I have seen in the Course of the last year a Variety of Kingdoms, Empires and Republicks, and as great a Variety of Religions, and had a fine opportunity of remarking the Effects of them upon human Nature, and indeed upon the very Face of the Earth. And the Result of all has been a stronger Attachment to the Religion and Government of my native Country than ever. I wish every American youth could have borne me Company. He would not afterwards need to swear upon the high Altar Enmity to Britain, nor Friendship to America. It seems to me impossible that Arnold should have been a Traitor if he had ever made the Journey from Ferrol to Amsterdam. How much should we deplore that Spirit of Dissipation, Vanity and Knavery, which infects so many Americans and threatens to ruin our Manners and Liberties in Imitation of the old World. This to be sure, Madame, is preaching; but it is preaching to a Lady who knows it to be sound doctrine and therefore will not despise the sermon because it contains nothing new. I have the Honour, etc. JAMES WARREN TO JOHN ADAMS ADAMS MSS. PLYMOUTH, December 19th, 1780 MY DEAR SIR, Having wrote you so often and so fully, I presume you would readily excuse me if I omitted this Opportunity more especially as I am at a distance from the Capital, and have no certain News to hand you, but that Admiral de Ternay died a few days ago of a fever after a few days Illness, which perhaps may have been occasioned by Chagrin and disappointment. it is also reported here that Cornwallis with 4000 Men have been surrounded by our Troops in Carolina and taken Prisoners. if this should prove true, it will be a great Stroke, and damp the Joy in England on the Acquisition of Charlestown. Our New Government has been Ushered in with Great Splendor, Balls, Assemblies, Entertainments and Feasts equal to any thing you can tell of in Europe. The silly feelings of Compassion for the distresses of the Country, and the wants and sufferings of the Army have little to do in the Capital. The whirl of pleasure and amusement has taken into its Vortex the Deacons and the other good People who seldom used to be seen in public but at their Devotions. Whether you will find good Deacon Iwill find good Deacon Irs1 and good Mr. Scol[la]y 2 in the dancing or drawing room at a Game of Whist or leading down a Country Dame is uncertain, but if the present G[overno]r is in office on your return you may possibly find them in one or the other. we are trying to get an Army for the war or three years I hope to succeed. I shall write you more by the next Conveyance permit me to trouble you with the Inclosed Letter, and to ask you to tell me how my Son does, and if his Conduct meets your Approbation. Accept Mrs. Warren's regards, and believe me to be Your Sincere Friend and Humble Servant, J. WARREN ARTHUR LEE TO JAMES WARREN PHILADELPHIA, Decr. 25, 1780 DEAR SIR, — This will be deliverd to you by my friend Col. Laurens, who is sent Minister to sollicit immediate aid from the Court of Versailles. It is late, but still it may be of use. I have proposd to Congress the sending a Minister to the Court of Petersburg, as the Power of most influence in the neutral Confederation which Confederation it is probable will greatly influence the terms of a general pacification. Our friend Mr. Dana is accordingly namd Chargé des afaires at that Court: Congress have also adopted another proposition for establishing a Secretary of State for foreign Affairs, but have not yet fixt upon the person. A Committee have reported that Docr. Franklin ought to be recalld. But Congress have not yet determind upon the report, nor do I know what will be their opinion. I have learnt this day that the Purser of the Alliance deposd, upon Capt. Landais trial that he brought over in the Alliance five hundred pounds worth of Goods on my Account. But he ought to 2 John Scollay. 3 John Laurens. 4 Nathan Blodget. I Ivers? have stated the whole truth which was, that I objected to their coming in the Alliance, lest it shoud be an infringment of the rules of the Navy, nor woud agree to it, but on his assuring me, that he had leave from the Navy-board to bring a certain quantity of Goods on his own account and in his own berth, and that these shoud be a part of that quantity. This I always understood they were, and therefore that they infringd no rule nor occupied any space that woud otherwise have been employd for the public. If these things were not so, he mislead me; for the freight of them in any of the Ships that came with us woud have been but £50, an object too inconsiderable to induce any one to do what he thought wrong. With my best respects to Mrs. Warren, I have the honor to be, Dear Sir, your most sincere friend and Servant, ARTHUR LEE ADAMS MSS. MERCY WARREN TO JOHN Adams SIR, Mr. Warren directed to you only one week since, by Capt. Cazneau bound to Amsterdam, therefore has now left it to me to write one line asking your Care of the inclosed, to a son for