54 LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS.
only chargeable myself. The preceding epistle of the 1 lih 5 24th, favored by Mr. Wilde, I imagine will afford you the earliest intelli- gence run can have from here of late transactions, provided be makes tin- dispatch he told me he should.
The last eveniDg, Joseph Russell in his horse and chaise, together with Caleb Blanchard and Captain Symmes, who uses the London trade, were returning into town just alter nine o'clock, pass'd li\' or Bix centinels till they came to the last before entering the town, who
hail'd ■in. and they chusing not to answer, he stop'd the horse and
demanded why they did not reply friend; when Capt. Symmes (be- ing a rough spoken man) damu'd him for a scoundrel, and told him he was not his friend, and would not answer to him. and took the reins from Russell, and drove upon full gallop through y*. fortifica- tion. The fellow calling to the guard to stop the chaise, they turn'd out and thrust four bayonets into the horse's side. They immedi- ately waited upon the General, who being in bed, they deferred it until next morning, when he told 'em that one of the soldiers was already under guard and the others should he taken care of. ami if they would attend court martial next day, they should have justice done 'on. Russell reply'd that he did not chuse to attend to he insulted and ill-treated as one of his townsmen had been, referring to JUnoch Brown. The Governor assur'd him he should he protected, and have lull satisfaction, and indeed, as Russell acquainted me, said every- thing he could say; and in mitigation of Brown's treatment said they who us'd him so were not a proper constituted court.
The example of our worth;/ brethren of New York, in not letting their vessels for Government service, as well as that their Carpenters would not engage in any work for 'em. has induc'd the country people to think seriously whether they were right in supplying with timber, joice, and Straw for the Barracks here. They accordingly met and de- termin'd in yl negative ; sent committees to the severall contractors to let them know if they supply'd any further they would incur the resentment of the whole country ; and at the same time signified to our committee of correspondence that they did not think it eligible fur the workmen here to go on with building barracks or preparing houses for the reception of the troops, as we might possibly, by per- sisting, not only incur blame from our sister colonies, but ess tially affect the anion now subsisting between town and country; which circumstance caus'd the Committee to get together Saturday P.M., when they pass'd a vote, that it was not prudent for y' work-
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