Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

140 RAMBLES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH.
within tleir reach. In a short time they returned, and invested tle court house. Judge Livermore, who was then
upon the bench, and the severity of whose countenance
was not diminished at siglt of the array, would not permit
the business of the court to be interrupted, or allow any
one to inspect the besiegers from the windows. In a short
time, however, finding their mistake, and probably supposing it rather a hopeless business to ask redress of grievances from a court of law, they marched to the meeting
house, where both houses of Assembly were met in conference. The meeting house, at that time, stood wheie
Rev. Mr. Rowland's was afterwards erected, and the court
house was just opposite. They here began to load all the
muskets which had not previously been prepared, and to
p)int them at the house. After spending some time in this
parade, they sent in a deputation, to demand that the Legislature should allow an immediate issue of paper, which
should be made a tender in all cases for debts and taxes;
and laid close siege to all the avenues of the house, intending to detain the members until they should see fit to grant.
their request. Some who endeavored to make their escape were driven back with insult. It had been publicly
known some hours before, that the insurgents were on their
march, and a large concourse was assembled to watch their
motions. Some gentlemen attempted to reason with them
on the folly of their condtuct, but without effect. President Sullivan soon came to thle door. He addressed them
with perfect coolness; expostulated with them for some
time; assured them that their reasonable demands should
not be neglected; but that they mirght at ocn e abandon the
idea of forcing the government into submission: that their
array was not so formidable as to. terrify an old soldier. It
was now evening, and they still adhered resolutely to their
post.
" President Sullivan, as I said before, addressed the insur