Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/48

 I- LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS.

try has induc'd the Governor to order a number of field pieces up to the neck guard, and this morning has gol a Dumber of workmen there, to build blockhouses and otherways repair the fortification. Ii was reported that he was going to <-ut a canal across and break off the communication with the country other than by a bridge; in con- sequence of which the Select men waited upon him. He assur'd them he had no intention to break ground, but was only aboul secur- ing the entrance into the Town, thai the inhabitants as well as the soldiers may not be expos'd to inroads from the country. One of the gentlemen shew'd to him, that if he persisted in such proceedings, the inhabitants would leave the town and send an express home with a remonstrance against him : upon which he exclaim'd, " J — s < i — d ! what! leave the town!" — being apprehensive, [suppose, if such a thing should take place, that he and his formidable host would come to short commons.

September 6th. From the various county meetings, we promise ourselves great benefitt, and I think every good member of society will acquiesce with their purposes. But any one who avails himself o/' the times, and keeps a creditor from hi- jusl due, oughl to be de- spis'd by every good man. Our county meets this day at Stoughton, Essex county at Ipswich, ami Worcester county are to meet at that place, when at a short day they are to have a provincial assembly, iu order to cement the union upon a Basis as firm as solid, and keep up that noble spirit that universally prevails among all ranks of people.

Its allowed, by the best calculations, that at least a hundred thousand

men were equip! with arms, and moving towards us from different parts of the country. The celebrated Colonel Putnam was at the head of fifteen thousand, and its said that five and twenty thousand more were in a body a day's march behind him. Among the former was two of Governor Trumbal's sons of Connecticut, who were three day- in the ranks as soldiers. Its greatly to their credit that in all the different parties that were collected, and in all their various move- ments, there was as much good order and decorum observ'd, as when attending Church on Sundays.

The townspeople are in general very uneasy and dissatisfied with the Governor's fortifying the entrance; so much so. they cant get any <f carpenters and ma- sons out of the army. They talk of sending to New York for a number of mechanics to affect it : its my opinion, if they are wis< , they wont come.

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