MERCY WARREN TO JAMES WARREN

SUNDAY, Apr. 2, 1780

It appears to me there are very Extraordinary doings among some of the servants of the public. I have Long been apprehensive that the Character of a Venerable old Man was in Danger of being tarnished both from his Connexions and his own aviritious spirit. I think I told you on the appearance of Dean's address that I trembled for Dr F[rankli]n, as I wished a Man of his abilities might Descend to the Grave unimpeached by an indulgence of the Various passions that must mark Every Name with Infamy. Poor Capt Landais. I pity him yet hope his Character and Rank may be Retrieved as at present I believe him Greatly injured; but whether Guilty or Innocent whether sacrificed or acquited I apprehend this affair in all its Circumstances when a Thorough investigation is made will open a Curious system of Villany. But you know my opinion where there is no Religious Principle there is no Check and the political and Moral Conduct is adapted as far as Circumstances will admit to the Narrow Interests of the individual. The philosopher is the Creature of Caprice and the Cool Reasoner the sport of passion. True this is Consistent Enough when there are no Views of a higher Existence and no Wishes but what are Circumscribed within the Limits of a Golden Hemisphere. But how amazingly different will be Their Ideas when the Grand Electric spark shall Wrap Creation in Flames and the Convulsion awake from their Earthey Lodgments the sceptical tribes of Every Denomination.

I have been Expecting Mr Lee's pamphlet1 by Every opportunity. Did you forget it or is it in better hands? perhaps Winslow May bring it, who I Expect tomorrow as he assures me he shall then be at Plimouth with Mr Tillotson and Lady and others.

I hope they will keep the appointment as you know the Difficultyes of being prepared at all times to Entertain strangers in

1 Extracts from a Letter written to the President of Congress, first printed at Williamsburg in 1779, and reprinted at Philadelphia, 1780.

such a Barren place. I have not been out this afternoon as am a Little unwell. It has been very Cold and for your sake I choose to take Good Care of your affectionate Wife

M. WARREN

JOHN ADAMS TO MERCY WARREN

June 23, 1780

MY DEAR PORTIA, We are very much affected with the Loss of Charlestown it seems the most disagreable affair, We have ever met with. I dont know that the Consequences, will be bad, but the Loss of so many Men Ships, and Artillery and Stores is heavy besides the Town. To maintain it, they must weaken themselves at N. York and elsewhere. We hope to hear of something to ballance it.

I inclose a Paper, giving an Account of the Troubles in London.' What they will come to, in the End, I dont know, it seems hitherto a fanatical Business. Their civil Liberties, and most essential Interests are forgotten, while they are running mad for their own contracted notions. it is said, that the Catholic Bill will be repealed. the true motive for making that Law, with the Ministry and King was, to engage the Irish Catholicks, on their Side, and get them to inlist into the American Service.

In the midst of the dismay of these Mobs comes the News from Charlestown.

The Ways of Heaven are dark and intricate. it seems as if they were to be permitted to have success enough, to lead them on, untill they become the most striking Spectacle of Horror that ever

was seen.

These Riots discover Symptoms of deep distress and misery, among the lower Classes of People. the particular Spight against the Prisons is one mark of it. The decided part they took against the Ministry, shews upon what Ground they stand. it is however a shocking Scene. the King, seems in a fair Way to the Summit of all his wishes, absolute Power. Martial Law is very agreable to I The Gordon riots, June 6-8.

him. G[overnor] Hutchinson died in the Beginning of the Affray.1 Lord Mansfield's House underwent a worse Fate, than his.

I suppose that it will cost two millions Sterling, to indemnify the Sufferers. this must be added to all the other Expences of the War. They forget the State of Ireland, France Spain, West Indies, N. America, the armed Neutrality of the maritime Powers, and their own distracted State, in their Joy for the News of Charlestown, which in reality however unpleasant to Us ought to be more dreadful to them, because it will be a Grave to their Army and a drain to their Purses without any considerable Advantage. They however think not of Peace. We are all well.

JAMES WARREN TO JOHN ADAMS

[No signature.]

ADAMS MSS.

BOSTON, July 11th, 1780 MY DEAR SIR, My last Letters went by my Son Winslow who left this place about three weeks ago, for Amsterdam, and I hope will soon be able to deliver them to you at Paris.

