of the hall, and were pelted and abused to their own homes. After this the ladies diverted themselves by riding out, but were followed by a mob, pelted and abused, with the most indecent Billingsgate language. These things happened at the time when some of the people of Plymouth, in conjunction with the committee men from other towns in that county, aided and assisted by four dissenting clergymen, were presenting to General Gage, by their memorial, the peaceable state they were in before the arrival of a party of soldiers at Marshfield, in that county.
The Honorable Israel Williams, Esq., one who was appointed of his Majesty's new council, but had declined the office through infirmity of body, was taken from his house by the mob in the night, carried several miles, put into a room with a fire, the chimney at the top, the doors of the room closed, and kept there for many hours in the smoke, till his life was in danger ; then he was carried home, after being forced to sign what they ordered, and a guard placed over him to prevent his leaving the house.
To recount the suffering of all from mobs, rioters, and trespassers, would take more time and paper than can be spared for that purpose. It is hoped the foregoing will be sufficient to put you upon the use of proper means and measures for giving relief to all that have been injured by such unlawful and wicked practices.
Rivington's Gazette, March 9, 1775 ; reprinted in Frank Moore, Diary of the American Revolution (New York, etc., 1860), I, 37-42 passim.
162. A Soldier's Love-Letter (1777)
BY COLONEL ALEXANDER SCAMMELL
Scammell was an excellent officer, a favorite of Washington, and at one time adjutant-general of the American army. He served through the war, but was killed at the siege of Yorktown. The original letter has been preserved by a descendant of Nabby Bishop. — Bibliography : Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VI, Index.
My Dearest Naby.
AFTER a very severe march one hundred miles of the way on foot, through the woods in an excessive miry Road, wet, rainy weather accompanied with Snow and Hail, I arrived the 20th of May at Ticon-
