about ten o'clock at night
The result of this attack was another explosion of New York 's nerves . The Sons of Liberty made it unsafe for a Tory to venture abroad . They marched through the streets shouting vengeance , burning in effigy , and making alarming demonstrations before the handsome houses of certain loyalists . Suddenly , about ten o'clock at night , they were animated by a desire to offer up Dr. Cooper , and they cohered and swarmed down toward King 's . Hamilton and Troup happened to be walking in the grounds when the sudden flare of torches and the approaching tide of sound , warned them of the invasion . They ran like deer to head them off , but reached the portico only a moment ahead of the mob , which knew that it must be sudden and swift to be victorious . `` I can talk faster than you , '' whispered Hamilton , `` I 'll harangue them , and it wo n't take Dr. Cooper long to understand and flee through the back door -- and may the devil fly away with him . ''