[Extract]
All however remained in profound peace and tranquility till eleven o'clock the next morning, when the sternmost ship got under sail and the rest in succession.
It was half after two before the Commodore weighed anchor, when the whole fleet stood directly up the river, and formed in line of battle before the town. We now plainly discovered one ship of twenty guns, one of sixteen, a large schooner of fourteen, a bomb sloop and two other armed vessels.
The Commodore, who proved to be Capt. Mowatt, had no sooner come to anchor and handed his sails, than he fitted out his barge, in which he dispatched an officer on shore, with a letter directed to the inhabitants of Falmouth. He landed at the lower end of King street, amid a prodigious assembly of people, which curiosity and expectation had drawn together from every quarter.
Some of the multitude appeared in arms, who united with the rest to convey the officer with uncommon parade and ceremony along the street to the Town House. His entrance was immediately followed by a confused mixture, which filled the apartment with noise and tumult
At length the officer being seated with the Committee; who took possession of the Judge's seat, and silence commanded, a letter was delivered and read by Mr. [John] Bradbury, a lawyer, but not without such a visible emotion as occasioned a tremor of his voice.
It is impossible to describe the amazement which prevailed upon reading this alarming declaration: a frightful consternation ran through the assembly, every heart was seized with terror, every countenance changed colour; and a profound silence ensued for several moments.
During the astonishment which had seized the multitude, I quitted the apartment of justice and became a spectator of what passed in the street, where nothing occurred but scenes of tumult, confusion, and bustle.
A number of considerate gentlemen, however, made choice of a committee, viz:, Brigadier [Jedediah] Preble, Dr. [Nathaniel] Coffin, and Mr. Pagan, to wait upon the Commodore. He received them with expressions of humanity, and even shed tears at the repetition of his orders. At the earnest entreaty of these gentlemen, he consented to suspend execution till sunrise, upon condition that the people would agree to deliver up a number of their arms. Upon the return of this committee the inhabitants assembled in the Court House, and readily complied with the requisition.
The arms being delivered to the Commodore about eight, he granted them a further respite till nine the next morning, and besides, engaged that, if the town would surrender their cannon and musketry, and give hostages for their future good behaviour, he, would delay the execution of his orders till he could represent their situation to the Admiral, and intercede for their final deliverance.
At the same time Capt. Mowatt assured them that if any person should presume to escape by water during the night, he would immediately fire upon the town. When the committee returned the second time, they found the disposition in the people to assemble in the morning, but the zealous sons of liberty dispatched messengers into all the adjacent country and the inhabitants were beating drums, firing alarms, and mustering under arms for thirty miles round. Some companies entered Falmouth before midnight, and protested that if any compliance or submission was made, they would burn it to ashes.
And, that no provocation might be offered to Mowatt by persons of indiscretion a number of moderate gentlemen voluntarily engaged their services to parade the streets, and prevent any disorder that might arise.
