116 



And now, amid all the uproar, confusion and excitement, 

 Avliicli bj this time had reached a fearful height,— the angry 

 menaces of the troops on the one side and the language of 

 defiance on the other, — was heard the firm, but mild and gentle 

 voice of the Rev. Mr. Barnard, endeavoring to quiet the billows 

 of commotion, thus awakened into their fiercest activity, by 

 expostulating with Col. Leslie not to fire "upon these innocent 

 people," and " that his troops might be restrained from push- 

 ing their bayonets." On being thus addressed, Col. Leslie 

 turned short round and inquired " who are you, sir 1" Mr. 

 Barnard replied, "I am Thomas Barnard, a minister of the 

 Gospel and my mission is peace." The Colonel then com- 

 plained that his soldiers were much insulted, and expressed his 

 determination to cross the bridge, saying he was upon the 

 King's highway and would not be prevented from passing freely 

 over it. Old Mr. James Barr replied "it is ?ioi the King's 

 highway, — it is a road built by the owners of the lots on the 

 other side, and no king, country or town has any control over 

 it." The Colonel remarked " there may be two sides to that," 

 and Mr. Barr rejoined " Egad I think it will be the best way 

 for you to conclude the King has nothing to do with it." 



Upward of an hour and a half had now been consumed in the 

 fruitless attempt to pass the bridge, and the day was fast draw- 

 ing to a close, without any indication that the sun would be 

 commanded ' to stand still in the midst of heaven and hasten 

 not to* go down,' as was done in Gibeon, 'until they had 

 avenged themselves of their enemies.' Threats and bravado 

 were therefore laid aside as useless. Col. Leslie being at length 

 convinced that it would be the safest and most politic course for 

 him to make some overtures towards a compromise, and en- 

 deavor to effect by diplomacy, what it was in vain any longer 

 to think could be extorted by force. With this in view he 

 addressed Capt. Felt, and inquired if he had any authority to 

 cause the leaf of the draw to be let down, and was answered 

 " there was no autho7^ity in the case, but there might be some 

 influenced A conference between the besiegers and besieged 

 was the consequence of this suggestion, in which Felt, Barnard, 

 Mason and Pickering more particularly participated. Mason 

 being upon the northern side of the bridge was mounted during 

 the time upon a ladder at the top of the leaf, where he could 

 address Col. Leslie, with whom he was personally acquainted. 

 This conference resulted in Col. Leslie's pledging his word and 

 honor, if the inhabitants would remove the obstruction, he would 



