must be depressed and discouraged. You who are acquainted with the Means the Agents to Algiers are possessed of can Judge of their prospects of Success. I can only wish them Success. I can form some Idea of the difficulty and delay of your Treaties which render their Completion uncertain even to the best Informed. The Trade with Britain, if it has been attended with the same loss and disappointment to them, has almost ruined us, and with their own Conduct may Justify a severe Navigation Act with regard to them. but I am not so well satisfied of the propriety of it with regard to any other Nation, tho' I think the policy of the French in their duty on our Fish and the Bountys on their own very absurd. I wish I could see for the Benefit of Mankind a fair Experiment made of a Government supported without Duties or Bounties. at least that they should operate only as prohibitions or severe restrictions, without any regard to a revenue. in that case even those in question might not have existed.

if our Oil can find a Market in France it will, I think, disconcert the views of the British Ministry and be very advantageous to us as well as to the Commerce of France. I took great pains to impress the Marquiss de Fayate with proper Sentiments on that subject when here last, and have reason from his Letters to suppose it has had a good Effect.

I know you wish to be Informed of the situation of your beloved Country. it would give me pleasure to gratify you. in former Times, when you was absent, I used to attempt it; but it is now so novel and so extraordinary that I dare not undertake the Task. The constant drain of Specie to make remittances for Baubles Imported from England is so great as to occasion an extream Scarcity. Commerce is ruined and, what is worse, the husbandry and Manufactures of the Country cannot be supported. the only Branch of Business that promises any Success is the Fishery, and that is greatly Injured from the same Cause. No Debts can be paid, or Taxes collected. the first are severely demanded by multiplied Law suits; the last are become more necessary than ever by the wants of the public. Our General Court sets often and long, do little and give no satisfaction to their Constituents. Paper Money, Tenders of Lands, etc., sus

pension of Law processes, and a variety of Expedients are proposed and nothing adopted. A total Change in principles and Manners, Interest is the great Object, the only Pursuit, and Riches only respected. everything seems verging to confusion and anarchy and certainly great Wisdom and Address are necessary to prevent it. Our Elections have been much the same this as the last Year. indeed when a Man is once in it is for Life. A repetition annually is nugatory. few attend the Meetings and hardly one inquired further than who was in last and vote for him again without the trouble of recuring to Principles, or tracing Consequences.

Be assured no Body can wish you and Family more happiness, or desire more to see you in the Vicinity than your Friends on Milton Hill. make our Compliments to Mrs. Adams and Love to Nabby. I am your Friend and Servant,

JAS. WARREN

Will you give me your Opinion of the Encyclopedia and whether it be worth purchasing.

if it would not be an Impertinent request to a Minister of State, I would ask the favour to send me the Gent'n pocket Farrier and Trusler's practical Husbandry.' I will pay the Cost to your order here. R. Baldwin Pater Noster Row. A Charming Enthusiasm is prevailing for Agriculture.

ABIGAIL ADAMS TO MERCY WARREN

LONDON, May 24, 1786

MY DEAR MADAM,- The affliction under which you are now laboring has been protracted to a much longer period, than I feard when I first left America. it was then I Buried the Dear and amiable youth,2 for whose loss your maternal Bosom heaves the sad sigh, and over whose urn, all who knew him must drop a tear of affectionate remembrance.

1 John Trusler (1735-1820), whose Practical Husbandry was first published in 1780. 2 Charles Warren, who died at St. Lucar. Verses by the mother are in her Poems, 240.

Long at his couch Death took his patient Stand
And menanc'd oft and oft withheld the blow

To give reflection time with lenient art
Each fond Delusion from his Soul to steal
Teach him from folly peaceably to part

And wean him from a World, he lov'd so well

nor were the admonitions given in vain. the last visit which I made him I saw in his languid countanance, the Smile of complacent resignation to the will of Heaven.

What ever farce the Boastfull Hero plays
Virtue alone has Majesty in Death.

Be this your consolation that tho young in Years, he was mature in virtue, that he lived beloved and died lamented, and who that lives to riper years can ensure more to themselves.

