gives, in his quaint English, as to how the idleness and extravagance of the "noble society" may be abolished. He calls on the organization to observe its field-days regularly and faithfully; to practice constantly all the known military evolutions, study the science of fortification, strive to advance in knowledge as to the use of the "great artillery," improve its tactics, etc., and do all in its power to fulfill its obligations to the commonwealth-advocating the imposition and prompt collection of fines as a means of punishing its negligent or recalcitrant members. It was, perhaps, owing to this will that the organization did not actually cease to exist. For, though the interest created by it was neither deep nor lasting, it certainly checked the downward tendency of affairs, and led the next year to the drawing up of certain "rules and regulations" for the government of the corps, which are said to be the first laws ever formulated for this purpose, and they were sanctioned by the governor September 7, 1657.

The languid interest awakened by Captain Keayne's will and the publication of these orders brought about a more prosperous condition of affairs, but it was not until 1670 that a genuine revival was effected. Many new members were then added, and, owing to the activity of certain prominent citizens of Boston, "the Artillery" started forward with the vigor and buoyancy of a new organization. This thorough "awakening" was fortunate, for it was by reason of the persistency with which its members maintained their discipline and drill that the year 1675 found the militia companies officered by men fully prepared to contend successfully with so able and crafty an enemy as the notorious Metacomet, or "King Philip." The company was well represented in King Philip's war, several of its members taking part not only in the battles fought in Massachusetts, but also in those of Rhode Island.

Sir Edmund Andros arrived in Boston as governor of New England on the twenty-first day of December, 1686, and at once entered upon that system of administration stigmatized as "tyrannical." By removing from office all magistrates elected under the old charter, by restraining the liberty of the press, by compelling land-owners at great expense to procure new titles to their property, and by bringing even the legislature and general court almost entirely under his control, he succeeded in precipitating the catastrophe that brought his administration to a sudden close. When he landed in Boston, the artillery company was commanded by Colonel John Phillips, of Charlestown. It had admitted several members at the beginning of the year, was in every way prosperous, and already was making preparations to celebrate its coming June anniversary in an unusually impressive manner. But the governor, either fearing that his prerogative

might be endangered by the coming together of this body, or desirous of displaying his authority in ways as many and various as possible, forbade any meeting whatever of the organization, and did all in his power to destroy it; thus the June anniversary was not celebrated, nor did the company again meet or admit any new members during his short rule.

What may be called the second period of the history of the organization, extending from 1689 to 1775, opens with the revolt of the citizens of Boston in connection with the English revolution, and ends with the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Hardly had the news of the accession of William and Mary reached Boston when the whole town was in an uproar. Crowds of excited people rushed through the streets—the magistrates themselves being the leaders. A summons for the arrest of the governor and his council was prepared and signed, and William Stoughton and ten other members of the artillery company were sent to him with it; but, while he was deliberating as to what he should do, a small body of men led by Captain John Nelson appeared, and Sir Edmund was escorted to prison, and a council of safety was chosen to manage public affairs until directions should come from England. Captain Nelson and his associates in this exploit were all members of the artillery company, he being the same Nelson who was prohibited from holding any office in the colonial government on account of his Church of England proclivities, and who afterward was imprisoned in Quebec and in Paris because he revealed to the Massachusetts people designs against them by the French.

On the first Monday in April, 1690, the scattered members of the company again assembled, and, having lost all their old officers either by death or removal, they elected Colonel Elisha Hutchinson, of Boston, as acting commander until the coming anniversary day, and appointed Dr. Cotton Mather to preach the sermon at that time. Successful efforts were made to place the organization on a sound footing once more, many distinguished men added their names to the lengthening roll, regular meetings were held, field duties were again performed, and, until the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the meetings were interrupted but once-in 1721-when they "were omitted in consequence of the General Assembly, at their last session, having forbid all training and trooping in Boston, by reason of the vast number of people exercised with the small-pox."

