We have been in confusion here for two days, on account of an express from Boston, informing that two Regiments were coming to take possession of our Fort; by beat of drum, two hundred men immediately assembled and went to the Castle, in two gondolas, who on their way were joined by one hundred and fifty more, and demanded the surrender of the Fort, which Captain [John] Cochran refused, and fired three Guns, but no lives were lost; upon which they immediately scaled the walls, disarmed the Captain and his men, took possession of ninety-seven barrels of Powder, put it on board the Gondolas, brought it up to Town, and went off with it some distance into the Country. Yesterday the town was full of men from the country who marched in in form, chose a Committee to wait on the Governor, who assured them he knew of no such designs as sending Troops, Ships, &c. This morning I hear there is a thousand or fifteen hundred men on their march to Town. The Governor and Council sat yesterday on the affair, and are now meeting again. The men who came down are those of the best property and note in the Province.
