Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/41

 LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS. 35

charge of " high crimes and misdemeanures" The towns through the country are so far from being intimidated, thai a day in the week does nol pass without one or more having meetings, in direct contempt of the Ad : which they regard as a blank piece of paper and not more; that I expect we shall be in a state of Nature for a season, as at present there don< seem the least probability that an\ court of justice will be suffer'd to act.

August 27///. — This morning we are favor'd with the agreeable news that his Excellency lias suspended the matter at Salem by drop- ping the prosecution: which shews a greal instance of prudence in him, that seeing them resolute and the people so determinate, he was willing to give up a point father than push matter- to extremities.

August 28th: Tuesday. Last evening two soldiers of the Welch fusileers attack'd young Mr. Molineaux in the street leading to his father's house, at about 11 o'clock. They seiz'd, and were lugging him away, when he disengag'd himself, run aside and pull'd off his coat and waistcoat. They made up to him: he knock'd one down and then the other with his li-i ; at the -nine time call'd out murther to raise the neighborhood. Not knowing what their intentions were respecting him, he kept 'em in play for about 15 minutes, when a lad came to his assistance: jusl at winch time Major Small, an officer much respected here, came up. lie seiz'd one of the fellows and put him under guard. The other ran oil'. He waited on Mr. Mollineaux at noon, and begg'd the favor of him to attend the Court Martial to-morrow morning.

August 2',!///. It is rumour'd this morning that a company or two has march'd for Roxbury, as there is to be a town meeting there this day. Notwithstanding all the parade the Governor made at Salem on account of their meeting, they had one directly under his uose at Danvers, and continued it two or three bowers longer than was neces- sary, to see if he would interrupt 'em. He was made acquainted with it, but reply' d — "Damn 'em! I wont do anything about it unless his Majesty sends me more troops." Three or lour of the new- councellors living in the country have resign'd already, and some of the more obstinate have taken refuge here. Have inclos'd you this day's paper, which contains many Speculative piece- that may afford you entertainment at a leisure hour: more particularly the details id' transactions and expences occurr'd by this province for a - of years.

August 30th. From my frequency of writing you may well think I have little else to do, being neither fatigued with that nor troubled

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