1764, Feb.] QUAKERS ON A WAK FOOTING. 143 



Whatever may have been the sentiments of the 

 Presbyterians and of the city mob, the rest of the 

 inhabitants bestirred themselves for defence with 

 all the alacrity of fright. The Quakers were espe- 

 cially conspicuous for their zeal. Nothing more 

 was heard of the duty of non-resistance. The city 

 was ransacked for arms, and the Assembly passed 

 a vote, extending the English riot act to the prov- 

 ince, the Quaker members heartily concurring in 

 the measure. Franklin, whose energy and practi- 

 cal talents made his services invaluable, was the 

 moving spirit of the day ; and under his auspices 

 the citizens were formed into military companies, 

 six of which were of infantry, one of artillery, and 

 two of horse. Besides this force, several thousands 

 of the inhabitants, including many Quakers, held 

 themselves ready to appear in arms at a moment's 

 notice.^ 



These preparations w^ere yet incomplete, when, 

 on the fourth of February, couriers came in with 

 the announcement that the Paxton men, horse and 

 foot, were already within a short distance of the 

 city. Proclamation was made through the streets, 

 and the people were called to arms. A mob of 

 citizen soldiers repaired in great excitement to the 

 barracks, where the Indians were lodged, under pro- 

 tection of the handful of regulars. Here the crowd 

 remained all night, drenched with the rain, and in 

 a dismal condition.^ 



On the following day, Sunday, a barricade was 



1 Gordon, Hist. Penn. 406. Penn. Gaz. No. 1833. 



2 Haz. Pa. Reg. XII. 10. 



