Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/53

 LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS. L7

people go in and out of the town arm'd?" Answers to which they told his Excellency they would deliver to him in writing to-morrow; not but that theymight have satisfied him immediately, bul I suppose they chose to be very explicit upon the subject, and take the oppor- tunity to open their minds fully upon matters and things to him. In regard to the people coming in arm'd, 1 never understood that they did : bul as to their going out so is very common, for every man in the country not possess'd of a firelock makes ii a point to procure one, so that 1 suppose for a month past, or more, not a day has pass'd, but a hundred or more are carried out of town by 'em. . September IBth. Have inclos'd yon yesterday's paper, which will shew yon better than I can express, with what rapidity the recanta- tions go on with regard to addressors, &c. ; as also the Middlesex County resolves, which are judicious and spirited — with the Conduct of Jurors. The 59th Regiment, encamp'd on the Neck, are very busy entrenching themselves. P. S. Should be glad to he favor'd, if opportunities present, with any particulars of importance that may turn up your way, more especially transactions of the Congress. Am just inform'd that the officers prevail'd on a negro at Charlestown to inform 'em where the cannon were lodg'd; which being known there, they mustered about three thousand, and with teems carried 'em about ten or a dozen miles further up. Several among 'em were eight and forty pounders, which weigh'd between two and three ten apiece. This morning Doctor Young left the town, to settle at Providence, being apprehensive from the measures that are taking that he may be taken up, and therefore thinks it his duty .to defeat their purposes, in regard to himself, while it's in his power.

September 14//t. As vicious minds are apt to exaggerate the truth, so one wedded to any particular principles, is very likely to make a partial representation of tacts favorable to his own tenets. And as the mind of man is capable of receiving different impressions, I think it absolutely necessary for one who undertakes to relate occurrences, that he should not lie influenced by any prejudices, nor endeavor to dress matters so that they may admit of a false coloring — not that I can boast of an independant spirit myself, by any means, but must freely acknowledge that my sentiment- entirely coincide with the peoph : therefore cant but approve the general spirit of freedom that prevails at this time through the continent — but at the same time would ^///('////condemn any injudicious measures, adopted either by whig or tory ; and have endeavored, as far as my abilities would

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