Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/158

 134 SKETCHES OF THE

he was surprised to hear the people were under arms on this occasion, and that he should not think it prudent to put powder into their hands, in such a situation/^

This conditional promise of the return of the pow- der, supported by the influence of Mr. Peyton Ran- dolph, Mr. Robert C. Nicholas, and other characters of weight, had the effect, it seems, of quieting the inhabi- tants for that day. On the succeeding night, however, a new alarm took place, on a report that a number of armed men had again landed from the Magdalen, about four miles below the city, with a view it was presumed of making another visit of nocturnal plunder. The inhabitants again flew to arms; but, on the interposi- tion of the same eminent citizens, the ferment was allay- ed, and nothing more was done than to strengthen the usual patrol for the defence of the city. On the next day, Saturday the 22d of April, when every thing was perfectly quiet, lord Dunmore, with rather more heat than discretion, sent a message into the city, by one of the magistrates, and which his lordship had delivered with the most solemn asseverations, that if any insult were offered to capt. Foy (a British captain residing at the palace as his secretary, and considered to be the instigator of the governor to his violences) or to capt. Collins, he would declare freedom to the slaves, and lay the town in aslies; and he added, that he could easily depopulate the whole country. At this time both capt. Foy and Collins, were and had been continually walk- ing the streets, at their pleasure, without the slightest indication of disrespect. The effect of a threat, so diabolically ferocious, directed towards a people who had ever shown him and his family such enthusiastic marks of respect and attention, and following so directly

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