Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/78

 72 LETTERS OF JOHX ANDREWS.

They accordingly agreed to give him a large price for as many a> he could procure. He finally got near a load, by keeping his intentions to himself; but coming up, he put into Portsmouth harbour, where they by accident discovered who his load was tor — whereupon a number seiz'd and drag'd him thro' all the gutters in town. J lis obsti- nacy indue". 1 them to threaten that they would drown him if he did not comply with their injunctions, and accordingly drag'd him down to the water's edge, when the fear of their putting their threat in ex- ecution extorted a confession from him, that he would agree to and sign any obligation that they should see fit to draw up.

As to bricks, they were necessitated to buy au old house down at point Shirley — which by the expence of pulling down, cleaning, &ca., the bricks stood 'em in at the rate of two Guineas m. They protfer'd four dollars a m for all that the industrious poor have made on the Neck under the inspection of the Committee of ways and means, but was told that they dare not let 'em have them at any price, least they should offend their country brethren — for want of which, the chim- neys in the barracks are so ill-secur'd, that the Barrack Master says that he shan't he surpris'dif fire breaks out in 'em very often. So that, in addition to other calamities, we are likely to be expos'd to the dreadful one of Jire — whereby not only our property but lives will be cndanger'd.

November 17th. The town have finally chose a Committee to settle some plau for the preservation of peace among us, wdio have had several conferences with the Governor upon the subject, whereby they have adopted a measure perfectly pleasing to him and agreeable to themselves, though the publick are not as yet made acquainted with it. One consequence already resulting from it is, that none of the Soldiers, save those on duty, appear in the streets with side arms.

-NovenilNT is//-. This day saw Lieutenant Blackwood, who has accepted the draft, and promises me he will pay it at the end of 30 days. I likewise saw Captain Shee, who Avas upon duty at the main guard. The man is either paralytic or was in great trepidation at sight of the draft, as he not only trembled but stutter' d prodigiously. Not having pen and ink handy, he told me if I would suspend the demand a few days he would pay it without any previous sight, though he seem'd to make very strange of it, and pretended not to know Griffin, and then >ai<l he had left orders with Mr. Shee or Duchey to pay it there.

Xocentber \ { dth. General Gage's conduct has been so very unex-

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