Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-07-25
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
AN ENTERTAINiNG BIT or HISTORY
A Ride Of Paul Revere Prisr 10 his
Famous One Refore Lexington

Famous One Before LextnEton.
In the article of few weeks ago upon
the early history Of Dummerston, the date
of the destruction of the tea in Boston
harbor was given as Dec. 1S, l774. 1t
should have been 1913. This correction
does not however, affect the statement that
the release Of Lieut.. Spauldng was the
earliest resistance to the authority Of the
crown in the events leading up to the rev.
olution. The tea was merely private prop.
erty, and its destruction only a trespass
upon individual rights The next earliest
resistance after the release of Lieut. Spauld-
ing was the seizure Of some government
cannon about Dec 10, 1774, at Newport,
X. l. Immediately after William Cooper,
one Of committee at Boston, sent letter
to Samuel Cults, one of committee at
Portsmouth. This letter from Governor
Wentworth of the Province of New Hamp-
shire to Governor Gage of the Province of
Massachusetts,, shows who carried it, and
what was done upon its receipt
PORTSMOUTH, n. H., Dec H. I774
Sir: have the honour to receive your Excel
lencys letter Of the 9th instant, with the letter
from the Secretary Of state, which were both de
livertd to me ON Monday evening last by Mr.
Whiting.
1t is with the utmost concern am called upon
by my duty 10 the king, to commun icate 10 your
Excellency most unhappy affair perpetrated
here this day.
Yesterday In the afternoon Paul Revere arriv-
ed In this Town, express from Committee In BOs-
ton to another Committee Ia this Town, and de-
vered his despatch to Mr.. Samuel Cults, Mer-
chant Of this town, who Immediately convened
the Committee, OF which he Is one, aud as learn,
laid it before them This day, about noon, before
any suspicious could be had of their intentions,
about four hundred men were collected together
and Immediately proceeded to his Majesty's Cas-
tie, William and Mary, at the entrance Of this
Harbour, and forcbly took possession thereof
notw outstanding the best defence that could be
made by Captain Cochran (whose conduct has
been extremely laudable your Excelency will
see by the enclosed letter from him. and by vio-
lence carried on upwards Of one hundred barrels
uf Powder, belonging to the King, deposited iu
the Castle. | am Informed that expresses have
been circulated through the neghboring Towns,
10 COLLECT a number Of people tomorrow, or as
| soon as possible TO carry away all the Cannon and
Arms belonging to the Castle, which they will un-
dOubtedly effect unless some assistance should
| arrive from Boston In time to prevent IL. This
event too plainly proves the imbeclity Of this
Government 10 carry into execution his Ma iesty s
| order In Council for seizing and OBTAINING Arms
and Ammunition imported into this Province,
| without some strong Ships-of-War IN this IIar-
| bOur. Neither is this Province or Custom House
| Treasury In any degree safe, # It should come
iuto the mind Of the popular leaders TO seize upon
| them.
The principal persons who took the lead in this
enormity are well known. Upon the best infor
nation | can obtain, this mischief originates
from the publishing the Secretary Of States letter
and the Kings order in Council, at Rhode Island
] prohibiting the expectation Of Military Stores
| from Gr-at Britain and the proceedings In that
| Colony In consequence Of IT, which have be'n pub
lished here by the aforementioned Mr.. Revere, and
| the despatch brought, before which all was per
fectly quiet and peaceabe here. am, &c,
}. WENTWORTH
| To the Honourable GOvernour Gage.
The letter also shows that Paul Revere
did some riding about for the patriots be
sides that to alarm the country in the night
before the battle of Lexington, which has
made him so famous
In Bryants history of the United States
Sunday, Feb. 26, l775, at Salem, are given
as the date and place of the first bloodshed
of the revolution, adding, But before thi'
a man had been hanged in the New Hamp
shire Grants, now Vermont, for resisting
the crown authority" No man had beer
hanged there, however, for that cause, anC
nothing Of the kind had occurred besidei
the imprisonment of Lieut.. Spaulding on the
26th of October, and his release by hi
"freeborn Neighbors and bretherin" on tn,
9th Of November, l774, several weeks prio
to the next resistance in Rhode Island anC
at Portsmouth