Braintree, 14 April, 1776.
I have missed my good friend Colonel Warren from Watertown in the
conveyance of my letters. You make no mention of more than one. Write me
how many you have had and what the dates were.
I wrote you, upon the 17th of March. Particulars it was not then
possible to obtain; and after that, I thought every pen would be
employed in writing to you a much more accurate account than I could
give you.
The fleet lay in the road almost a fortnight after the town was
evacuated. In that time Major Tupper came with a body of men to
Germantown, and procured two lighters, and fitted them with every sort
of combustible matter, hand grenades, etc., in order to set fire to the
fleet. But the very day he was ready, they sailed. And it was said that
they had intelligence from Boston of the design. However, he carried the
lighters up to town for the next fleet that appears.
Fort Hill is a-fortifying, I suppose, in the best manner. Committees
have been appointed to survey the islands, etc., but we are scanty of
men. It is said we have not more than two thousand effective men left,
and the General thought it necessary to take the heavy cannon with him.
We have many pieces spiked up, which they are employed in clearing.
About a hundred pieces, I have heard, were left at the castle with their
trunnels broken, or spiked. The castle, you have no doubt heard, was
burnt by the troops before they sailed, and an attempt was made to blow
up the walls, in which, however, they did not succeed any further than
to shatter them. There are so many things necessary to be done, that I
suppose business moves slowly. At present we all seem to be so happy and
so tranquil, that I sometimes think we want another fleet to give some
energy and spirit to our motions. But there has been so great an
overturn that people seem to be hardly recovered from their amazement.
Many buildings in town sustained great damages, more particularly at the
south end. The furniture of many houses was carried off or broken in
pieces. Dr. Gardiner left all his furniture and medicine, valued, it is
said, at four hundred sterling. Dr. L. is still in town; Dr. Whitworth
too. Both ought to be transported. Mr. Goldthwait is in town. All the
records of which he had the care safe, though it seems part of them were
carried into Boston. All the papers relating to the Probate Courts are
missing. Mr. Lovell, and all the prisoners taken at the Charlestown
battle, are carried off. The bells are all in town; never were taken
down. The officers and Tories have lived a life of dissipation. Inclosed
is a prologue of Burgoyne's, with a parody written in Boston, soon after
it was acted. Burgoyne is a better poet than soldier.
As to goods of any kind, we cannot tell what quantity there is. Only two
or three shops open. Goods at most extravagant prices. All the better to
promote manufactures. There is talk of raising another regiment. If they
should, I fear we shall suffer in our husbandry. Labor is very high. I
cannot hire a man for six months under twenty pounds lawful money. The
works upon the Neck are leveling. We keep guards upon the shores yet.
Manly has taken a vessel-load of Tories. Among them is Black, the
Scotchman, and Brazen-head Jackson, Hill, the baker, etc. What can be
done with them? I think they ought to be transported to England. I would
advertise for Tory transports.
Hanover has made large quantities of saltpetre. This week we are to hold
court here, but I do not imagine anything will be done. I have a letter
from you the 29th of March. It is said there is one from Mr. Gerry the
3d of April, acquainting us with your opening trade. Who is the writer
of "Common Sense"? of "Cato"? of "Cassandra"? I wish you would,
according to promise, write me an account of Lord Stirling. We know
nothing about him here.
All the Tories look crest-fallen. Several deserters from on board the
commodore's ship say that it is very sickly on board. We have only that
and two or three cutters besides. We fear that a brig, laden with
seventy tons of powder, which sailed from Newburyport, has fallen into
the enemy's hands upon her return.
I rejoice in the Southern victories. The oration was a very elegant
performance, but not without much art,--a few strokes which to me injure
it.