History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I

" The Governor desired their advice in the " then critical situation of affaii-s. Several things were mentioned, pro- " posed, agitated, and talked of, but to little purpose. .\ Judge of the "Supreme Court,'' ['ritomas Joni% who wrote thii statement,] "then "present, boldly proposed that the Militia should be called out, the " Riot .\ct read, and if the mob did not tliereupon disperse, to apprehend " and imprison the ringleaders, and by such coercive means to secure ' ' the peace of tlie City. Tliis proposal was instantly opposed by William " Smith, one of liis Majesty's Council, who openly declared ' that the ' ' ' ferment which then raged in the City wa;* general and not confined to " ' a few ; that it was owing to a design in the British Ministry to en- " 'slave the Colonies, and to carry such design into execution by dint of " *a military force ; that the Battle of Lexington was looked upon as " *a prelude to such intention; and that the spirit then prevailing in " * the Town (which he represented as universal) would subside as soon " ' as the gricLvances of the people were redressed ; and advised to let " 'the populace act as they pleased ' -- Nobody replied, the times were " critical, a declaratijn of one's sentiments might be dangerous, the " Council broke up, and nothing was done." -- (Hhlory of Sew Yorh during the lieeohttimiarif Tl'ar, i. 41.)