Extract of a Letter from Boston, to a Gentleman in New-York

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About a week ago, one hundred and fifty of the principal inhabitants of the Town of Marshfield entered into General Ruggles' s Association against the Liberty plan. When this was known at Plymouth, the faction there threatened to come down in a body and make them recant, or drive them off their farms; on this the Marshfield Associators sent an express to General Gage, to acquaint him with their situation and determination, and to beg his support. This "was readily granted them, and a Captain, three Subalterns, and a hundred private men, were immediately detached on board two small Vessels to Marshfield, where they landed very quietly last Monday, and when the last accounts came away there was no appearance of the Plymouth Rebels.

The detachment carried with them three hundred stand of Arms for the use of the gentlemen of Marshfield; one hundred and fifty more having joined the first Associators, on advice of the Plymouth threatenings; the whole three hundred have solemnly engaged themselves to turn out in case of an attack.

That the Liberty Rebels in this Town might save their own credit, and that of their adherents in Plymouth, and that they might have something to say for not opposing the detachment, they, on the first hearing where the Soldiers were going, wisely sent off an express to their Plymouth confederates, begging them to desist from doing what they really had no mind to do; and now they are praising themselves for their peaceable disposition, which they always do when their outrages have raised any opposition against them, and are execrating the Government for wanting to massacre them.

Our only news in this Town is a trifling affray which happened between some Officers and the Town Watch, occasioned by the Watchmen abusing them. The quarrel, I hear, has been inquired into, and the Selectmen have turned off some of the Watchmen; notwithstanding which, the Watchmen, supported by some of the Rebels with money, have commenced an action of damages against the Officers, on purpose to harass them, and to raise a clamour against military insolence and oppression; and there is no doubt the Rebels will bring witnesses enough to swear any thing they are desired.

A gentleman who signed the Address to General Gage, who happened to be present, and who did all in his power to prevent mischief, was complained of, against next day, before a Justice of the Peace, by four affidavit mongers, for having encouraged the Officers. These villains have sworn that this gentleman repeatedly called to the Officers to run the Watchmen through, damned their blood, and hoped to see the street run with it. By this you will see our Rebels have resorted to their old deceitful plan of first quarrelling with the Troops, and then swearing the Troops were the aggressors. This is a fairer plan than their fighting, and more suitable to their genius, and is well calculated to inflame all their adherents at a distance, who will undoubtedly believe their string of affidavits.