indicates a Greatness of soul that will supply the Defects of Genius, but when we seen them united in their Exertions to Bestow Happiness, we then see the perfection of Human Nature. And with my Friendly and Respectful Compliments to Mr. Adams you will tell him this Visit shall be placed on the List of Charities. But if he is a Believer in the Doctrine of supererogation, he will have more to do, for more will certainly be required. Mean time I shall hear from you both if you wish to Gratify your assured and affectionate Friend MARCIA WARREN My Regards to Monsieur Francy [?], and to the sister of the young Frenchman. JAMES LOVELL TO JAMES Warren Aug. 13th, 1779 DEAR SIR,- Tho', on the one hand, I may be perfectly right in supposing that it is almost immaterial to which individual, of a select number of Patriots in Boston who honor me with their Correspondence, I, from time to time, make direct confidential Communications, immaterial I mean so far as relates to the meer matter of Information, yet, surely it must appear odd, at least, if not ungrateful, that I should send Scrawl after Scrawl to one who replys in the Ratio of two to seven while I suffer a long very entertaining Letter, from another, of July 19th to lay by me unacknowledged ten days. Apprized as you must have been by Mr. S. A[dams] of the Principles, Views and Conduct of most political Men here, you may notwithstanding have been unacquainted even till now with the exact Contents of a Paper which is handed about in a particular Circle in your Neighbourhood so as to influence the minds of some good men as well as to strengthen the Plots of some bad ones. I wish you to see it. Mr. Ellis Gray a worthy Man,' will I He had been chairman of the Boston Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety in 1776. put you in the Train of having it, I doubt not: it is too much for me to copy at this Time, and perhaps needless. For if Mr. Gray cannot furnish you with it Mr. Thos. Cushing can. The latter also can, if he will, tell by whose extraordinary Care it was sent to Boston. I own I have much Curiosity to know. Sir, you may see the low arts that have been used to prejudice the Minds of Congress so far as to make them destroy the good Man's prospect of the best Reward in Republics - the approbation of the People. You may see it by the Use that has been made of the following Scrap laid on the Table by Mr. G. Morris May 3d, 1779. Tis the Extract of a Letter from Paris dated the 7th of Decr., 1778, and said to be written by a confidential Friend of the Minister of the Marine. Mr. Holker furnished it, so that it was probably to him. "Mr. J Adams, le Deputé ne réussit pas ici que de Raison: il paraît etre entièrement livré au Sr. Lee, lequel comme vous le scavez est une espèce de fol." Mr. J. Adams the Deputy does not succeed here further than is reasonable: He appears to be intirely devoted to Mr. Lee, who, as you know, is a sort of mad-man. The rest of the paper relates to an appointment of a Monsr. D'Obré1 who is Son in Law of Mr. Schweighauser at Nantes, insinuating that he betrays our Vessels to the People of Jersey because he is Son of the Mair of that Place. The Maliciousness of which I have many Vouchers by me that prove. The Paper concludes with an assertion that if Doctr. Franklin is not sole Deputy in France Things will go on but lamely or in his own Phrase with "but one wing." I hope Mr. Adams will in a few days be with you: he was left off the western Isles on the 29th of June by a Vessel which arrived at Virginia Aug. 1st. I hope he will come soon on to Congress. And, as C[u]sh[in]g says, “People here" are of opinion that he ought not to come as a Delegate, but in his present Character, and with a proper Dignity, as if he was fit to deal with a gallant Nation. "People here," are my Circle. If Mr. A[dams] is resolutely determined not to negotiate a Peace for us upon being I Dobrée. unanimously chosen for such a Work, then I would wish him to have an Election as Delegate if he only tarries a Month upon it; the Election to be made after he is here. As to Peace, I am persuaded the eastern Delegates have always been justly dubious of the reality of any honest Intentions in Britain, tho' we were sure France and Spain were willing to know our Sentiments about Newfoundland and the Floridas. I am pretty sure that what the Gazettes say of the Mediation of Spain being rejected is true. Mr. Adams has sent Word that he is coming with good News, and I am told that a Vessel is now in this River after a short Passage from Nantes. I will go to Congress and will not seal till I know whether I can tell you any Thing more explicitly. I find no Letters or Intelligence. But shall probably give you a Confirmation by next post of what we are told authentically from