Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/70

 til LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS.

Upon reading the above, you may possibly say, Jack has turn'd moralist — but the thoughts of whal we now, and arc like to suffer, gave rise to the above reflections — and, however differenl our senti- ments may be, from the general eonducl of the people, every day's experience tells me thai not only good policy, but our own quiet, absolutely depends upon a bare acquiescence at least. Therefore I esteem them very blameable who have persisted in an opposition to them, as vox populi, vox Dei — and their resentment is so great in return, that it's a chance whether (if their struggles should produce better times) they will ever admit of such passing their future days uninterrupted among 'em. My last of 25th ultimo to 15th Instant. will In' handed you by Mr. Edward Hill, a pupil of John Adam-'.-. Esquire.

October 17th. The return of one Mr. Dyar, who was kidnapp'd, put in iron-, and sent home in the ship that carried Admiral Mon- tague, cause- much speculation here — as by his affidavit, taken before the Lord Mayor (which is sent by Sheriff Lee to Mi-. Han- cock) wherein lie declares that Colonel Maddisou of the King's Own Regiment promised him reward- and endeavor'd to entice him to say that Colonel Hancock. &ca., were the instigators of, and immediately concern'd in, the destruction of the Tea. He also says that the Admiral, on his passage, us'd many arguments to perswade him to the same thing. As he was a seafaring man. his wife nor family did not know of his being gone in that manner, but, by his absence, sup- pos'd he was gone a voyage that he had been engag'd for. His account of the matter is, that he Inning said that he knew all about and who were concern'd in the destruction of tea — being an artfnll fellow ami one who pretends to know every thing — in consequence of which, he was seiz'd by two soldiers in a remote, retir'd part of the town, and convey'd to the camp, where he was kept shackled till the ship sail'd. It was known to many, though it never came to my knowledge, that a man was carried home for enticing the Soldiers to desert, which was the reason they th( n gave for his being taken up.

Am told that Colonel Hancock and Colonel Maddisou have had an interview upon the subject — and that the latter has fully satisfied the former that what the fellow has alledged is absolutely false; tho* that he was carried home, and in the manner here related, is beyond dispute.

October 18th. The above mentioned Dyar having declar'd since he came home, that if he could not have publick satisfaction lor his

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