death and thus early to realise that Ruin which a lust of Power and Dominion has brought upon himself and partly through his means upon this unhappy Country. I would wish to forget his principles to Lament his Fate. [Talmost forgot to tell you that Mr. T. Mifflin of Philadela is aid de Camp to Gen'l Lee, and that the Continental Congress have taken the entire direction of the War, have erected themselves into an Independant body, are addressed by the title of Excellenceys and call themselfs the states General of the united american provinces, and this Army the grand Confederate Army. They have appointed Mr. Washington of Virginia Lieutenant Gen❜l, and Ward, Putnam, and Lee Major Gen❜ls. they are all now at Cambridge. They have been very industrious in constructing fortifications all round this Town, and it is said as far back as Worcester. What the Result of this Contest will be God only knows. I have not heard a Word of Brother Pelham since you left us. I wonder much at not having a single line from Brother Copley since one dated the 26th of last Sept., now near a twelve month. Mrs. Cordis, Capt. Ruggles' Neice and a near Neighbour at Chun,1 whom you have some knowledge off, obligeingly promises to deliver you this. My hon'd Mamma desires her kindest Love and Blessing to you, My dear Brother and my little amiable and lov[e]ly Friends. Accept my Love and best Wishes which ever atte[nd] you and them, and beleive [me] sincerely Dear Madam your very affectionate Brother and Humbl[e] Servant. [Unsigned.]

P.S we are extremly anxious to hear from you, mu[s]t beg of you to write often. I much wish to know where My brother is.

1 Charlestown? Probably Rebecca Russell, wife of Joseph Cordis, of Charlestown is intended.

1

Copley to Henry Pelham

MY DEAR BROTHER,

PARMA, the 6 of Augst., 1775

My principal design in writing to you at this time is to give you my oppinion and advice relitive to your present unhappy situation, which although you have had in other Letters, for I have wrote to you two or thre[e] times lately on the subject, yet not in so full and possitive a manner as I now think it best to do. The flame of Civil War is now broke out in America, and I have not the least doubt it will rage with a Violence equil to what it has ever done in any other Country at any time. You are sensable also by this time of the determin'd Resolutions of Government to persevere in Vigorous measures, and what will keep them firm in this determination, is that they Act as (at least) 4-fifths of the people would have them, they so Resent the outrage offered to them in the destruction of the Tea. you must think I aught to have many friends and thanks for the pains I took to prevent so violent and rash a peice of conduct. I was sure it would produce the consiquences that have followed and are only the faint beginings of More fatal and terrable evils than have yet taken place. You must also know I think that the people have gone too far to retract and that they will adopt the proverb, which says, when the Sword of Rebellion is Drawn the Sheath should be thrown away; and the Americans have it in their power to baffle all that England can do against them. I dont mean to ward off the evils attendant on Civil War, but so far as never to be subdued, so that Ocians of blood will be shed to humble a people which they never will subdue, and the Americans from the Id[ea] that England would not act against them have tempted its Power

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of conduct I was sure its would produce the insiguences that have follower & famit veginings of More fatal and terrable evils than have yet takoffisiace You must also horow I think that he people have gone troger to retract by that they will adopt the movere, which says when the twork of Rebeliion is Brawns the hould be town and, the Amenians have it in there, sower 's bafflead away that England, an do an do against them, I pont, & ward of the wits di fivity was but so fartar never to be subduce, is that dians of blood with i the Americans troue hamda a people which they neverwill suböne

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boghand would not retragamst them have l'empreses Power to the extrem is all its weight rage upon them, and after they have with the Buntry in Blood the, I sure will be that the Americans will is a free independen people this be the result of a thing of many years, appears to me to be the naturals crisse if the present contest, and in its conf the different Towns will have a different times to incounter wit the misery Sword fairing of perhaps reftaturce as that is generally an attend not the Bar Belamin By diens would ash our Year Mother in you weither a months Segage in by my Voyage is any an wit to be compaired to the ebits above mentioned if not ot why the will hisites one moment, I am surprised, the did not home with your Pieter, big bey your Lon seemned determined but I write this leat my Dearktother should still delibe you are to consider of things should conse to that extremity that would fix hir determination it may be out of her power than to leave the place I shall be very glad to find you have in have in his, but if it should be other way I thimit You pust prevails with our mother & come but what this reaches for it will be late perhaps but where as the latter and of attay or the begining of Jame in the Anime to have short bromooth is more Migiable than to stay in Bistine. This g at the time, however it be that. January passage will dal best is quit it, you can have no Tha of my kumisty for you