The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

BOSTON, November 12.

Monday last being the Anniversary of the Commemoration of the Preservation of the British Nation from the Popish Plot, the Guns at Castle William and at the Batteries in Town were fired at One o'Clock.

It was formerly a Custom on these Anniversaries for the lower Class of the People to celebrate the Evening in a Manner peculiar to themselves, by having carved Images erected on Stages, representing the Pope; his Attendant &c. and these were generally carried through the Streets by Negroes and other Servants, that the Minds of the Vulgar might be impress'd with a Sense of their Deliverance from Popery, and Money was generally given to regale themselves in the Evening, when they burnt the Images.--- But of late those that are concerned in this Pageantry make a Party Affair thereof, and instead of celebrating the Evening agreeably, the Champions at both Ends of the Town prepare to engage each other in Battle, under the Denomination of South End and North End. It was thought this would have been prevented on Monday last, by a melancholy Accident which happened just as one of the Stages at the North End was setting off, a Child of Mr. Brown's about 5 Years of Age, falling down, one of the Wheels went over his Head, and kill'd him instantly; but this did not prevent the Rabble from executing their Design. In the Afternoon the Magistrates and other Officers of the Town went to the respective Places of their Rendezvous, and demolish'd their Stages, to prevent any Disorders, which they did without Opposition: Notwithstanding, as soon as it was dark, they collected again, and mended their Stages, which being done, they prepared for a Battle, and about 8 o'Clock the two Parties met near the Mill Bridge, where they fought with Clubs, Staves, Brick bats, &c. for about half an Hour, when those of the South End gained a compleat Victory, carrying off not only their own, but also their Antagonists Stages, &c. which they burnt on Boston Neck. In the Fray many were much bruis'd and wounded in their Heads and Arms, some dangerously; and a few of those who were so curious as to be Spectators, did not come off so well as they could wish; tho' many would have fared worse had it not been a Moon light Evening. It should be noted that these Parties do not subsist much at any other Time.