LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS. 17
winter, by their cruel endeavors to stop the little inland trade we expected.
Our wharfs arc intirely deserted ; not a topsail vessel to be seen cither there or in t lie harbour, save the ships of war and transport, the latter of which land their passengers in this town tomorrow. Four regiments are already arriv'd, and four more are expected. How they are to he disposed of, can't say. Its gave out, that it' y? General Court don't provide barracks for 'em, they are to he quarter'd on y! inhabitants in y! fall : if so, am determin'd not to stay in it. The executors of the Act seem to strain points beyond what was ever intended, for they make all v. vessels, both with grain and wood, entirely unload at Marblehead before they'll permit 'em to come in here, which conduct, in regard to y". article of wood has already greatly enhanced the price, and the masters say they won't come at all, if they are to he always put to such trouble, as they are oblig'd to hire another vessel to unload into, and then to return it back again, as they have no wharves to admit of their landing it on. Nor will they sutler any article of merchandize. to be brought or carrv'd over Charles river ferry, that we are oblig'd to pay for 28 miles land carriage to get our goods from Marble- head or Salem. Could till up a number of sheets to enumerate all our difficulties.
July 22nd. — Previous to my receiving your two favors of the 6th and 22nd June, I wrote you by Mr. Pollard of your place, when I made some observations on the solemn League "ml Covenant, which I had not then seen, as it was not known to lie in being in this town (hut by the few who promoted it) till near a month after it had been circulated through the country : in which time it went through whole towns with the greatest avidity, every adult of both sexes putting their names to it, saving a very few. It was sent out in printed copies by the Clerk to the Committee. W. Cooper, who ac- companied it with a letter intimating that the measure was in general adopted here, whereas upon enquiry I can't find that a single person in the town has signed it — and the only excuse they now make for so absurd a piece of conduct is, that it originated altogether from the country, without any of their advice or interposition; thinking so palpable a falsehood will remove the just prejudices of the more rational and judicious people among us.*
��* The Solemn League and Covenant here referred to was a covenant between the people in the various towns lo suspend all commercial intercourse with Great Britain
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