enlightened humane & conscientious community on the earth
view you in the light of tigers or mad dogs, whom the public safety
obliges them to destroy. Long have this people been irreconcilable to
the idea of spilling human blood, on almost any occasion whatever; but
they have lately seen a penitential thief suffer death for pilfering a
few pounds from scattering individuals. You boldly avow a resolution to
bear a principal part in the robbery of every inhabitant of this
country, in the present and future ages, of every thing dear and
interesting to them. Are there no laws in the Book of God and nature
that enjoin such miscreants to be cut off from among the people, as
troublers of the whole congregation. Yea, verily, there are laws and
officers to put them into execution, which you can neither corrupt,
intimidate, nor escape, and whose resolution to bring you to condign
punishment you can only avoid by a speedy imitation of your brethren in
Philadelphia. This people are still averse to precipitate your fate, but
in case of much longer delay in complying with their indispensable
demands, you will not fail to meet the just rewards of your avarice &
insolence. Remember, gent^n, this is the last warning you are ever to
expect from the insulted, abused, and most indignant vindicators of
violated liberty in the Town of Boston.

Thursday evening, 9 o'clock.
Nov. 4, 1773. O.C., Sec^y, pr order.[45]

To Messrs. the Tea Commissioners.
Directed to B---- F---- Esq^r."

On Friday we had a Town Meeting. What was done there, together with our
answers and their resolves, you'll see in the enclosed news paper. Just
before the meeting broke up, several gent^n, on my telling the purport
of our answer, advised me to leave the town for that night; but I have
not yet slept out of my own house, nor do I propose to do it, till I
find it absolutely necessary. I thought it best, however, to conceal
myself for two or three hours. But nothing took place more that evening
than is usual on the 5^th Nov^r. On Friday, we received an information,
which was repeated yesterday, that a number of picked men are determined
to break into our house one night this week. I can hardly believe it,
but these continued alarms are very disagreeable. I am, gentlemen,

Your most obed^t serv^t,
BENJ^N FANEUIL, Jun^r.[46]

[Illustration: Signature, Benjamin Fane