capture the arms of the Neck company of militia, and to take an
additional supply from Mr. Duquercron's shop. The naval stores on Mey's
Wharf were also to be attacked. Meanwhile, a horse-company, consisting of
many draymen, hostlers, and butcher-boys, was to meet at Lightwood's
Alley, and then scour the streets to prevent the whites from assembling.
Every white man coming out of his own door was to be killed; and, if
necessary, the city was to be fired in several places,--slow-match for
this purpose having been purloined from the public arsenal, and placed in
an accessible position.

Beyond this, the plan of action was either unformed or undiscovered; some
slight reliance seems to have been placed on English aid,--more on
assistance from St. Domingo. At any rate, all the ships in the harbor
were to be seized; and in these, if the worst came to the worst, those
most deeply inculpated could set sail, bearing with them, perhaps, the
spoils of shops and of banks. It seems to be admitted by the official
narrative, that they might have been able, at that season of the year,
and with the aid of the fortifications on the Neck and around the harbor,
to retain possession of the city for some time.

So unsuspicious were the authorities, so unprepared the citizens, so open
to attack lay the city, that nothing seemed necessary to the success of
the insurgents except organization and arms. Indeed, the plan of
organization easily covered a supply of arms. By their own contributions
they had secured enough to strike the first blow,--a few hundred pikes
and daggers, together with swords and guns for the leaders. But they had
carefully marked every place in the city where weapons were to be
obtained. On King-street Road, beyond the municipal limits, in a common
wooden shop, were left unguarded the arms of the Neck company of militia,
to the number of several hundred stand; and these were to be secured by