.

But men of resolution thought
Too much to see their neighbors caught
For no crime but false surmise;
Forthwith they join'd a warlike band,
And march'd to Loudon out of hand,
And kept the jailors pris'ners there,
Until our friends enlarged were,
Without fraud or any disguise.

Let mankind censure or commend,
This rash performance in the end,
Then both sides will find their account.
'Tis true no law can justify
To burn our neighbors property,
But when this property is design'd
To serve the enemies of mankind,
Its high treason in the amount.

[9] The following extract from the _Pennsylvania Gazette_ of
November 2d, 1769, details the circumstances of this
transaction.

"James Smith, his brother and brother in law, were going out
to survey and improve their land, on the waters of the
Youghogany.--Expecting to be gone some time, they took with
them their arms, and horses loaded with necessaries; and as
Smith's brother in law was an artist in surveying, he had also
with him the instruments for that business. Travelling on
their way and within nine miles of Bedford, they overtook
and joined in company with one Johnson and Moorhead, who had
likewise horses packed with liquor and seed wheat--their
intentions being also to make improvements on their lands.
Arrived at the parting of the road near Bedford, they
separated, one party going through town for the purpose of
having a horse shod; these were apprehended and put under
confinement.--James Smith, Johnson and Moorhead taking the
other road, met John Holmes of Bedford, to whom Smith spoke
in a friendly manner but received no answer. Smith and his
companions proceeded to where the two roads again united;
and waited there the arrival of the others.

"At this time a number of men came riding up, and asked Smith
his name. On his telling them who he was, they immediately
presented their pistols, and commanded him to surrender or he
was a dead man. Smith stepped back and asking if they were
highwaymen, charged them to keep off; when immediately Robert
George (one of the assailants) snapped a pistol at Smith's
head; and that