Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/59

 LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS. 53

when conven'd at Salem, as the Governor, it's mure likely than not, will Qot meet 'em there, nor can he adjourn 'em to this town till they are constituted a legislative body, and they won't submit to be sworn by the new Councellors, neither is it supposed that the Governor will allow them to be capacitated by the old ones. Therefore it's gener- ally suppos'd they will adjourn themselves to Concord (where it is intended that y° Provincial Congress shall meet) and resolve them- s«K es into such a hody.

Sept* mber 2Srd. The Military are now busy in preparing frames, to erect barracks in the Common, for the accommodation of the troops now encamp'd there. Some days ago they contracted with Thompson of Mistick for a supply of bricks. He loaded one lighter to bring over, but by some accident or oilier, she sunk in the river." Since which his townsmen have taken the matter into consideration, whether he shall supply them or not. And the 21st, he was wailed upon by a deputation from Wohuru, a town just above Mistick, to desire he would desist from transporting any untill it should be deter- min'd in what way and manner it ought to be done, or whether it should be done at any rate ; in order to which, a number of Dele- gates from all the neighboring towns are to meet in a day or two — as they think that others in the trade who are equally sufferers with him by the operation of the Tort bill, ought to come in for some share of the advantage that may accrue from supplying them. Be- sides, they have it in contemplation whether to let them have them at all other than by way of land carriage, that they, with us, may experience some trifle of the many disadvantages arising from the cursed Act.

September 2-ith. Yours of the 19th inst. by Mr. Revere have just receiv'd. Am pleas'd with the approbation of the Congress to our proceedings. Am in haste, as Mr. Wilde is now waiting.

September 25th. As I write for your amusement rather than for my own emolument, I doubt not your candor will excuse any error you may observe either in diction or composition — and not pretend- ing to any scholastic rules, I pen my ideas as freely as they flow. Neither do I mean to embellish my letters with apt quotations or improve another's sentiments for my own (as my memory is not suffi- ciently retentive for the first, nor is my inclination dispos'd to the, last), other than that I endeavor, in relating facts (though express'd in my own mode), to conform as near to the truth as the best infor- mation I can get will admit of. Therefore if there's any fault, am

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