Besides, we had never promised nor agreed to do so, and were bound by oath to seek the prosperity of the country, as we have always been disposed to do, according to the best of our knowledge. (46) It is stated in the postil above mentioned, if we read it aright, that we p»stiiof the Direoshall inquire how far the people would cooperate with us in this business, and how the expense should be defrayed, but the Director explained it differently from what we understood it. Now, as the Director would not convene the Commonalty, as we proposed, nor allow us to do so, we went around from house to house, and spoke to the people. From this time forward the General burned with rage, and in our opinion has never been effectually appeased since, although we were not aware but that we had obeyed his order in the premises. However, it was The Director u concluded that the Nine Men should not act in conjunction with him, nor follow his becLL hifdira- •' tions are not followdirections in what appertained to the matter, and that excited in his breast a bitter '*'•

and irreconcilable hatred against them all, but principally against those whom he presumed were the chief originators of it. And although these persons had always been his good and cherished friends, and he had even a short time before, esteemed them the honestest, most capable, most intelligent and most virtuous of the country,! ygj ^s soon as they did not follow his wishes, they were this and that, some of them rascals, liars, rebels, usurers; in a word, hanging was almost too good for them. Heretofore, the expediting the deputation had been earnestly pressed ; now, it was time enough six months hence, and a sheet of paper could contain all that was proper or necessary to be stated.