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According to my promise I write to you of my arrival. The Troops are just put into quarters. The workmen at Boston were so mulish that the General was obliged to
Letter from an Officer in the Army at Boston
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send to Nova Scotia for Carpenters and Bricklayers to fit up Barracks for our accommodation. The country is very plentiful, and all sorts of provisions cheaper than in London, though much risen from such a number of people being got together. The inhabitants of this Colony retain the religious and civil principles brought over by their forefathers in the reign of Charles the First, and are at least a hundred years behindhand with the People of England in every refinement. With the most austere show of devotion, they are void of every principle of Religion or common honesty, and reckoned the most arrant cheats and hypocrites upon the whole Continent of America. The women are very handsome, but, like old mother Eve, very frail; our camp has been as well supplied in that way since we have been on Boston Common, as if our tents were pitched on Blackheath. As to what you hear of their taking arms to resist the force of England, it is mere bullying, and will go no farther than words; whenever it comes to blows, he that can run fastest will think himself best off: believe me, any two Regiments here ought to be decimated if they did not beat, in the field, the whole force of the Massachusetts Province; for though they are numerous, they are but a mere mob, without order or discipline, and very awkward at handling their Arms. If you have ever seen Colonel D * * * * * marching his Regiment from Ludgate Hill to the Artillery Ground, you have an epitome of the discipline of an American Army. We expect to pass the Winter very quietly. The saints here begin to relish much the money we spend among them, and I believe, notwithstanding all their noise, would be very sorry to part with us.