[Extract]

Dear Sir Never was Joy painted in higher Colours than in the Faces of the Selectmen of Boston & other of the Inhabitants of that distressed Town when we first had an Interview this forenoon ー I have been in several Parts of the Town ー there seems to be much Mischief done out of mere Wantonness ー saw several Holes where the Canno[n] Shot from our Lines at Roxbury had passed ー two 13 Inch Shells from Cobble Hill fell just over Mr Sherburnes House a little above Kings Chapple ー I just stepd into Mr [John] Hancocks to see what Damage he had suffered expecting to see every Thing laid waste but found it much otherwise ー All his good Furniture Family Pictures &care preserved & but little Hurt done to the House or Gardens ー one of his Dependants told me Mr Phillips House had been improved by Mr Winslow & was left in good Order ー I intended to have gone to Mr Masons but had not Time ... I imagine some Hulks will be sunk in the Channel which together with our Forts & Batteries I hope will secure to us the Possession of the Town where the Enemy will get another such Foothold I know not ... the oppressed Town is once more freed of its cruel Masters ー I hope it will see good Days according to the Days wherein it has see[n] Evilー