122 



her prosperity they felt to be essentially their own. They 

 "vvere ever ready to fight her battles and shed their best blood 

 in her behalf. But the long continued unholy chastisements 

 of a parent's hand had at length alienated their love, and under- 

 mined their loyalty ; and in defence of Avhat they esteemed 

 their inalienable rights, they felt themselves compelled, as their 

 last resource, to make bare the arm of flesh against their op- 

 pressors. Contending Avith fearful odds, no dangers v/ere too 

 imminent for them to encounter, and no sacrifices, however 

 great, to which they did not willingly submit. Who so dead 

 to high and generous impulses as not to feel his gratitude en- 

 kindled, and his patriotism warmed by the recital of their 

 glorious deeds ? Peace to their ashes, and light the soil that 

 covers their venerated remains — where honor shall come, 



"a pilgrim gray, 

 To bless the turf that wraps their clay, 

 And Freedom shall awhile repair, 

 To dwell a weeping hermit there." 



APPENDIX 



The following account of the affair at the North Bridge, was pub- 

 lished in the Essex Gazette, under date of Feb. 28, 1775, and is believed 

 to have been written by Col. Timothy Pickering : 



" Last Sabbath the peace of the town was disturbed by the coming of a 

 regiment of the King's troops, the particulars relative to which are as fol- 

 lows. A transport arrived at Marblehead apparently manned as usual. 

 Between 2 and 3 o'clock (as soon as the people had gone to meeting) 

 the decks were covered with soldiers, who having loaded and fixed their 

 bayonets, landed with great dispatch, and instantly marched off. Some 

 of the inhabitants suspecting they were bound to Salem to seize some 

 materials there preparing for an artillery, dispatched several messengers 

 to inform us of it. These materials were at the north side of the North 

 River, and to come at them it was necessary to cross a bridge, one part 

 of which was made to draw up for the convenience of letting vessels pass 

 through. The inhabitants kept a look out for the appearance of the 

 troops. The van-guard arrived, and took their route down in town as 

 far as the Long- wharf ; perhaps to decoy the inhabitants thither, away 

 from the place to which the main body were destined. The main body 

 arrived soon after and halted a few minutes by the Town-House. It ia 

 said inquiry was immediately made by some of the oflBcers for a half 



