mmer, begun to make depredations on private property,
stealing gates and breaking up fences. This the commanders endeavored to
stop, but took the hint and did the same by official condemnation. As so
many of the inhabitants had left the town, the abandoned houses were
torn down for fuel. When the winter came, the troops again began on
their own account to steal wood. Howe threatened to hang the next man
caught in the act, but still was forced to follow the example.

In choosing buildings for destruction, it was very natural to select
Whig property. Perhaps the harshest assault on provincial sentiment had
been made in summer, when during August Liberty Tree was felled. The
Whigs felt very indignant, but took a peculiar pleasure in the
reflection that during the operation a soldier had been accidentally
killed. In the various poems written on the occasion the wretch's soul
was unanimously consigned to Hades. It was besides remarked that the
genuine tree of liberty, of which this had been but a symbol, had now
grown so great as to overshadow the continent.

Besides Liberty Tree, the property of leading Whigs suffered, "My house
and barn," writes Newell the selectman, on the 16th of November, "pulled
down by order of General Robinson." Leach the schoolmaster, whose
imprisonment had made him a marked man, had a hard fight to save his
property. On Christmas Day he found a party of soldiers destroying his
wharf, which had been allotted, as was the custom, to one of the
regiments, in this case the light dragoons. In spite of his efforts
Leach was not able to stop this destruction, as evidently in the present
state of the town there was no use for wharves. But when his schoolhouse
was threatened he carried the matter to headquarters. Howe said Leach
had corresponded with the people without. "I denied the charge....
Finally I told him, as an Englishman, and a subject of the King's, I
claimed protection of my property; and if my House was pulled down, I
would follow him to England, or to China, for satisfaction. I expected
he would get angry, and order me under Guard, or else to Gaol again.
However, in General he behaved kindly." Howe referred him to his
subordinates, who delayed giving orders until the soldiers had already
broken into the schoolhouse. With much resolution Leach got them from
the house and stood on guard at the door until by referring to Howe the
schoolhouse was saved. But Leach had meanwhile lost "valuable Books