This renewed act of insurrection, even after the
lenient measures of the legislature, and the for-
bearance of the governor, justly exposed the
leaders to the displeasure of the executive ; and
warrants were accordingly issued against several
persons in Middlesex, who were the most active
m preventing the sitting of the court, and in ex-
citing the people to oppose the authority of go-r
vernment. Their conduct was most dangerous to
the welfare of the state ; and by virtue of a late
law, suspending the writ of habeas corpus, the ex-
ecutive ordered them to be apprehended, and to be
committed to prison, to take their trial before the
Supreme Judicial Court. The sheriff of Middle-
sex, a man of great resolution and firmness, was
charged with the execution of this unpleasant
duty. But he was assisted by several gentlemen
of the county, and a company of cavalry from
Boston, who volunteered their services on this oc-
pi^sjop, in support of the government. A party of



277

f

the citizens of Grot on, in that county, also, readily
joined the sheriff in this expedition. Three of the

Krincipal insurgents, belonging to the county of
liddlesex, were apprehended by the sheriff and
his party; one of them, however, and that the
most obnoxious to goyernment, was not taken, till
after a long pursuit, and a personal rencontre with
one of the cavalry, in which the former was badly
wounded. The persons who were apprehended
on the warrants of the governor, were conveyed
to Boston, and lodged in Suffolk jail.
