[Extract]
(No 23)

We have Information often from the Country that the Towns in this Province become more divided, notwithstanding the Endeavours used to keep up their Enthousiasm; and the Tyranny and Oppressive Acts exercised against Persons deemed Friends of Government, has driven them in Several Places to combine together for their Mutual Defence. Where the Majority in a Township has become averse to their Measures, the Faction has employed their Adherents in Neighbouring Towns to join and form Bodys sufficient to force them by Numbers to sign Recantations, which has been attended generaly with Violence and ill Usage. The Town of Marshfield with part of that of Scituate having been lately under Terrors of this kind, from the Threats of their Neighbours, for having formed some Association amongst themselves, applyed to me for Protection; and I have sent a Detachment of one hundred Men to their Relief. I inclose Your Lordship a Copy of their Petition to me on this head,² and it is the first Instance of an Application to Government for assisstance, which the Faction has ever tried to perswade the People they would never obtain, but be left to themselves.