About 12 o'clock word was brought to "the gentlemen at Captain Hatfield's that the oppo- " site party had already entered ujton the business of "tlie day. Upon which they immediately walked "down to the Courthouse, although not half of their " friends who were expected, had yet appeared ; where " they found the other company collected in a body. " The numbers on each side seemed to be nearly " equal, and both together might amount to 200, or " at most 250. The friends to government then de- " clared, that as they had been unlawfully called to- " gether, and for an unlawful purpose, they did not " intend to contest the matter with them by a poll, " wliich would be tacitly acknowledging the author- " ity that had summoned them thither ; but that they " came only with a design to protest against all " such disorderly proceedings, and to shew their de- " testation of all unlawful committees and con- " gresses.
They then declared their determined "resolution to continue stedfast in their allegiance to "their gracious and merciful sovereign King George " the Third -- to submit to lawful authority, and to " abide by and support the only true representatives " of the people of this colony, the General Assembly. "Then giving three huzzas, they returned to Captain "HatfieWs, singing as they went, with loyal enthusi- " asm, the good and animating song of,
' Tlif Dcrlamt ion here referred to, forms a portion of the Protest wliich is pnMishecl, in full, on this page, below, ami on page 73 post., and the reailer is referred to it, in that place.