seven o'clock
could it be , indeed , true that , even where there were no police , a man 's personal liberty was no longer safe ! The people of Accomac , my boy , were alarmed for their own liberties , and at once held a public meeting , at which I happened to be present . As all the citizens who were worth $ 300 each sent notes to say that they had imperative engagements to prepare for the approaching Conscription , and could not come , the meeting was composed entirely of the other citizens , many of whom engaged in single combat on their way thither , for the purpose of making the distance seem shorter . Punctually at seven o'clock , P.M. , a gentleman of much muscle touched off a small field-piece with such admirable precision as to break all the windows for two blocks around , and then dexterously discharged a two-pound sky-rocket into the third-story bedroom of a venerable maiden lady living across the road . The demonstration was received with joyous acclamations by the populace , nearly twelve of whom had already arrived ; and a victim of Federal oppression , with a very large stomach , mounted the platform erected for the speakers , and said that he would commence proceedings on this occasion , by reading a short portion of Washington 's Farewell Address from the volume of Bancroft which he held in his hand . -LRB- Great applause . -RRB- The honorable gentleman then proceeded to read something ; but was interrupted by a reporter , who remarked that the speaker must be mistaken about that being Washington 's Address , as he had certainly read it in the Bible .