whose Welfare (a Heart so Replete as yours with all the parental affections) will not wonder I am exceedingly solicitous. We have not heard from him since he embarked at N'foundland on Board the Vestal Frigate, in which we learn your Friend, the Hon'ble Mr. Laurens, was sent to England, and it is Reported here, was immediately Confined to the tower. I hope this Worthy Man will receive no personal injury, nor the Bussiness on which he went be Materially affected by his Detention. Will not the Minstry be at a Loss how to dispose of one in the Character he bears. it will be Humiliating to acknowledge him in the Rank of an Ambassador, it will be trifling, and ridiculous to deny it, it will be mean, ungenerous and base, to treat him in any manner beneath the distinction due to a public Envoy. How much beyond the Line Marked out in a Letter to you, have this Good Gentlemans Perigrinations Extended, before he "Retires to Learn to die." But some need not, nor do others wait for such Favourable Circumstances to preceed the Grand Exit. The late sudden Death of a certain Great Officer at N'port is Matter of speculation here.1 Time must develope the Characters of Men, and unravel the Intrigues of princes, while the Innocent may Weep for the unfortunate and the Vulgar gaze at the fall of Greatness, as suddenly brought low as the Meanest of his own Class. But often a Coincidence of Circumstance may occasion the Vague suspition, and an imputation of Guilt may for a time light on the Head of those who least deserve it. Happy is the Man who has Equanimity and Virtue enough to Govern the Reins of Ambition, and preventing the Furious Courser from Rushing into forbidden tracks, has true Greatness of soul to bear him above the Disappointments of Life, whither occasioned by the Common acidents of Time, or the Villany of others. The political situation, the state of Commerce, and the Military opperations of your Country is a Field I dare not enter. they are subjects, too much above the Delineation of my pen. the state of parties, the Rapid Growth of Idolatry, the Worship of the pageant, the Mimic Greatness of Monarchy in Embrio, are too much below its Exertions to describe, nor will I for your sake even make the Attempt. Mrs. Adams will not write by this Conveyance as it is an unexpected one by way of N'port, but she was well a few days since. if a youth I have named before is in the same City with you, the highest mark of your Friendship will be that advice I know you sir to be capable of giving to the young and inexperienced stranger. Nor am I less confident of your Readiness to assist the Laudable Wishes of the son of your Friend, (if he deserves it,) by that influence which Flows from a polite and Generous Heart, and that he will not fail to make himself Worthy of your Warmest Recommendations, is the most Flattering hope of his Mother, who sub I Ternay. scribes with the usual Respect and Esteem. But, sir, before she adds her Name, pray remind my young Friends, that all Health and Happiness is sincerely wished them by M. WARREN Mr. Warren intends writing by the first opportunity from Boston, desires best Regards to yourself and Mr. Dana, nor is Mr. Thaxter forgoten by his American Friends. SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN PHILADELPHIA, Novr. 18, 1780 Permit me, my dear Sir, with the most unfeigned Sincerity, to congratulate your Excellency on your Advancement to the Chair of Government in the State of Massachusetts Bay. It affords me inexpressible Pleasure to find that the Freemen of your State have been guided by their Judgment, their Gratitude and Regard for publick Virtue, to give their Suffrages for a Gentleman, who not only possesses sufficient Skill to regulate the political Wheels of Government, but has the Abilities and Disposition to draw forth all the Resources of that important State in Time of publick Danger and lead its Forces against the Common Enemy, with that Judgment and Bravery which must ensure Success. As I ever supposd your Excellency would have no Rival for the Chair after your Constitution of Government was formed, my Surprize was beyond Description when I found that you had a Competitor for the Chief Magistracy; 1 who in times of publick Danger feard to venture upon the Stage, and whose after Conduct seems rather to have proceeded from fortunate Successes on our Side, than from the Result of Choice and Deliberation. There are already in America, too many Persons possessing the most important Offices, who at the Commencement of the present Contest, when the Event was doubtful, used every Artifice to destroy that Theater upon which they now appear with so much Safety and Satisfaction. Though this may easily be accounted for, from the Principles which govern the human Heart, yet I confess, I am not able to decide upon the Conduct of those, who have from the earliest Period been high in their Professions, have condemnd the doubting, the timid and the I James Bowdoin. |