Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/64

 LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS.

told thai he is goue upon publick business, with proper credentials from the Congress, and thai a deputy is to go, or have already gone, from each of the provinces, in the same secrel manner. Am much pleas'd with the plan, as I make ao doubl it will be attended with great benefil to the continent, and may expedite measures for our re- lief — for i«' continue long in the 3tate we are now in, is shocking to think of. In the course of a day or two past, the Roxbury people have burnl several 1<>;i<1 of straw thai was bringing in here, which has enrag'd the soldiers to such a degree, thai 1 am in continual ap- prehension we shall soon experience another fifth of March, which God forbid! for. should such a thing take place it musl be attended with fatal consequences ; as the only expedient would be for the in- habitants to remove themselves and effects out of the town — when the country would instantly avail themselves of the advantage, and would indeed rejoice at the opportunity, to stop a supply of provis- ions, whereby those remaining in the town together with the innocent Soldiers, would share one common fate, or move off.

ember SOth. In the afternoon of yesterday, a boal from the Lively (which ship, by the way. i< under sailing Orders to carry the firsl news of what may be determin'd by the Con-rev-) seiz'd a parcell of Merchandize to the amount of about fifty pounds, lawful money, which were a dozen firelocks, the property of Mr. Phillips of Andover. He waited on Captain Bishop to obtain a release of them; but most people would he -lad to have the matters come to a tryal, in order to have it determin'd whether they have a right to seize any article, transported across the harbor, or not.

October 1st. It's common for the Soldiers to tire at a target fix'd in the stream at the bottom of tin- common. A countryman stood by a lew dav- ago, and laugh'd very heartily at a whole regiment's firing, and not one being able to bit it. The officer observ'd him. and ask'd why be laugh'd? Perhaps you'll be affronted if I tell you, reply'd the countryman. No. he would not, he said. Why then, says he, I laugh to see how awkward they lire. Why, I'll be bound I bit it ten times running. Ah! will you, reply'd the officer ; come try: Sol- diers, go and bring five of the best guns, and load 'em for this honest man. Why. you need not bring so many : let me have any one that comes to hand, reply'd the other, lint I chuse to load myself. He ac- cordingly loaded, and ask'd the officer where he should tire? He reply'd, to the right — when he pull'd tricker, and drove the ball as near the ri-ht as possible. The officer was amaz'd — and said he

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