Braintree, 21 October, 1775.
The sickness has abated here and in the neighboring towns. In Boston, I
am told, it is very sickly among the inhabitants and the soldiery. By a
man, one Haskins, who came out the day before yesterday, I learn that
there are but about twenty-five hundred soldiers in town. How many there
are at Charlestown, he could not tell. He had been in irons three weeks,
some malicious fellow having said that he saw him at the battle of
Lexington; but he proved that he was not out of Boston that day, upon
which he was released, and went with two other men out in a small boat,
under their eye, to fish. They played about near the shore, while
catching small fish, till they thought they could possibly reach
Dorchester Neck; no sooner were they perceived attempting to escape,
than they had twenty cannons discharged at them, but they all happily
reached the shore. He says no language can paint the distress of the
inhabitants; most of them destitute of wood and of provisions of every
kind. The bakers say, unless they have a new supply of wood they cannot
bake above one fortnight longer; their biscuit are not above one half
the former size; the soldiers are obliged to do very hard duty, and are
uneasy to a great degree, many of them declaring they will not continue
much longer in such a state, but at all hazards will escape. The
inhabitants are desperate, and contriving means of escape. A floating
battery of ours went out two nights ago, and rowed near the town, and
then discharged their guns. Some of the balls went into the workhouse,
some through the tents in the Common, and one through the sign of the
Lamb Tavern. He says it drove them all out of the Common, men, women,
and children screaming, and threw them into the utmost distress; but,
very unhappily for us, in the discharge of one of the cannon, the ball
not being properly rammed down, it split and killed two men, and wounded
seven more, upon which they were obliged to return. He also says that
the Tories are much distressed about the fate of Dr. Church, and very
anxious to obtain him, and would exchange Lovell for him.
This man is so exasperated at the ill usage he has received from them,
that he is determined to enlist immediately. They almost starved him
whilst he was in irons. He says he hopes it will be in his power to send
some of them to heaven for mercy. They are building a fort by the
hay-market,[106] and rending down houses for timber to do it with. In
the course of the last week, several persons have found means to escape.
One of them says it is talked in town that Howe will issue a
proclamation, giving liberty to all who will not take up arms, to depart
the town, and making it death to have any intercourse with the country
afterwards.
At present it looks as if there was no likelihood of peace; the ministry
are determined to proceed at all events; the people are already slaves,
and have neither virtue nor spirit to help themselves nor us. The time
is hastening when George, like Richard, may cry, "My kingdom for a
horse!" and want even that wealth to make the purchase. I hope by
degrees we shall be inured to hardships, and become a virtuous, valiant
people, forgetting our former luxury, and each one apply with industry
and frugality to manufactures and husbandry, till we rival all other
nations by our virtues.
I thank you for your amusing account of the Quakers; their great stress
with regard to color in their dress, etc., is not the only ridiculous
part of their sentiments with regard to religious matters.
"There's not a day but to the man of thought
Betrays some secret, that throws new reproach
On life, and makes him sick of seeing more."
What are your thoughts with regard to Dr. Church? Had you much knowledge
of him? I think you had no intimate acquaintance with him.
"A foe to God was ne'er true friend to man;
Some sinister intent taints all he does."
It is matter of great speculation what will be his punishment; the
people are much enraged against him; if he is set at liberty, even after
he has received a severe punishment, I do not think he will be safe. He
will be despised and detested by every one, and many suspicions will
remain in the minds of people in regard to our rulers; they are for
supposing _this_ person is not sincere, and _that_ one they have
jealousy of.
Have you any prospect of returning? I hoped to have heard from you by
the gentlemen who came as a committee here;[107] but they have been here
a week, and I have not any letters.
My father and sister Betsey desire to be remembered to you. He is very
disconsolate. It makes my heart ache to see him, and I know not how to
go to the house. He said to me the other day, "Child, I see your mother,
go to what part of the house I will." I think he has lost almost as much
flesh as if he had been sick; and Betsey, poor girl, looks broken and
worn with grief. These near connections, how they twist and cling about
the heart, and, when torn off, draw the best blood from it.
"Each friend by fate snatched from us is a plume
Plucked from the wing of human vanity."
Be so good as to present my regards to Mrs. Hancock. I hope she is very
happy. Mrs. Warren called upon me on her way to Watertown. I wish I
could as easily come to you as she can go to Watertown. But it is my
lot. In the twelve years we have been married, I believe we have not
lived together more than six.
If you could, with any conveniency, procure me the articles I wrote for,
I should be very glad, more especially the needles and cloth; they are
in such demand that we are really distressed for want of them.
Adieu. I think of nothing further to add, but that I am, with the
tenderest regard, your