a few slight wounds. The mob proceeded to the houses of the collector and comptroller, broke their windows, and those of Mr. _Williams_, inspector general, then dragged the collector’s boat through the town, and burnt it on the common. This was on Friday evening. Saturday and Sunday evenings are sacred; and the commissioners _Hulton_, _Burch_, _Paxton_ and _Robinson_, esqrs. remained pretty easy; during the outrages, to avoid insults, they retired from their own to neighbours houses. But receiving information that further riots were intended, and the governor telling them he could not protect them, and that there would be no