England a Number of Prisoners, under the Pretence that they would carry as many more to France and come out from there with a Load of Goods. Mitchel now says they would not suffer an Exchange for the Prisoners they carried, and took their Ships from them but afterwards paid them for their Ships.

They come boldly in under the Protection of Permits from Doct'r Franklin. I thought you should be acquainted with these Circumstances: you are best able to judge if it be good Policy for us, and consistent with our Connections with France, to carry on such a Trade. if it be I think it should be publicly avowed, if not it should be publickly discountenanced. my own Judgment is we can do very well without it, and that all Intercourse with that accursed and barbarous Nation should be intirely broke of, and that we should use ourselves to the Manufactures and Merchandize of other Nations, to prevent as much as possible the hankering after those of Britain, the Leeks and onions of Egypt, when a Peace takes place. I have had but one Letter from you since you left us and that a very short one. I always take pleasure in your Letters. if you can find Friends out of your own Family, more pleased with your Friendship, or more Sincere and Zealous in his or theirs, I will not complain that you do not write to me oftener. I am Yours sincerely,

J. WARREN

SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES Warren

PHILADELPHIA, Augt. 3d, 1780

MY DEAR SIR,- I receivd your favor of the 13th of July by yesterdays Post. On my Journey I met Mr. Gerry at Hartford, where we were unexpectedly engaged in publick Business with Governor Trumbull. I utterly forgot that I had your Letter to him, but since you have empowerd me to open it, I find, it would have been of no Advantage to you to have deliverd it to him there. I waited upon the only Gentleman of the Committee of Commerce now in Town, who told me your Account was not settled. I urgd it, and will continue to do so as a Matter which ought not to be

delayd. When this is done, I will pursue the Step which you request.

I do not like the Situations of the two Fleets. The English appears to be the superior, and while they lie before R[hode] Island, they may serve two great Purposes, the intercepting the 2d Division from France, and the giving their Cork Fleet an Opportunity of arriving at N. York. If our Privatiers were cruising off the Hook at this Juncture it might be advantageous to them as well as to the Publick. I am sorry to find that the Trumbull and the Dean are to run a double and I think a needless Risque of Falling into the Enemies Hands; but if this be an ill judged Measure, you are not accountable for it.

The Doctor is this Moment going, which prevents my adding to this Letter. I refer you to him for Intelligence. Adieu my dear Sir, and be assured that I am Your affectionate, S. A

JAMES WARREN TO SAMUEL ADAMS 1

BOSTON, Sepr. 17th, 1780

MY DEAR SIR,- I very seldom hear from you. whether you are prevented from writeing by more Important concerns, or whether you have no Inclination for the Correspondence, you best can tell; but as I always incline to put Construction on my Friends Conduct, the most favourable to them and myself, I shall suppose the first and Continue writeing to you. The Elections, so far as lay with the People at large are made. a Governor is Undoubtedly chosen and the Votes of your own beloved Town will give you at once an Idea of the Majority in favour of Mr. Hancock, and a General one of their proceedings through the whole. Mr. Powel was their Man for Lieut. A great Majority through the State was in favour of Mr. Hancock. I believe no Choice is made of Lieut. Governor and that will be the Case in part in respect to Senators in the different Counties, and in most Instances where a Choice is made they seem Calculated for that 1 From the Samuel Adams Papers in the New York Public Library.

Interest and to render their Idol as Uncontroulable as possible. if I have a Seat in the House I shall use my Influence to Choose you the Secretary, but the Influence of all that dont worship devoutly may be very small and you and I may have none at all. for my own part I am Content to retire into private Life while I can lay my hand upon heart and say that I have in no Instance deviated from the Principles I professed, or those of my Constituents when they Chose me. your Virtue and Firmness have and will Continue to Expose you to persecution. the Tongue of Malice has always been Employed against you, and things, old and new, are mustered to render you Obnoxious. it is now reported that you are against filling up the Battalions for the war and are in favour of drafts of the Militia from time to time. I venture to Contradict many things and this among the rest, but there is no End to Calumny.1

[No signature.]

JAMES WARREN TO JOHN ADAMS

ADAMS MSS.

