ve other regiments to depart as soon as the
British fleet should leave the harbor.

But at this time the inhabitants of Boston were very uncertain of their
own fate. Nothing was more natural than that Washington should attack,
or that the exasperated British should on departing, even if unassailed,
set fire to the wooden town. The selectmen, as spokesmen for the
inhabitants, therefore inquired of Howe what his intentions were. Howe
wrote in reply that he had no intention of destroying the town, if he
were unmolested. This reply the selectmen sent in haste to Washington,
begging for a similar assurance. Washington was not willing to bind
himself, and returned answer that as Howe's note was "unauthenticated,
and addressed to nobody," he could take no notice of it. Nevertheless,
since no threat was made, the Bostonians felt more at ease.[162]

All this time the wind was contrary, and the troops unable to set sail.
They therefore remained in their quarters, while completing their
preparations for departure. As the days passed Howe began to destroy
what he could not take with him, and to seize what would be of advantage
to the rebels. His troops spiked cannon, burned artillery and transport
wagons, or else threw them into the harbor, and ruined bulky stores.
What he did deliberately, his men increased through malice. The 13th
seems to have been the worst day of this period. "The Inhabitants,"
wrote Newell, "in the utmost distress, thro' fear of the Town being
destroyed by the Soldiers, a party of New York Carpenters with axes
going thro' the town breaking open houses, &c. Soldiers and sailors
plundering of houses, shops, warehouses--Sugar and salt &c. thrown into
the River, which was greatly covered with hogsheads, barrels of flour,
house furniture, carts, trucks &c. &c.--One Person suffered _four
thousand pounds sterling_, by his shipping being cut to pieces
&c.--Another _five thousand pounds sterling_, in salt wantonly thrown
into the river." No wonder that the sturdy old selectman thought these
to be "very distressed times."

Howe's agent in the work of plundering was that Crean Brush who had
offered to police the western part of Massachusetts with three hundred
men. Him the general directed to receive all linen and woollen goods
which were on sale, and to take those which were not delivered, giving
certificates for the same. There is on file the petition of one Jackson,
begging for payment for goods taken from him. Bru