Let not the popular torrent which at present sets against your worthy partner distress you, time will convince the World who are their approved and unshaken Friends, whatever mistaken judgments they at present form. I foresaw this when I so earnestly pressd the General to accept his last appointment and attend Congress, if only for a few Months.

all that is well intended is not well received. the consciousness of doing our Duty is however a support, but the designing Jackdaw will sometimes borrow the plumes of the Jay and pass himself off to those who judge only by appearances.

you appear to think your Friend at the height of prosperity, and swallowed up by the Gayetyes of Europe, but the estimate is far from the truth. I am much less addicted to them than most of my fair countrymen whom I have left behind me. I do not feel myself at all captivated, either with the Manners or politicks of Europe I think our own Country much the happiest spot upon the Globe, as much as it needs reforming and amending. I should think it still happier, if the inclination was more wanting than the ability, to vie with the Luxeries and extravagance of Europe.

Be so good my dear Madam as to present my best respects to your worthy partner, and affectionate remembrance to your Sons, and be assured I am at all times Your Friend.

ABIGAIL ADAMS

JOHN ADAMS TO MERCY WARREN

ADAMS MSS.

LONDON, May 24, 1786

MADAM, I this day received your favor of April 8th and sincerely condole with you under the loss of your amiable son. These afflictions are the lot of humanity and so little of the system of which we are a part is submitted to our view, that as we never can discover the reasons of them, they are left only to our Reflections and submission.

My situation would be eligible to the height of my wishes, if I saw a disposition in this Country friendly to mine, or even friendly to their own true Interests, but the fact is far otherwise.

To see as I do the affairs of my Country everywhere laboring under embarrassments, to know that thousands are looking up to me for relief from their distresses, and to have no power to do the least thing for their assistance, is painful beyond all expression. You speak of honors, Madam; but what honors have been decreed to me? Do you suppose I am honored in this Country? The Refugees indeed honor me now and then, as you see in the newspapers. You speak of affluence too. If I were my own master and could I spend what is allowed me as I should choose, I should live in affluence indeed; but when you consider that I have a Rank to support here that I hold in trust for others, and that this Rank cannot be let down, without betraying that trust, you may depend upon it, I am driven to my wits' ends for means.

I know of no change at Braintree or Weymouth in their political friendships, but one thing I know, that a good Profession, or even trade, is better for the Individual than all Politicks. Our Country will do like all others — play their affairs into the Hands of a few cunning fellows, and leave their faithful servants to close their long glories with a sigh to find the unwilling Gratitude of base mankind. Yet I don't wholly approve this sentiment. Human nature is not ungrateful. But while many rate their merits higher than the truth, it is almost impossible that the public mind should be exactly informed to whom they are really obliged.

Real services are never held out to view. The modesty of the

individual, the Jealousy of Rivals, or the public Interest, require that they should be concealed. Do you wonder then that ostensible pageants should be adored, while those who moved the springs are neglected. I expect my turn and am prepared for it in my own mind. My family and circumstances are not prepared for it by any means. Yet they must come to it-I always foresaw it and shall meet it firmly.

At least I believe so. I wish my friend Warren in public Life, because I know he would be useful there.

But his numerous refusals I am informed are made use of against him, and I really fear will prevail. I expect to be myself in private Life very soon and in his neighborhood, and I don't despair of going even sometimes to Plymouth inferior Court to get my bread and my boys thro' the Colledge. The young Rogues shall not be disappointed of their Education, if I am obliged to draw Justice's writs to attain it. I am obliged in Europe to spend immense sums in support of dignity, but I'll be hanged if I trouble my head about it in private Life in America. I am, Madam, your J. ADAMS

JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

LONDON, July 4, 1786

DEAR SIR, -Your Favour of 30. April, is arrived. I am surprized to read in your Letter that "our Poverty can't relieve Us from the Piracies of the Algerines." Are the thirteen United States then not worth two or three hundred Thousand Guineas? Suppose they borrow it at Six per Cent. there will be Eighteen thousand Guineas to pay yearly. We now loose a Million sterling a Year, by this War. Are we able to loose a Million and not pay Eighteen Thousand Pounds? Give Congress Power and let them lay on Duties upon Imports or Exports upon thirteen states sufficient to pay this Interest and you may borrow the Money. But I never heard or read of Sluggards, who saw so many fantastical Lions in the way, as our People appear to have seen since the Peace.