[Extract]
Dr Sir I come now to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 4th Augt by Johnson, and Congratulate you, on your being in a place of Safty. To discribe the Sufferings of the late Friends to Goverment in america is impassable, but according to our numbers we are More dispers'd, and oppress'd than the Jews. and when the time of our coming in, or Giting to our own Habitatations again in peace will be, God only knows, At present we are the only sufferers
I live here with my family tolerable quiet; but Should Spend my time more agreable, if our Govーr. was not both ignorant, & moros. in every N.E. [New England] man, he fanceys he Sees the rebel, and treats us as Such. only he does not imprison us yet, but beleive he would Gladly, if he could.
Johnson was taken at Canso, on his way from this to St Johns Island, and Carried, to the Congress, or Rather Genl Washington, at Same Time, the two arm'd Schrs from marblehead who Took him carried Mr Colbeck, the acting Governor of St Johns Island, Mr Rice a Judge, and Mr Higgins, who ware permited to return to their Famelys, by the Genl and on their return came here four days ago. they bring Halls papers to the 15 Decr by which we find that their privateers, as they call them, have taken a great number of provition vessels from England, and [these] whare amongst other vessells they have taken, the ordinance Store Brig. from London for Boston, with Twenty four Brass Cannon 12. & 6. pounders, one thirteen inch Brass Morter. a large quantity of arms of all Sorts. in short every thing that washington wanted, the army in Cambridge are exceedingly well fortyfied, and well provided with every thing except Cloathing, have reduced their numbers from [38] Regts of 500 men each, to 26 Reg[ts] ー Timo Pickering is appointed, Judge of admiralty, to condem the prises brot in... Admiral Graves Seems very well contented, being well boom'd in to keep the whale boats from Taking him, as well as a large number of Shipps round him, to keep off the marble head fishermen. whilst the Coasts of N.E. are ravag'd by two mast Boats, and other Craft. two vessells have been taken in a day, after the Signall was up for them at the Castle, is not this a Brave A————l.? Really think the Risque of vessells being Taken between Boston light house, & only twenty leagues East of it is 20 pr Ct while the N.E. people, Carry on a free trade to the west Indies & to tp.e eastward of Portsmouth, only one of their arm'd vessells have been taken, But that was oneof their Best. ー All Canada is Taken except Quebec, and its Ginerally bel[ie]ved that Quebec is taken before this, and I e[x]pect they will take this province next Spring: Then G: Britain will have the whole Town of Boston to themselves; a noble acqusition; could any body have thought Twelve months ago that matters would have Stood as they do at present. but let us hope for better Times. worse cannot be... Pray inform me what is doing. what prospect is before us: we are here in the Greatest Consternation: I fear that what little property my Countrymen Suffered me to bring away with me, will in Cours of next Summer, be carried back: it must be the Case, unless an accommidation taks place, which I dont in the least expect as the affairs of Goverment are Carried on with the Greatest Spirit. ー Pray excuse this long letter. my anxeity: my Thoughts of having a family at my hands, and Surrounded with danger hurries on my pen beyond my inclination. I am ー Dr Sir yours Sincerely ー