Martinique. With much Esteem I am, Sir, Your humble Servant, JAMES LOVELL [Endorsed:] I broke the Seal to tell that on the 28th of July at 15 Leagues from Boston in Latt 42 Mr. Adams was left in the Sensible 36 Guns with a Vessel of 24 and several of 14 and 16. JOHN ADAMS TO MERCY WARREN [September, 1779?] MADAM,- A few days ago, I was favoured with your obliging Letter of 29 July, and am much obliged to the Gentleman who perswaded you to write, as well as to you, for complying with his Desire. I shall never have so many Correspondents as to make me neglect the Letters of a Lady, whose Character I revere so much and whose Correspondence I prize so highly. I have had the Pleasure of two Letters, at Passy, both of which I very punctually answered, and should have answered all if they had been one hundred. In Truth, Madam, I had very little Intelligence from America during my Absence. Your Friend, was as usual my best Correspondent, among the Gent. From Congress I could obtain no Intelligence at all. If I comprehend the Resolves you mention, I am not at a Loss for the Influence, that obtained them. A factious Demagogue, disappointed in his Views of Ambition and Avarice, assisted by, a numerous Band of mercantile Speculators in Contract with him, on both side[s] the Water, with a factious, foreign Minister, Consel, and Vice Consull, have forced up into Vegetation these Hotbed Plants, by the best opinion I can form. I fear, Madam, we shall be much longer, distressed by Gamblers and Stockjobbers. I can see no End to it. Yet sometimes Things are ordered better than we can foresee. The Follies and Frivolities of our Countrymen, are too Serious to be ridiculous. Time however, and the Perseverance of the few who now, disapprove them, may produce a Cure. We shall find, by and by, that those who corrupt our Symplicity, will be restrained. The Government, influenced chiefly by the Yeomanry will, after a little while, take Care of the Coxcombs and Coquettes. Our Calamities, I think, will not be greatly increased, altho they may be prolonged. I join with you, most sincerely, Madam, in deploring the Loss of our great and excellent Friend Dr. Winthrop, for whose Name and Character I shall ever entertain the highest Veneration. The University, the State and the Republick of Letters, have all Cause to lament the Death of this able and amiable Man. I am with great Respect, and Esteem, JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN JOHN ADAMS BRAINTREE, Sept. 11, 1779 MY DEAR FRIEND, -I was told in Boston that Mr. Avery1 and Mr. Wendell 2 had been proposed for Judges of the Inf[erio]r C[our]t for the County of Suffolk, in the Room of my Friend Pemberton.3 1 John Avery, died 1796. 2 Oliver Wendell (1733-1818). 3 Šamuel Pemberton had died August 21, 1779. I said not a Word, but since I have been at home, I have reflected upon this and altho these Gentlemen have amiable Characters I cannot think them so well qualified for this Place as Mr. Cranch,1 whose great Natural Abilities, and whose late Application to the Study of the Law and to public affairs, made him occur to my Mind. It is the first Time of my whole Life, that I recollect that I ever proposed a Relation of mine, for a Place, and I certainly should not have done it in this Case, if he had not, entirely without my knowledge untill my arrival, been brought into public View. If you think as I do, that the public will be as faithfully and ably served by such an Appointment, as by any other, and will mention it to Mr. Sever, who is acquainted with him, perhaps it may be proposed in Council. There is but one objection that I know of, and that is, he is my Brother. This may be enough. in haste yours, JOHN ADAMS JAMES WARREN TO JAMES LOVELL BOSTON, [December, 1779] MY DEAR SIR, Two Days ago recieved your kind favour of the 29th Novr. I am much obliged to you for your attention to my Reputation. I am not at all surpriz'd at the Arts of base men. I have seen so many of them during the Course of my Pilgrimage that they are become familiar, but in no way can they attack me with so little effect as by Imputations or Suggestions of Fraud or Negligence in my public Conduct. I entred into the Service of the Public from the purest Principles. I have serv'd them a great while; I have spent in that way the best Part of my Life, and sacrific'd my Interest. and now my Conscience bids me brave every attack upon my Integrity and assiduity, were my abilities equal to either, I would extend the Challenge. No Instance perhaps was ever mark'd with more malevolence, than that you have 1 Richard Cranch (1726-1811), who had married a daughter of Rev. William Smith. 2 William Sever (1729-1809). 3 A letter from James Warren to Arthur Lee, September 17, 1779, is printed in Lee, Life of Arthur Lee, 11. 271. |