LETTERS OP JOHN ANDREWS. 89
remember to have ever seen one equal to.it. Dont } r ou think I have improv'd my paper well?
April \\th. About ten days since Captain Hamilton had the misfor- tune to fall from his horse, and broke two or three of his ribs, and otherways bruis'd himself in such a manner that it was tho'1 he could nol survive it, but am told he is likely to get well. 1 doubt whether I shall ever be able to get the money of him, more especially of Mr. Prideaux, who does not pay the least regard to his promises, though I follow him very close too.
In regard to publick affairs, we are all in confusion at present, the streets and Neck Lin'd with waggons carrying off the effects of the in- habitants, who are either affraid, mad. crazy or infatuated — which term youplease, Bid — immagining to themselves thai they shall be liable to cvi-vy evil that can be enumerated, if they tarry in town. For my own part, am determin'd to stay at all events, though 1 look upon my outstanding debts in the country (which are very considerable) to be totally lost, as if the army moves into the country (which by all their maneauvries at present, there remains no dispute of) the country are determin'd to oppose 'em, at least if they proceed in a hostile man- ner; and to expect better times, very speedily, is wishing against hope.
William Whitwell, who trades largely to your town, died lasl nighl ; upon receiving the last disagreeable news, his spirits fail'd him, and as his fortitude could not support him under the apprehension of seeing the misseries and calamities that are likely to befall his country ; he languish'd and died.
The Commissioners have appointed an officer, under pretence of searching for contraband goods, who inspects every Cask that is carried out of the town by opening and boring, so that the waggons are detain'd sometime by him.
Have sent you Doctor Mayhew's Sermons to young .Men. agreeable, to your desire in a former letter. I expected to have procur'd one more neatly bound, but could not. The olHcers' oration is in print among themselves, should have exerted myself to procure one for you, hut the scandalous freedoms taken in it, by printing or rather exposing the Domestic troubles of some very worthy characters among us, indue'd me not to send it, as with many, they are not known, and should you have it, you might possibly be indue'd to shew it to a friend or two who might thereby be acquainted with circumstances, though no ways lessoning to the merits of an unexceptionable character — yet may be disagreeable to the injur'd party to have the faults of tho^e expos'd
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