Home

CORVIZ

Main content

Title: Extract of a Letter from Boston Dated April 6, 1774
ID3868
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
File1771-80/15
Year1774
Senderunknown
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationunknown
Sender Religionunknown
OriginBoston, Mass., USA
Destinationunknown
Recipientunknown
Recipient Genderunknown
Relationshipre colonists in North America
SourceThe Belfast News-letter, Tuesday 17 to Friday 20 May 1774.
ArchiveThe Central Library, Belfast
Doc. No.1200309
Date17/05/1774
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 19:12:00.
Word Count251
Genre
Note
TranscriptExtract of a Letter from Boston, dated April 6, 1774;
written by a gentleman who arrived there from Ireland
a few days before.
"...Since I arrived here I have taken some pains to
learn the strength and disposition of our colonists;
and had I not the most convincing proofs of the truth
of what I here transmit you, I should be silent on the
subject. There is not a man here but what allots some
part of the day for military exercise; and lads of
thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen years of age, can use
a gun with such dexterity, that it would surprise you;
any of them can shoot a small bird flying with the
greatest ease. Every man is also provided with a
musket, sword, and bayonet; and as to their number,
it is almost incredible. In every town and province
they betray the same sentiments, that if the mother
country treats them with severity, or sends soldiers
over to annoy them, they will resist to the last drop
of their blood. I own I cannot applaud them for these
kinds of resolutions, nor can I think that government
will suffer them to proceed in this manner long.
Certain it is that these people are arrived at such a
pitch, that they will never submit to any regulations,
unless force be administered. I heartily wish they
were capable of reflection, that they might avoid the
ruin they are not only rushing into themselves, but
involving Old England in. The Ministry I am sure
ought to be pitied, for they never had such unreasonable
creatures to deal with as the people here undoubtedly
are...."