spectable backers. Gage
required the key of Newell, and got it; and Morrison held at least one
service in the church. It was to this service, on the 17th of September,
that Edes was conducted, doubtless as a privilege, and heard a political
sermon on the ingratitude of the provincials. Edes remarked that the
Tories present affected to grin, but it was horribly, with a ghastly
smile. The newspapers, however, called it an excellent discourse to a
genteel audience, and announced regular services. Morrison, still
contemptuously styled the deserter, figures again in Newell's diary in
November, when he informed against an old Dutch woman for trying to
carry out of town more money than her permit allowed. His profit on this
was ten dollars. When winter approached, the Brattle Street Church was
taken for use as a barracks, and Morrison got himself a place in the
commissary department, which perhaps was more to his liking than
sermonizing.[135]

The interview with Newell gives us a glimpse of Gage in almost the last
of his troubles with the stiff-necked Bostonians. Less than a fortnight
later[136] he received word from London that the king desired his
presence, in order to consult upon future operations. Probably the
unlucky commander saw in the message the end of his commission, but he
went as one expecting to return. As was customary, he was presented with
adulatory addresses, and on October 10 departed in state. His welcome in
England was not so stately. The king did give him an interview, and
listened attentively to his explanations, but it was popularly suggested
that the unsuccessful general be created Lord Lexington, Baron of Bunker
Hill. Gage's command was not restored to him, and he never again went on
active service.

One legacy indeed he left, perhaps the worst act of his administration
and the most far-reaching, although the personal blame does not lie with
Gage himself. On the 4th of October he sent out a small fleet of vessels
which accomplished more harm than good. It skirmished with privateers,
and eventually, reaching Falmouth, now Portland in Maine, but then in
Massachusetts territory, attempted to levy upon the town. Captain
Mowatt, the commander, picked a quarrel with the inhabitants, and
finding them unyielding, burnt their village. The blame lies between
Mowatt and Admiral Graves, both of whom had grudges against the town on
account of a previous incident. The ministry repudiated the act, but the
fact is