Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/39

 LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS. 33

he very prudently came off to avoid the threatening storm. Colonel Murray of Rutland, another of them, set oul for home this morning, accompanied by his son, (who is studying physic here) being both well arm'd and resolute, that I imagine they are determin'd to stand a brush, if oppos'd, being both very stout men. near or quite as large as Forrest. We also have account this morning thai Simpson's shop at Providence (one of the Council belonging to this town) attended by his two nephews, who are connected with him in business, was tarr'd and feather'd one evening last week, and so many days allow'd for 'em to take their departure. On default, they are threatued to lie serv'd as their shop, and carted likewise. An express arriv'd yesterday to his Excellency from Great Barrington, a town aboul one hundred and twenty miles westward from us, where they were rather premature with their conduct (having pull'd the judges from the bench, dispers'd the jurors, and would not suffer any court to he held) as the regulation in the choice of jurors does not take place till after the first of next month, though they were aggravated to it by one [ngersol, their repre- sentative, a lawyer, who about three weeks since behav'd so very insolent, by threatning to execute the new Acts, that they beset him and for want of tar they stuck the feathers on with grease and put him down an empty well, where tiny kept him till morning. Since which he has taken refuge with the Governor at Salem.

August 2Ath. We hear from Taunton this morning that upwards of two thousand men met on the green in that town, and but for the expostulations of Leonards father (who disapprov'd of his son's being a Councellor, and promis'd to use his influence with him that he should resign) would have pull'd his house down. Col'.' Murray halted yes- terday at Cambridge, least too great precipitancy in so bold an en- terprise should prove fatal. He lias behav'd like an experiene'd commander, and sent to reconnoitre before he advances, with a mow to better inform himself of the hostile dispositions of his townsmen. They say the affair at Great Barrington was not quite so had as represented to the Governor, as the people that muster'd came from Connecticut Government (the town bounding on the line, and had so fill'd the courthouse as not to leave room either for the judges or jurors to enter. The consequence was that they either adjourn'd or dissolv'd the court.

August 2~>//>. Am told that the Governor made a shew of dispers- ing the town meeting at Salem, by ordering down two companies from the 59th Regiment, who proceeded within a few rods of the meeting,

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