Page:Letters of John Andrews.djvu/96

 00 LITTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS.

with whom they are necessarily connected, more especially when dress'd up with so false a gloss.

The second pari of the comic performance I sent you some time since. I now enclose yon, under the title of the Group, together with the paper thai is principally open to the tory party. My intention in procuring this for you is to shew the childish play of a Dumber <>t' offi- cers among u>, who have foolishly endeavor'd to ape men, who are as superior to them in abilities as they are degrading to their order, in acting such a despicable part as they do, which you may Bee by their resolutions. Their procession was from the coffee house to the Cock- loti in the town house, where they stew'd in one room, or rather hovel, scarce sufficient to contain them standing. Their silly parade consisted of a president with a borroto'd scarlet cloak and perriwig, with a wand in one hand and a book in the Other, follow'd by six others, alike ap- parell'd, who stil'd themselves (however improperly for a congress) the selectmen, together with about thirty others in their uniforms walking two and two — with much greater courage, I imagine, than they would face an enemy.

Young Ned Hill who was in your city last fall is dead of the camp fever, being the fourth and last son the old gentleman has lost in the course of two years. His daughter together with a domestic in the house now lay at the point of death with the same disorder, which has been very prevalent among us, and carried off a great number of the inhabitants a- well as soldiers.

Several young tradesmen have left town, to join the American Army, as they call it. and others of a higher sphere in life, am told, have sent up their names to the congress for commissions. I hear they have provided stores, ammunition, tent equipage and provissions for an army to consist of thirty thousand men.

Rutliv has lately finish'd a landscape which she drew with a pen, that'- equal to any copper plate that I ever saw. In regard to design 1 think it exceeds most every thing of the kind, but the attention she is oblig'd to pay to it, while in hand, is so great that it cant but be prejudicial to her health. It is so much admir'd, that it is sent for to all quarters to see. She has received the compliment of Earl Piercy upon the occasion, who express'd his very great admiration of it.

April 19th. Yesterday produe'd a scene the most shocking New England ever beheld. Las1 Saturday p.m. orders were sent to the several regiments quartered here, not to let their Grenadiers or light Infantry do any duty till further orders, upon which the inhabitants

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