Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/90

 3 I LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS.

from several of the Regiments, to the amount of 100. emhark'd on board an arm'd schooner last evening t<> go there for their protection — they pretending thai the neighbouring town- had threatned to molest

'em — bul cant learn that they had any Midi intention--. Hope tin- people will lie discreel and prudent enough not to meddle with the Sol- dier-.

January 2">//,. Yesterday the Officers were all examin'd at the New Court bouse, respecting fryday night's affair, being carried there under arrest, nine in number (alter which the General is to deal with them) : being a greal number of evidences they were oblig'd to adjourn till [to] day.

January I'd///. The very great expenses of the army and navy has put the Commanders SO much to their trumps, tor want of Cash, that they have been oblig'd to borrow upwards of fifteen thousand sterling in specie of old Captain Erving, and near as much more of Borland.

January -27///. Its shocking to conceive to what degree the Soldiers are punish'd. Its imagin'd half their deaths arise from it, as it often happens that their ribs are laid quite bare, whereby their kidneys are so affected that they become incurable. A Drummer in the tenth Regiment, more humane than the rest, refus'd one day this week to take his turn with the whip, and when it was handed him, flung it on the ground, saying that he inlisted to serve his Majesty as a Drummer, in which calling he would venture to say that he was a- capable and did his duty as faithfully as any in the Regiment, hut he never enter'd the service to become a whipper or hangman, and therefore, let the consequence he what it would, was determin'd not to do it. The adju- tant order'd him immediately under guard. The next day he was tried by a court martial and honorably acquitted.

January -2*th. Our joy. in getting rid of the soldiers from the house directly opposite us, is shortliv'd, as they are now preparing it for the reception of the sick from the Welch fusileers — who have SO many down with fevers and what not that they have not room to stow 'em in the house which they have alwaise improv'd as a hospital, so that we are like to he in a line situation. As to moving, its impossible, as there's not a room scarcely in the town ten feet square unimproved. We have thought of selling our furniture and going out to board, as we dont see any other method we can take to avoid being continually expos'd to infection. Have been to the barrack master about it. who tells me he ha- expostulated against it. hut to no purpose, his office being near by it —hut they can get no other place, and the general's orders are positive to lit it up immediately.

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