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favourable. Our Curiosity is therefore wrought up to a high Key to hear what is passing in Europe, whether there be a declaration of War between France and England and whether any other Powers have Acknowledged our Independence, and Concluded a Treaty with us. Thus stand matters with regard to foreign News; with regard to domestic News, I am Informed by my Friends at Congress that our Army is very respectable both with regard to Numbers and discipline. The Baron de Stubun has performed wonders in regulating the discipline of the Army. They are well Cloathed, and well provided with Provisions, Arms, and Ammunition, and Congress have determined that the Officers who serve to the End of the War shall receive half pay for seven Years, and the Soldiers have eighty dollars, which has given satisfaction to the first and Contentment to the last, and prevented both resignations and desertions, but no Operations of Consequence have yet taken place. The Enemy have made one or two Excursions which the Papers we shall send you will give an Account of, but were by our last Accounts Immured in Philadelphia, and preparing to leave it. Where they will next go is a Subject of Conjecture: some think they will leave the Continent, others that North River, Connecticut or this State is their Object. No Material Alteration in our Currency, it is rather better. Goods of all kinds are much more plenty, some are cheaper but they don't yet fall in proportion to the demand for money which is become very Considerable, and I think must in time have its Effect. The produce of the Country is yet Extravagantly dear and is the principal Cause of keeping down the value of our Currency. The Countrymen have so long had the Advantage of high prices that they don't feel the want of money so much as the Merchants and Tradesmen. Connecticut as well as some other States have passed a regulating Act which operates much as ours did. They are Nevertheless obstinate in Adhering to it, and have sent down a Committee to Induce our Court to come into the Measure. this Session many Members I hear are fond of it. It stands at present suspended for an Answer to a Letter wrote Congress. The Court met here and frighted with the Appearance of danger of the Small Pox, after Election Adjourned to Watertown, where they now are. The

Papers will Announce to you that I am no longer a Member of the General Court. My Town did not chose me, and the Court did not Compliment me with an Election at the Board, so that, were I dismiss'd from the Navy Board, I should be truly a private Man, and an Independent Farmer, and should be as Contented and satisfied with my situation as ever you saw one, for really I am Tired of public Life, tho' I was determined never to desert the Colours I helped to hoist. If you Enquire how all this came to pass I must tell you it is oweing to various Causes. The people feel themselves uneasy and don't know the reason, they have therefore shifted their Members more generally than ever I scorned to make or suffer any Influence in my favour. The Tories and the Influence from Boston, and some other places had their full play, which are the reasons I am not in the House. The greater part of the C[ourt] from Envy, and other reasons never loved me, and the Complextion of the House, Consisting of Members (the most Influential of them) whose politicks are very different from mine, and who are of the moderate Class which you know I never belonged to, may account for my not being Elected. But above all the partiality of my Friends which has rendered me Obnoxious to a Certain great Man,1 and his numerous party by holding me up to view in Competition with him, the Policy therefore has been to get me out of sight and prevent my being an Obstacle to his Glory and Ambition. The returns are not yet made from the several Towns of their Approbation or Disapprobation of the Form of Government sent to them, but I believe it is pretty Clear that the Majority have decided against it in much less time than the Convention took to decide in its favour. The Town of Boston (whose wise Observations you will see in the Papers) 2 and the County of Essex have had a great Share, and Influence in this Determination, for you must know it has become very popular to find fault with the doings of the General Court or Convention, by those who can't mend them, and a little Clamour much more a great one may easily damn any measure good or Bad. The Great Man Tarried here till after Election, and then went off with the Pomp and retinue of an Eastern Prince. I was not in the List of

I Hancock.

2 Boston Record Commission, xxvI. 22.

his Attendants and was not Solicitous enough to officiously offer my service, and to receive that Honour. I suppose the Sin is unpardonable. I must suffer the consequences of his frowns, and be Content to be ranked among those who never Adulate and flatter. Your Friend Adams is at Congress. Gerry and Dana propose to return when Mr. Hancock and Doct'r Holton who is your Successor Arrive. This is the third Letter I have wrote you since your departure. I hope the others as well as this will reach you. This is to go by a packet that Carries public Letters for you and the other Commissioners or rather Embassadors, the Captain of which is to deliver them to you in Person, so that the danger of the Seas Excepted, the Opportunity is fine. I have accordingly Informed your Lady of it, and Expect her Letters in Tomorrow which I presume will Inform you that the Family are well. My Love to Master John, and believe me to be with Great Sincerity Your Assured Friend and Humble Serv't,

J. WARREN

SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES Warren

YORK TOWN, June 13, 1778

MY DEAR SIR, Since my last I have seen a List of the new Councillors and Representatives of our State. I am sorry to find that your Name is not in the List. I presume you declind the Choice, which I still very much disapprove of, for Reasons you have before heard me mention.

