Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/34

 28 LETTERS OP JOF1N ANDREWS.

letters from his friends, both in England as well as here, to keep out of the way. The Governor came to town this afternoon. He i- to

hold a Coi ell next Tuesday, when it- to be deterrain'd whether the

considering Gentlemen accept. I hope your uncle wonl be sworn, as you can have no just conception of the spirit now prevalenl in town and country. The ten already sworn arc generally esteem'd as worse enemies to our just rights and privileges than Lord North, who is curs'd from morn i ion and from noon to morn by every denomina- tion of people.

August Yltli. This afternoon the two delegates from .Wu Hamp- shire pass'd through the town on their way to your city.

August \-\th. The Governor sent for the Selectmen, and ac- quainted them if they wanted a town meeting they had better make application while he was in town, as he would endeavor to -rant their request. They in reply shew'd to him that two former meetings now Stood adjourn'd to some future time, and tli.it they [had ?] not an immedi- ate call lor Another. In regard to that, lie said he had not sufficiently consider'd of it, whether such a procedure was admissable or not: hut they might depend that he should see that the act of parliament (which he read to 'em) was put in execution. Ifs currently reported that a regimenl is to go to Worcester to protect the Court, which i< to -it there soon. Voterday the Committee of correspondence, in conjunc- tion with the Select men. chose five delegates out of their number for a county meeting, to he convened at Stoughtonham and advise upon some measure to induce the inhabitants to settle all the little disputes that may subsist, either of a mercantile or private nature, and if possi- ble prevenl any suit coming on at the ensuing court, whereby they may evade acknowledging the authority of the act.

August 1 \ili. Sunday. The anniversary of first opposition made to the Stamp Act in this town.

August \')ili. Every humane person was pleas'd to be inform'd that the military were not sutfer'd to punish a deserter with a death; hut when we find that a thousand lashes is the substitute, we are equally shock'd to think that mankind can so far divot themselves of humanity as to he instrumental in inflicting such an horrid punishment on their fellow mortals. Marly this morning a poor culprit received 250 la-he-, which number he is to receive four successive week-, being one that deserted from the Welch fusileers, just before they left York, and wa- taken at the Jersies and brought here, which Regiment is now encamp'd on Fort Hill, and the 59th from Halifax are gone to Salem.

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