Why did the British condemn it as an unlawful assembly and a den of traitors?

The British condemned the assembly as unlawful and labeled it a den of traitors due to its perceived challenge to their authority and governance. They viewed the gathering as a threat to the established order, fearing that it could incite rebellion or dissent against British rule. This characterization was also a means to delegitimize the movement and suppress any calls for independence or reform by framing participants as disloyal to the crown. Such rhetoric aimed to maintain control and discourage public support for revolutionary ideas.