During this period of the company's history the colonies were engaged in four wars, the final result of which gave the mother country that farreaching territory she still holds, but which brought few advantages to the New England people who won it for her. The company could take no part in these or any other wars as a body, yet its members fought in

disgraceful failure of the great expedition against Canada-a failure for which the English officers of the royal army were alone responsible. In "King George's war" they led the troops that stormed and won the

"impregnable" fastnesses of Louisburg, furnishing from their own number the engineer who planned the attack.

At home, however, the company underwent various experiences— periods of stagnation, decline, advance—its history as an organization almost disappearing in the events that ushered in the Revolution—events in which nearly all of its members participated, and which ultimately aided in preserving the very body it seemed inevitable they should destroy.

The first evidence of an unsatisfactory condition of the company's affairs appears in the revision of the "Rules and Orders" that was effected in the year 1700. The rules, as revised, were never sanctioned by the general court or the council, though they were enforced during many years. Probably it was regarded as unnecessary for the court to stamp them with its approbation, as few changes were made from the old orders of 1657.

Prior to the year 1700 the rolls contain the names of six hundred and sixty-two members, nearly all of whom are declared to be "persons of note," belonging to some one of the "orthodox" churches in or near Boston; in fact, certain of the founders of Brattle Street church, King's chapel, Old South church, as well as the first ministers at Andover and Gloucester, were members of this organization, while Harvard college was represented in its ranks, twenty-one of its members being graduates of that institution. The company seems always to have been kindly disposed to the college, its members donating land, buildings, live-stock, and money. Among the noted families of old Boston whose names are found on the company's roll at this time are those of Borland, Checkley, Davenport, Dudley, Gibbons, Leverett, Mather, Oakes, Oliver, Saltonstall, Savage, Townsend, Wainwright, and Winthrop.

At the close of the first half of the eighteenth century, few of the older families were represented in the ranks of the" Ancient and Honorable," and for twenty years it declined in numbers, reputation, influence. It is difficult to determine what led to this state of things, but, if tradition may be true, the extravagance of its entertainments and the formation of the cadet corps were the chief causes. The cadet corps was formed as an especial escort, or body-guard, for the governor on occasions of ceremony. Its founder and presiding genius was the famous Colonel Pollard, high sheriff of Suffolk county, one of the first Americans to make a tour of Europe, the organizer of the earliest "fire society" in this country, and the first to introduce the bayonet among the militia companies of Boston. Captain Thomas Edwards, commander of the artillery company, protested against the granting by the legislature of a charter to the new corps, fearing it would obtain privileges and exemptions not enjoyed by his own

command; but he could not prevent it, and the cadet corps sprang into animated life, and became very popular.

This was in 1754, and the fortunes of the company seem to have declined steadily until October, 1760, when a meeting was held at the house of Ensign Josiah Waters, afterward captain and commander, at which it was proposed to take measures to give the corps a more exclusive cast, hoping to increase its social power as well as its finances, by attracting to it only persons of quality. A series of resolutions was passed in April following; but the desired result was not attained, the list of members did not lengthen, and so much was said concerning its extravagance that in May, 1762, a committee was appointed to ascertain in what way the expenses of the company could be reduced, and at the same time "the dignity and honor of the company be preserved." The committee proposed that the cost of the annual dinner, to which the governor, council, etc., are always invited, should be paid by the commissioned officers for the ensuing year; that the first, second, third, and fourth sergeants should entertain the company at the September, October, April, and May fielddays, respectively, "with punch and wine and bread,* and nothing more, pipes and tobacco entirely excluded; and it is recommended that the company dismiss themselves so seasonable as to prevent the unnecessary expense of candles."

The report was adopted, but the complaints were not silenced about the extravagance of the banquets and the "extraordinary expenses attending the officers of the said company," and in September, 1767, another committee was appointed to devise some plan to lessen the expenses and "to raise the reputation of the company." This committee presented a report in which was urged the necessity of making exact inquiry as to the finances of the organization, and, "supposing them to amount to £500," it is recommended that "the interest on this amount, or $100, be annually appropriated to assist the officers in the anniversary expenses,' which should not exceed that amount. It was also recommended that the dinners furnished by the sergeants on training-days should consist of the following bill-of-fare, which is thought to be fully sufficient, viz. :

*The words " and cheese" were inserted here by a special vote of the company in May of

the following year, 1763.