LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS. 49
had got far enough forward, and came oul hastily and lock'd the doors upon 'em, — where they remain'd a long while, calling to the ships to take 'em off (in view of a vast concourse of people on the shore, enjoying the jest), as they could not scale the walls without a ladder, nor indeed could they gel off by water, as the tide was low and they must have dropt above twenty feet from y 1 '. port holes into a boat. So, Bill., you may see we have subjects that provoke our risible faculties, as well as our irrascible ones.
ruber \C>th. Overhearing systems, either in Religion or Poli- ticks, oftener produce effects that are counter, rather than favorable to their designs. Ever since y'.' cannon were taken away from Charlestown, the General has order'd a double guard to y: new and old gun houses, where y'. brass field pieces belonging to our militia are lodg'd : notwithstanding which, the vigilance and temerity of our people has entirely disconcerted him, for We'n'sday evening, or rather night, they took these from the Old house (by opening the side of the house) and carried away through Frank Johonnot's Garden. Upon which he gave it in orders the next day to the officer on guard to remove those from the New house (which stands directly opposite the encampment of the 4th Regiment and in the middle of the street near the large Elm tree), sometime the next night into the camp ; and to place a guard at each end, or rather at both doors, till then. At the fixed hour the Ollicer went with a number of Mattrosses to execute his orders, but behold, the guns were gone! He swore the ] >• vil must have help'd them to get 'em away. However, they went to work, and brought oil' the carriages, harness, utensils, ica., which they reposited in the Camp. Its amazing to me how our people manag'd to carry off the guns, as they weigh near seven hundred weight apiece; more especially that they should do it, and not alarm the centiuels. Am told their business was not executed above 10 or 15 minutes before the officer came as above.
September 17///. Sometime yesterday an ollicer went to take away seven or eight iron ordnance, belonging to Arnold AN ells. Esqr., who forbid him to take 'em at his peril. They lay along side his Distil house,* at a wharf near the South fish market, his dwelling house being in the street above, and communicating with the wharf. The Military, apprehensive that a delay of their expedition 'till midnight
- This was formerly a lawful term for distillery: see the leading case of Horn v.
Baker, l J East, 215.
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