Manuscripts and Special Collections
Me C 28/2 : Letter from Sir Henry Clinton, Boston, to Charles Mellish; c. 24 Jun. 1775
the operations of war would or had commenced
before my arrival.- So it was. We are told the
Southern Provinces will not go into rebelion.
Why don't you buy them at any rate, & if you must
have war send over 2,000 [sic. ? writer's error for 20,000] at once. You know
how much I wished for peace how desirous
I was to do everything to preserve it. What
romantick notions I had even if pushed to
extremity to try
everything before blood was drawn, but
alas all that was at an end before we arrived
& I am convinced that nothing but independency
will satisfy these people. My cypher is
so slow I cannot ever know. Adio my good
friend let me hear from you: my estates
etc. are too flourishing away. But patience
we shall see better times, I hope.
late over the field of battle, the crys and groans
of the dying was shocking. I had conversation
with many of these poor wretches in their dying
moments. Most of them declared they had been
deceived, but they were determined to measure
us once & should then be satisfied. They are now
entrenching up to their Chins but a fresh army
relieves them every week. Our loss has been very great ... [letter incomplete]
