24 LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS.
the other two being for more favorable construction, bul as there's an equal Dumber of voices, they thoughl besl rather to err in favor of the government than the people.
The Committee of Ways &c, mel yesterday, and came to a determination t" ship some of the rice at Marblehead on board a ves- sel for tin- town, and demand a clearance : in case of refusal, to enter a protest and proceed with it to Boston and take the chance of it. and then see whether they will put their threats in execution or not.
The poor of the Town arc in general employ'd at present in mend- ing the streets and cleaning the docks, for which they are paid 3 1 a day, Inn some few of them grumble thai they are oblig'd to work hard for thai which they esteem as their righl without work.
August 5th. — Being informed that a Mr. Hare of your city leaves town tomorrow morning, shall embrace the opportunity and enclose you the budget 1 have already wrote, and conclude by acquaint- ing yon that in consequence of the Committee's determination to bring some of the rice up to town by water (at all events), the Com- missioners, together with the Governor, Admiral, Solicitor, etc'a., have had a general Council, and finally determin'd to admit Dumb fish and rice to be brought up as articles of provision, as also to suffer the -hips on the stocks to be launched aud proceed out of the harbour without let or molestation.
.Must put off all thoughts of a journey to Philadelphia this fall, as its impossible to say what commotions may take place here when the other Acts arrive, it' they ever do ; as I am perswaded, from the spirit that prevails in the country towns in general, that they will never he suffered to operate there, whatever they may do in this town. Therefore 1 think it absolutely necessary tor every one pos- sessing property, to lie in the way, least things may happen that arc little thought of now.
l'.S. Should be glad you would not show this, or any other of my letters, so as to let 'em know who was the author.
August 6th. — I expect you'll set me down for a journalist : as this gives a detail of occurrences in succession to my last by Mr. Hare of the Lsl and 5th instant. Tins day arriv'd the transports with the 59th Regiment from Halifax and a detachment of the Artillery with twenty odd pieces of ordnance — as also the Scarborough ship of war with despatches for Governor Gage, among which is a Manda-
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