At Salem the merchants, freeholders and other inhabitants, were by hand-bills summoned to meet on Wednesday the twenty-fourth, to consider on measures for opposing the execution of divers late acts of parliament. The day preceding the intended meeting, [August 23.] the governor, who resides within a few miles of the place, published a proclamation prohibiting all persons from attending. The proclamation being disregarded, a company of soldiers were ordered into town to disperse the meeting; but before they got to it, the business was finished, and the inhabitants withdrawn. Three of the gentlemen were apprehended, but gave bonds to appear in court, and so were discharged. The proceedings of the people, and their manifest dispositions, have alarmed the general, who has thought it necessary for the safety of the troops, as well as to secure the important post of Boston, to fortify the entrance at the Neck, which affords the only communication, except by water, between the town and the continent. His own personal safety, while at his country residence in Danvers, would have been endangered, had not the prudence of Samuel Holten, esq. M. D. a genuine, determined, but considerate son of liberty, cooled and moderated the temper of his neighbors. _William Brattle_, esq. frequently an elected counsellor under the charter, having given a hint to the governor to secure the provincial ammunition, he sent two companies of soldiers across the river long before day-break, [Sept. 1.] who possessed themselves of the powder in the arsenal at Charlestown. The news circulated apace, and in the morning the inhabitants of the neighboring towns, to the amount of several thousands, assembled at Cambridge, mostly in arms. They proceeded to the lieutenant governor Oliver’s house, and to the house of several of the new counsellors, and of others who they thought had shewn themselves unfriendly to the province. Some of the consellors were obliged to resign, and to declare they would no more act under what are pronounced the arbitrary laws lately enacted—It was with difficulty that the multitude was restrained from marching to Boston, there to demand a delivery of the powder, and, in case of refusal, to attack the troops. This collection of people, and the confusion necessarily attending their transactions, gave rise to a rumor, that the fleet and troops were firing upon the town of Boston, which flew with amazing rapidity through New-England; and in less than 24 hours after, there were between 30 and 40,000 men in arms, some of whom marched from 20 to 30 miles toward Boston before they were undeceived. This report, and the seizure of the powder, roused the inhabitants in the other colonies beyond New-England, so that they immediately began learning the military exercise. The transaction at Cambridge produced such other risings in the colony, as obliged more of the new council to resign or to flee to Boston; whither,