About 12 o'clock word was brought to "the gentlemen at Captain Hatfield's that the oppo- " site party had already entered upon the business of "the 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 together, and for an unlawful purpose, they did not " intend to contest the matter with them by a poll, " which 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 detestation 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 " Hatfield's, singing as they went, with loyal enthusi- " asm, the good and animating song of,

i Tim BecZarafionhere referred to, forms a portion of the Protest which is published, in full, on this page, below, and on page 73 post., and the reader is referred to it, in that i lace.