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ing a report that "now is the time!" By midsummer 

 three sessions had been held, had transacted business, 

 and finally dissolved. On the day of their dissolution 

 they again assembled, by the recommendation of the 

 Continental Congress, as an independent government 

 under the charter. Before this reorganization, the estab- 

 lished tribunals of justice, which had either ceased to 

 hold sessions or were disregarded by the people, had 

 been replaced by a Court of Inquiry, to insure the pres- 

 ervation of order ; the establishment of a navy had been 

 favorably reported upon, and the great work of raising 

 and equipping an army had been accomplished. Under 

 the new style of government, the council and represen- 

 tatives removed the judges who had been appointed by 

 royal governors, and issued commissions to new magis- 

 trates of their own selection. Thus, in less than ten 

 months from the taking of their first bold step at Salem, 

 the new regime was in the full exercise of the three 

 great functions of government legislative, judicial and 

 executive. While the Legislature was thus employed, 

 the people were busy arming and organizing the militia. 

 Through the fall and winter, colonels of regiments and 

 other military officers, who were not in known sympathy 

 with the popular movement, were either forced to resign, 

 or the men under their command voluntarily disbanded 

 and reorganized under other leaders. New companies 

 were started, beginning with an artillery company in 

 Marblehead, for which subscriptions were opened early 

 in November. The expedition of Colonel Leslie, on the 

 26th of February, 1775, and the affair at the North 

 Bridge in Salem, when the first bloodshed of the revolu- 

 tion occurred, present a theme inviting discussion, when 

 the anniversary of that day arrives. Mr. Goodell reca- 

 pitulated the events of these nine months as follows : 



