chamber, court-house, and Faneuil-hall—seats of freedom and justice—occupied by troops, and guards placed at the doors, and the council passing through the guards in going to their own chamber. They resented also the common’s being covered with tents, and alive with soldiers; their marchings and counter-marchings to relieve the guards; the town’s being a perfect garrison, and the inhabitants being challenged by the sentinels, as they passed and repassed. Persons devoutly inclined, complained much of being disturbed at public worship on the sabbaths, with drums beating, and fifes playing, to which they had never been accustomed in the Massachusetts. Quarters being obtained for the troops, the council were required to provide barrack provisions for them, agreeable to act of parliament; but resolutely declined going into any measure which might be construed into a submission to the said act. The opposition of the council to the quartering of, and providing for the troops, was so encouraged and strengthened by Mr. _James Bowdoin_, who was one of them, that Mr. _Hutchinson_, in his letter of November 6, ascribed the whole to his management. It was thought that the peaceable landing of the troops was not what some of the ministry either expected or desired; and that they were in hopes, that the folly and rage of the town and colony would have led them into an hostile opposition, and thereby have afforded an opportunity for giving them some naval and military correction. Under this apprehension, the gentleman who delivered the first dispatches from governor Bernard, containing the account of the troops having landed, &c. narrowly watched the countenance and conduct of the person who read them, and was confirmed in such opinion. But had he not possessed that opinion, it might not have been excited by what he observed. The sentiments of the military differed so extremely from those of the Bostonians, who were unjustly viewed as rebelliously inclined, that it was not to be wondered at that they were insulted and abused, and that quarrels should ensue, tho’ they did not proceed soon to a dangerous height. Undoubtedly the inhabitants could not be continually blameless; there would necessarily be some rash and imprudent persons among such a multitude; but the greatest rashness and imprudence lay in the sending of troops on a service which could have been effectually and better executed by a naval force properly stationed and employed. Ships of war might have possessed the harbour till the commissioners could have executed their office with safety.