LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS. 75
November 29<A. Yesterday the < Jeneral order'd a Sergent and drum from each Regimenl to parade every street in town and proclaim to the inhabitants that it' they trusted a Soldier more than a day's pay, their commanding officer would not pay it, and therefore they must do it at their own risque.
November 30th. The desertions have been so great of late that the troops had orders last evening to call the roll every half hour till further orders.
December 1st. Saw Mr. Prideaux, who acknowlcdg'd the Note and said he would pay it at some future time.
December 2nd. The General, in order to remove every cause of complaint has this morning set a number of Soldiers to work upon the Common to till up the cellars and holes that were made by the troops when encamp'd there, as well as to level the hanks thing up by them.
December 3rd. The arrival of a number of ships from England within this week past, who give an account of the parliament's heing dissolv'd in consequence of the Scarborough's arrival there with the intelligence of the Cambridge muster, &ca., has caus'd some disagree- able apprehensions to arise in the minds of the people, least the Minis- try should, by such a sudden manoeuvre, patch up a new parliament as equally subservient to their cursed schemes as the old one, and by that means play the devil with us in the Spring.
December Uh. Sunday. This morning the Scarborough arriv'd with a double compliment of Marines (contrary to the opinion of many, who believed, as it had been reported, that she was gone to take her station at Ireland) who informs that three or four more capital Ships are coming out with the like number of Marines. What their designs are, other than to reinforce General Gage, I cant conceive, nor am I, for my own part, apprehensive in the least of worse consequences.
December 5th. Last Fryday the provincial Congress, now sitting, deputed three of their number to wait up Secretary Fluker and de- maud a list of the Mandamus Councellors, with an account of those who refus'd taking the oath, as well as those who had resign'd, to- gether with the time of such respective refusals and resignations — who in reply told them that he did not know any mandamus councel- lors, but he knew a number of gentlemen who were appointed by his majesty as councellors of this province, and therefore declin'd com- plying with their demand. I suppose the intention of the Congress is to return their thanks to those who had refus'd or resign'd, and
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