At that time I flattered myself that we should be able to hold Charlestown, but you will find before this reaches you that the Enemy have got it, with the four Continental Ships that were ordered there last November. this is a great reduction of our Navy, and seems to be occasioned more by ill policy, than the fortune of War. it was certainly a very odd measure to shut up those Ships in a place where they could not possibly do any service, and where probably they would be lost. the Loss of Charlestown at first seemed to have disagreeable Effects. it produced some degree of dejection, but those Effects were soon changed for more agreeable ones. it has done more good than hurt. it has waked us from a profound Sleep, and roused every Man to Action. we shall now have a fine Army, and they will be supplied and when our Allies arrive, (who by the way we yet hear Nothing more of than that they sailed the 2d May) I dare say we shall Beat the Britons, though flushed with Victory over the Capital of a Country, which I June 3, at Brompton, near London.

had not public Spirit enough in the midst of plenty to supply provisions for those that would fight or Courage to fight themselves. the Spirit of '75 seems to be revived. our Papers which will be sent you will give an Account of a Brilliant Action on our side, in which a few Continental Troops and a few of the brave Jersey Militia beat back, and drove out of that Country an Army of British Savages with a loss of 7 or 800 killed and wounded. we have no other News. As to our Navy the Confederacy is at Philadelphia, the Deane and Trumbull are here, the latter repairing her Injurys suffered by a noble and well conducted Action with a Ship of superior force. The Alliance laying in France tho' exceedingly wanted here. our New Constitution is established, and is to operate on the last Wednesday in October. The Election of Gov'r, Lieut. Gov'r and Senate to be made on the beginning of September. Mr. B[owdoin] has again come into public Life that he may with the greater Advantage stand as a candidate, in competition with H[ancock] for the highest honor and rank in this State. who will carry the Election is very uncertain. I dont envy either of them their feelings. the Vanity of one of them will Sting like an Adder if it is disappointed, and the Advancements made by the other if they dont succeed will hurt his Modest pride. the upper counties will be for H., the Interest of the other will lay in the lower ones. I dont hear who is to be the Lieut. [Governor], or anything about it, only that an Interest is making for C[ushing] in this Town. if H. is Chief, why will not C. make an excellent second. The old General Court will have one short Sessions more and then Die, and give place to a new one. one of my last gave you an account of the proceedings of this State with regard to Money. Notwithstanding which it has continued to depreciate till it got to 75 and 80 for one. there is no accounting for it, or reasoning about it. it is progressive, retrograde, eccentric, regular or irregular just as the D-1 will have it, and Nobody, not even Coll. Quincey can tell why. it seems just now to make a pause, and if there is any reasoning about it I think it will in the Course of a Month return to about forty. would you wish to hear anything of the Husbandry of the Country. I have already told you in a former Letter that we had a most horrible winter. the Spring and

former part of the Summer were very dry, the whole Country has suffered by droughts and some parts of it very severely. we have lately had fine rains, but they came too late for Hay, and a full Crop of English Corn. I dont remember that you ever mentioned to me your Friend the Abbé Raynal's History of the East and West Indies. I told you before that I was exceedingly pleased with it. I like it the better because it contains many fine reflections on Agriculture, and the dignity and advantages of it.

I shall write nothing about your good Family, as Mrs. Adams will write by this very good Oppertunity herself, and Capt. Samson 1 will take the best Care of all Letters to you. please to make my regards to Mr. Dana, and remember me to Mr. Thaxter, and your two Sons, and believe me to be with Great Sincerity Your Friend and Humble Servant,

J. WARREN

Mr. Gerry has returned from Congress. Mr. Adams and Gen'l Ward are gone. Mr. Partridge is also returned.

JAMES WARREN TO JOHN ADAMS ADAMS MSS.
BOSTON, July 19, 1780

MY DEAR SIR,-Having already wrote you pretty largely by Capt. Samson, this is only to Inform you that two days ago arrived here one Mr. Mitchel2 with a Load of English Goods from London. this seems to be a prevailing and encreasing object of Commerce one arrived in the Spring little Notice was taken of it. four more Vessels are said to be on their way here. it is certain. there is one, and Mr. Duncan is in her. he and Mitchel married two Daughters of Geo. Bethune3 I dont say any thing of their political Principles. there are no Tories or Tory Connections here, we are all Whiggs, and the Man that hid himself in the heat of the day, and has never done any thing since has as much Merit as one that has been in the front of the Battle. these Men had Address enough to procure flaggs from our Council to carry to

I Of the Mercury packet.

2 Henry Mitchell.

3 George Bethune (d. 1785) married in 1754 Mary Faneuil, niece of Peter Faneuil.