neutral American, and yet use all their Influence to promote those very Persons, in opposition to others who have every Claim, that Principles of Gratitude and Patriotism can inspire to draw their Esteem and Influence. When I discover Conduct like this, I cannot help observing, that it is possible for some Men to possess the best of Principles for the most pernicious Purposes.

That your Excellency may long experience the Gratitude of a brave and generous People, equal to the Merit you have discoverd, both in publick and private Life, is the most fervent Wish of, dear Sir, Your Excellencys most obedient and most humble Servant.

His Excellency Gov. HANCOCK,

Boston.

The foregoing is copied from a Letter signd JOHN SULLIVAN, publishd at New York in the Royal Gazzette extraordinary, printed by James Rivington Monday Decr. 18, 1780, and said to be a Copy from the original. The Design of the Writer seems to be merely to please a Great Man: That of the Publisher, partly to expose the Writer, but principally to sow the Seeds of Disgust in the Minds of some very respectable Citizens in this Common Wealth. I think Mr. Rivington could not have wishd for a fairer Opportunity, but I am satisfied, they have more Wisdom than to be caught in the Snare.

The Letter is written in the true Stile of modern Address; and it is a Pity it did not make its Appearance in public before; because as it is a perfect Model, it might have been of Use to others, from whom some Inaccuracies have escaped, by Means of their not having been Adepts in that Kind of writing. I have been told that he has frequently been addressed himself, and I am inclind to beleive it. The Effects are such as one might expect from a Man of his Cast. He who is easily susceptible of Flattery, will soon perswade himself that he is in Reality that Great Man which his Flatterers only meant to perswade him to think they believe him to be. He will be apt to suppose, that others will have the same exquisite Feelings by being flatterd, as he has had, and that they will conceive themselves as highly honord by it, as he conceives himself to be when others flatter him. Persons who relish Flattery, will for ever be deceivd by those who design to deceive them. He will therefore employ himself in the daubing Business as often as he can find suitable Subjects, and will colour in so fantastick a Manner, as to excite a Blush on the Cheek of any Man who has a Spark of Modesty. He will go on suffering himself to be deceivd, and deceiving others like himself, till he meets with him who only can be called the truly great Man, I mean the

Man of stern Virtue. Such a Man will never fail to frown when he is flatterd, and his Frowns are Death to the Sychophant.

This Writer pays no great Compliment to the People (indeed I imagine he did not intend it) in supposing that among them all, there could be but one esteemd qualified “to regulate the political Wheels of Government," as he expresses it, [illegible] however that he was mistaken. Two were actually in Nomination, and more were thought of by Men of great Judgment, Authority and Experience in publick Affairs. He is totally unacquainted with the Character of the People, as they are with his; nor does he know any thing of the Honourable Gentleman, whom he calls his Excellencys "Competitor," who, he says, "in time 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." I am also ready to presume, that he is not fully acquainted with the Person whom he takes upon himself so freely to address. He ought to have supposd that his Excellency would not have been well pleasd with a fulsome Compliment paid to himself, at the Expence of one of the best Characters in the State. But when men will flatter, they run a tilt with Honor, Justice and Truth,

their Flattery takes, they feel no Remorse. The Gentleman whom he has attackd, was long before he paddled out of obscurity one of the Helmsmen of the Ship of the State; was markd by Bernard and Hutchinson as a Champion for American Liberty, was negatived by them repeatedly, by express Order of the British Ministry, when he had the full Voice of his Country for a Councillor; continued in the high Esteem of his fellow Citizens, till the Royal Government was dissolvd by Common Consent, when the opportunity offerd, for him to take a Seat which had so long been prevented by the Governor. This he did, at Watertown, while the Enemy were in Boston. A Time, which Men, perhaps less brave, but perhaps however, of more solid Judgment than the Letter writer, thought to be a "Time of publick Danger." He remaind a Member of that Board, till every Body saw his Health was in so bad a State as no longer to allow of it. He therefore resignd his Seat; a Circumstance, which, though all judgd necessary, was regretted by all. He has since however, sustaind the honorable Places of President of that much revered Body who formd the Constitution, and President of the Council of the State and he is at this time President of the American Society of Arts and Sciences in Massachusetts. How little are the Great Characters in this Revolution known, to those who were not the earliest in the virtuous Conflict!

ARISTIDES

DEAR SIR, The Letter with the Strictures upon it, I propose to be publishd in Boston if you approve of it. I hope the Press there is free, as the Constitution dictates. If it is not, the Liberties of the People which we have been struggling for, will, in my opinion be soon lost. I see nothing in the strictures disrespectfull to the Governor or the Government. Indeed they were hastily drawn, and I am not unmindful of the Fable of the Ape and her young one. My Design is to discountenance the Lovers of Flattery, and to vindicate a respectable Character which has been wantonly attackd. We must support such characters. You will easily see that for one reason and one only, it would be imprudent for me to be known. I am willing however that you should consult confidential judicious Friends.1 Yours. Adieu.