By the inclosd News Paper you will see that the Scene begins to open. You may depend upon it that Congress will not attend to any Propositions until Independence is acknowledgd. The Day before yesterday, we were informd by a Letter from General Washington that Sr. H. Clinton had requested a Passport for Dr. Ferguson,1 Secretary to the British King's Commissioners, who was chargd with a Letter from them to Congress; and that he had acquainted Sr. Harry that he could not grant the Request till he should receive the Directions of Congress. In the Midst of a I Adam Ferguson (1723-1816).

Debate on the Report of a Committee on this Subject, the Letters were brought in, having been receivd by our General and forwarded. This Mode of Conveyance suited the Inclination of the House, they being, as I thought, at that Juncture ready to assent to a Proposition approving of the General's Conduct in refusing to grant a Passport to the Messenger, and expressing themselves content that he should receive the Message and send it by a Messenger of his own.

The Contents of the Letter, as far as they were read appeard extraordinary indeed, and show'd plainly that their Design was to draw us back to a Subjection to their King. Some Expressions in the Letter gave particular Disgust to all the Members. The House adjournd till Monday when I think I may assure you the Subject will be treated with becoming Spirit and Propriety.

I wish you would speak to some leading Member in the House of Representatives relating to the Resolution which was offerd concerning Dr. Lee. I have a Reason which strongly influences me to wish that such a Resolution may now pass. Justice and Policy as well as Gratitude require it. There are a few bad Men, one of whom you are not unacquainted with, who, so far from desiring that Respect should be shown to that patriotic and highly deserving Gentleman would rejoyce to see him disgrac❜d. My friendly Regards to your good Lady and all Friends. Adieu.

[No signature.]

SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES Warren

YORK TOWN, June 19, 1778

MY DEAR SIR, I have Time only to write you a few Words by Captn. Landais who is appointed by Congress to the Command of the new Ship of War Alliance. This Gentleman is esteemd for his Experience and Knowledge in Marine Affairs and will go first to Portsmouth to direct in the Construction of the Ship designd to be built there. I wish you would (with the other Gentlemen of your Board) assist him with a popular as well as able Lieutenant:

popular; because as he is a frenchman, it may be difficult for him to procure a sufficient Number of American Seamen. He is in hopes of geting french Sailors out of the Vessels that are or may be at Boston, etc.

I will by the next Post send you a full Account of our late Transactions with the British Peace Makers which conclude with confirming on our Part our former Resolutions.

We have just recd. Advice that the Enemy have totally evacuated Philadelphia and we expect every moment to have the News confirmd. Mr. Hancock and Dr. Holton are arrivd. The last mentiond deliverd me a Letter from you which I will more fully acknowledge in my next. Adieu my Friend.

S. ADAMS

SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES Warren

YORK TOWN, June 20, 1778

DEAR SIR,-In my Letter of yesterday's date (by Capt. Landais) I promisd to write again by the next Post, and give you a full Account of our Transactions with the British Peace Makers. Cap. Landais after the ensealing of my Letter obtaind a News Paper which he intends to deliver to you. That will answer the Purpose. The President has informd us of an opportunity previous to the Post which I readily embrace. It gave me much Concern to find an omission of your Name in both Houses of Assembly. I indulged Hopes that it was occasiond by your Time and Attention being so much employd in the Affairs of the Continent, and am sorry that an Opportunity was not afforded to you of declining a Seat, if you had thought it necessary, on that occasion. But, my Friend, you must expect and be content to be now and then neglected when the Influence of aspiring but worthless Men shall prevail in an Hour while your own and your Countrys Friends are unsuspecting and unguarded. Believe me, you cannot long be unnoticed by your Country, while she remains virtuous and wise; when a People becomes so abandond (which I trust is far from being the Case of our Country) as to be not worth saving, no wise

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