BOSTON, October 12th, 1780

MY DEAR SIR, My last two or three Letters were by Capt. Samson, who if he has not shared the ill fate of some others, must have been handed you long before this. Three Letters went by my Son. he had the Misfortune to be taken, and carried to Newfoundland, and I suppose the Letters went to the Bottom, with a great number of others. in them I endeavoured to give you as perticular an account of our affairs here, at that time as I could. I have no copies, and therefore cant recollect the contents. you must therefore be content with a short detail of matters as they now stand. The papers we shall send you by this Opportunity will give you a general state of the Conduct of Military Matters from the Loss of Charlestown to the defection and Treachery of Arnold, and the hanging of Major Andre, you will learn that the one has fled to New York, and the other been properly treated as a Spy, and that

I A letter from Samuel Adams to James Warren, October 3 [not 6], 1780, is in Writings of Samuel Adams, IV. 207.

both of them deserved infinitely more than they have or will suffer here. if Arnolds Villany and Clintons Meaness had succeeded it would have been a fatal Blow. as it is, it is hard to say which of the two has acted the most infamous part. if one has betrayed his trust, and his Country, the other has disgraced his Nation (if possible) and Mankind by stooping to a Measure that would mark a Savage with Eternal Infamy.

Since the defeat of Gen'l Gates in the South, in which the Enemy lost more than they got, our Affairs are constantly assuming a Good Countenance there, our Army is re-established there, have been successful in several Skirmishes, and I think the Militia there will soon be good Soldiers and learn to stand both the fire and the Bayonet of the Enemy. The Grand Army by drafts, etc., is said to be in as good a condition as to Numbers, etc., as at any time. we have had great difficulties in supplying them with Provisions, etc. they have sometimes suffered. but I hope the measures taken by the several States will prevent in future any difficulty from that quarter. They are acting on the defensive, watching the Enemy, and they in their turn watching them. no Enterprize or great Strokes on either side, and every thing looks like an Inactive Campaign. The French Fleet and Army are shut up in Newport by a Superior British Fleet. A reinforcement has been expected all Summer, it is now time perhaps to dismiss all further Expectations of that kind, and to satisfy our selves with Speculations on some ill Management of matters somewhere. the Troops and Ships arrived are said to be very fine, and I think if we are disappointed, they must be mortifyed. to be reduced to a state of Inaction after crossing the Atlantic with high Expectations must be among the last stages of Mortification, to fine officers of high Birth and distinction. with regard to ourselves Penobscot is still in the hands of the Enemy, who keeps 4 or 500 Men there, and some Armed Vessels. we keep on the Eastern Shore at different places about 600 Men to guard against their depredations. some few Skirmishes have taken place but nothing of consequence. Our Coast has not been much infested with British Ships, and Privateers this Season the French Fleet keep the British Men of War pretty much collected, and from that cir

cumstance only great advantages have been derived to our Trade, and perhaps in a War which seems to be a Tryal whose Purse shall hold out longest the advantage may be general. Britain has kept up a great Force to watch that Fleet and Army, and consequently have been at great Expence.

Our Privateers have made many prizes and perticularly struck a great Stroke on the Quebec Fleet.1 Our Taxes are heavy the People groan, and pay them slowly, and complain of the Scarcity of Money, but still it does not Appreciate. it stands at about seventy for one, and will be uniformly Mysterious. A great deal of Silver is circulating. Bargains are almost as common in hard as Paper Money. it is difficult to say where it all comes from, tho' the French Fleet and Army introduce a great deal. The New Government is the Principal Topic of Conversation. the General Court meets under the New Constitution the week after next. Hancock is undoubtedly chosen Governor by a very great Majority. his Popularity is greater than ever. No Body was set in competition with him but Mr. Bowdoin and he stood no chance. frequent and brilliant Entertainments strengthen his popularity, and whether it will end in Absolute Adoration, or in the Exhaustion of the Sources of profusion I cant say. he this day feasts the French Minister (who came to Town last Evening) and the Council at the Castle. No Person has a Majority of Votes for a Lieutenant Governor. it is said Mr. Bowdoin has the greatest Number, and probably may be chose by the two Houses. about twentysix Senators are chose by the several districts. some whole Counties have made no choice at all, Plymouth among the rest.

The Continental Navy is reduced to four Ships and a Brig't. The Trumbul and Dean with the Brig't. Saratoga are on a Cruize. the Confederacy is at Philadelphia, where she has lain five months, and will not sail soon. the Alliance is here, and lays waiting for Money to fix her out. she came here in a distracted Situation. Landais behaves like a Madman, is censured by a Court of Enquiry and suspended, to be tryed by a Court Martial. Barry is in command of her. Officers and Men came here cursing with

I It was stated that twenty-two vessels were intercepted and captured. Gentleman's Magazine, L. 444.