ought to have been; and several of them were
accordingly tried, convicted, and executed, as
traitors to their country. The conduct of these
of imprudent individuals, increased the disgust of
those violent partizans, and it sometimes happened
that innocent friends were dragged from their
meeting-houses to prison. At that period, a part
of the American army lay near the Gunpowder
Falls meeting-house, which, however, did not pre-
vent friends from holding their meetings for wor-
ship. Amongst the troops of which this part of
the army was composed, there was a Colonel of a
regiment of dragoons, whose resentment against
friends was raised to such a pitch of malice, that
one day, when traversing the country, he came to
the most extraordinary and cruel resolution of
putting to the sword, the friends who were then
collected at their place of worship; considering
them as no better than a company of traitors.
Drawing up his men near the spot, he ordered
them to halt, in order to make arrangements for
the execution of his dreadful purpose. At this
moment an awful silent pause took place, in
which he felt his mind so powerfully smitten
with conviction that he not only drew off his
men, but conceived very favourable sentiments of
the society; and continuing to yield to his convic-
tions, he afterwards joined in communion with
friends, and continued faithful to the principle of
truth as professed by them.