Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/104

98 rate of one shilling to one shilling and sixpence sterling the pound. What wood was to be got, was oblig'd to give at the rate of twenty dollars a cord, and coals, though government had a plenty. I could not procure (not being an addressor or an associator) though I offer'd so high as fifty dollars for a chaldron, and thai at a season, when Nabby and John, the only help I had, were under inoculation for the small pox, that if you'll believe me, Bill, I was necessitated to burn horse dung. Many were the instances of the inhabitants being confin'd to the Provost for purchasing fuel of the Soldiers, when no other means offer'd to keep them from perishing with cold—Yet such was the inhumanity of our masters, that they were; even deny'd the priviledge of buying the surplusage of the soldier's rations. Though you may think we had plenty of cheese and porter, yet we were oblig'd to give from fifteen pence to two shillings a pound for all we eat of the former, and a loaf of bread of the size we formerly gave three pence for, thought ourselves well off to get for a shilling. Butter at two shillings. Milk, for months without tasting any. Potatoes, from nine shillings to ten shillings and sixpence [a] bushel, and every thing else in the same strain. Notwithstanding which. Bill, I can safely say that I never suffer'd the least depression of spirits, other than on account of not having heard from Ruthy, in one season, for near five months—for a perswasion, that my country would eventually prevail, kept up my spirits, and never suffer'd my hopes to fail.

Do tender my best regards to Colonel Miffling and Lady, and tell him that I have this day got the apples he was kind enough to order to be sent me. They have been laying for ten days past in a remote part of the town and I not made acquainted with it till last evening, whereby they are chiefly carried off, and most of the remaining ones rotten. Am much oblig'd to him, notwithstanding, as the state they are in by no means lessens the merit of the donor. Tell him farther that my wishes are answer'd. The brave Captain Manly has taken the Brig that contained that cursed villain, Crean Brush, with great part of the plunder he rob'd the stores of here, that I immagine she must be the richest vessell in the fleet. The brave General Warren is to be interr'd this afternoon with all the honors his great merit deserves, an oration is to he deliver'd at the Chaple. Last Tuesday week I had the honor of General Washington with his lady. General Gates, Mr. Custos and Lady, with Aid de Camps, &ca., to dine with me, with no earlier notice than half past eleven the same day. So good an opportunity as by Mr. Hammatt (who comes your way to fetch home Breck's