Jany. 1, '81.

[No signature.]

ABIGAIL ADAMS TO MERCY WARREN

Janry. 8th, 1781

Mr. A- -s instructions, received by mr. Searl,2 will oblige him to continue in Holland this winter. A Letter arrived for me at the Southward. mr. L[ovel]l coverd it with, a Letter of his own, and the Enemy kidnapt them both, when they stole the last mail. possibly mr. Rivington may give it me by and by. I question it, however. my absent Friend, made wise by experience, is so warry that I dare say, they will get no Booty in politicks from him. I saw by the last pensilvana paper under York News, that they had got a Letter of Dr. Rush's which they have promissed to print in the Next paper in which say they, he treats the Rebel Senate with great freedom. that both you and I can believe, from former Specimens. Rush will care as little as any body. I wait for a key to a Letter which I have now in my possession to give you something, I fancy which will be entertaining. I mean to write you I The communication is not found in any Boston newspaper and was probably unpublished.

2 James Searle, agent of Pennsylvania to negotiate a loan in Europe.

soon and send to Boston for conveyance. my hands freaze by the fire. I return the Muslin having been supplied. the black hankerchiefs mr. Gorge may sell at 75, but I had rather the coulourd should be returnd if they will not fetch 80. I can part with them so here. Regards to the young Gentleman. enclose a Letter and peice of News paper. have you seen Hutchinsons character,1 and an other peice in the paper, remarks upon George Germains speech in the house of commons? you will know the writer. pity my fingers now, and I will tire you out an other time. Nabby sends Duty, longs to come to plimouth, but I am jealous of trusting her there again least she should love it better than home. I wish you would not live there. come to Boston, to Braintre I had rather, I fancy the place will be to be sold again. yours most affectionately when you are not affronted when you are, sorrowfull very sorrowfull.2

J. C

ABIGAIL ADAMS TO MERCY WARREN

BRAINTREE, March 5, 1781

I hoped before this time to have given you some intelligence from abroad but the Mars brings me only two Letters from mr. Thaxter, written before he left Paris. I find by a few lines of mr. dana, that mr. Guile had many Letters. he sailed in October and has not since been heard of. the best that can be hoped of him, is that he may be taken, and even that is a situation to be deprecated considering the inhumane policy which the New parliment and the successes of the Britains at Charlestown have induced them to adopt, as you will see from extracts from mr. A[dam]s Letters to Congress, which I enclose to you, but should be glad may be returnd to me as soon as a safe conveyance offers.

1 "Extract of a letter lately received from a gentleman in Europe" in The Independent Chronicle, January 4, 1781.

2 A letter from James Warren to Arthur Lee, January 10, 1781, is printed in Lee, Life of Arthur Lee, 11. 273; and one from Samuel Adams to James Warren, February 1, 1781, in Writings of Samuel Adams, 1v. 242.

Retaliation is a painfull task to the Humane breasts of Americans, yet is certainly due in justice to the worthy suffering citizens and especially to so aged and so respectable a personage as the late president Laurence [Laurens], and more particularly so on account of the publick character with which he was invested.

o! My dear Madam when I reflect upon this worthy Mans situation I cannot feel sufficient Gratitude to Heaven for preserving my dearest Friend from a similar situation, and thereby trying me with a calamity which would have "harrowd up my soul."

I congratulate you Madam upon the rising Hero in the south. General Morgan by his repeated Successes has brightend the page of our History, and immortalized his own Name, whilst the opportunely expedition of our Allies checked the treacherous Arnold in his cruel ravages, and opens a prospect for his speedy destruction. May the ancient spirit of America rise with her successes, and crush the venal passion for Gain, may every virtuous citizen cooperate with the Martial Spirit, and drive from these Distressed States the Mercenary invaders since that and that alone is like to give us peace.

With regard to our commercial affairs, you must have misunderstood me with regard to Tea, because I never had any but what I purchased by the pound for my family....

[No signature.]

ARTHUR LEE TO JAMES WARREN

PHILADELPHIA, June 15th, 1781

DEAR SIR, I receivd lately some Letters from you of an old date. Others Dr. Shippen tells me he forwarded to Virginia and in the confusion of the times they will probably be lost. Mr. Blodget was exceedingly wrong in answering questions which criminated himself and as far as they concernd me were extrajudicial. He was unjust in telling upon Oath the truth and not the whole truth, which whole truth woud have shewn that the goods were to be containd in one trunk, and that it was at his persuasion