I have been prevented writing for several days by company from town.
Since I wrote you I have received several letters; two of the 13th of
April, one of the 19th, and one of the 22d. Though some of them were
very short, I will not complain. I rejoice to hear from you though you
write but a line.
Since the above we have some account of the affair at Danbury, and of
the loss of General Wooster.[171] That they had no more assistance, 't
is said, was owing to six expresses being stopped by the Tories. We
shall never prosper till we fall upon some method to extirpate that
blood-thirsty set of men. Too much lenity will prove our ruin. We have
rumors too of an action at Brunswick much to our advantage, but little
credit is yet given to the report. I wish we may be able to meet them in
the field, to encounter and conquer so vile an enemy.
The two Continental frigates lie windbound, with three brigs of twenty
guns and some others, which are all going out in company. The wind has
been a long time at east and prevented the vessels from going out.
I was mistaken in my brother's going with MacNeal. He is going in the
_Darter_, a vessel which mounts twenty-four guns, is private property,
but sails with the fleet.
I cannot write you half so much as I would. I have left company because
I would not lose an opportunity of sending this. Believe me, etc.
I must add a little more. A most horrid plot has been discovered of a
band of villains counterfeiting the Hampshire currency to a great
amount. No person scarcely but what has more or less of these bills. I
am unlucky enough to have about five pounds L. M. of it, but this is not
the worst of it. One Colonel Farrington, who has been concerned in the
plot, was taken sick, and has confessed not only the counterfeiting, but
says they had engaged and enlisted near two thousand men, who, upon the
troops' coming to Boston, were to fall upon the people and make a
general havoc.
How much more merciful God is than man, in thus providentially bringing
to light these horrid plots and schemes. I doubt not Heaven will still
continue to favor us unless our iniquities prevent. The Hampshire people
have been stupid enough to let one of the principal plotters, Colonel
Holland, out upon bail, and he has made his escape.