Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

History of Nations. My Situation here is mournfull and unpleasant enough, and it would not be more gay, anywhere else. You and I have not had an easy task in Life hitherto, and I at least have no Cause to hope that mine will become easier. But I will be as cheerful and contented under it, as I can, let it be what it will.

My Family joins me, in affectionate Respects to yours, and I remain with unalterable Esteem, your friend and humble Servant JOHN ADAMS

inclosed is a Letter of Mr. Hartley's. it contains Knowledge of Iron, that may be useful in America.

JAMES WINTHROP TO MERCY WARREN

CAMBRIDGE, 26 Feb., 1787

MADAM, I have just been honored with a very short visit from General Warren. He reminded me of my duty with respect to the manuscript, which you was pleased to intrust me with. I should have returned it with my own hand, in order at the same time to have expressed the pleasure which the perusal of it gave me, but one of my hands has been so lame owing to its being frozen in the march of the third instant, that it has been exceedingly inconvenient to me to ride. Harry stood the fatigue exceedingly well and was not frozen at all.

I acknowledge that I was in some measure prevented from the full enjoyment of your history, by a cause which you mentioned when you delivered the book to me. But notwithstanding that difficulty, it appears to me that the stile is nervous and perspicuous and flowing. The facts are justly and methodically narrated. The characters, which indeed form the most difficult part of history, appear to be accurately defined, and so far as I have had opportunity to be acquainted with them to be perfectly just. But you must not charge me with trimming when I start the following query. The Royalists constantly attributed to Mr. Hutchinson a character for great abilities. Though we cannot form a very high

opinion of the political talents of a man who has made the establishment of a particular system the pursuit of his whole life, and is disappointed in the attainment of his object: yet would it not be better to give him, on the credit of his own party, a little undeserved praise, to procure their judgment in favor of the work? You know already my opinion of the former Governor, and that it is not mine alone. These are the only things which occurred to me as rendering a revision expedient. I cannot suppose that mere slips of the pen were included in your injunctions. The remarks now made are not grounded on any acquaintance I had with Mr. H[utchinson.] The dispute ran so high before I was able to judge of the controversy, that every man had taken his side, and of course I was acquainted with only the leaders on one side. The friendship which has long subsisted between our families and which may properly be considered as hereditary, will when considered by your good sense and a very small share of your candor, be my apology for the freedom of the present remarks. I have the honor to be, Madam, with much esteem Your most Obedt. Servant, JAMES WINTHROP

CATHERINE MACAULAY GRAHAM TO MERCY WARREN

I thank you, dear Madam, for the favor of your letter of the sixth of January. The having seen and conversed in person with the Author gave an additional pleasure to the renewal of our old correspondence.

We have indeed been much alarmed for the safety of the infant Governments of America and I sincerely hope that this attempt to disturb the public tranquility will like most others of the same Nature when they fail only serve to give it a more permanent establishment. I have heard that things are grown better in many ways since I left America, the high price of provision be lowered and I hope the tast for the Luxuries of Europe decreased. indeed I always flattered myself that the mortifications you have sustained on the article of commerce and the disappointment of Land not taking a great rise after the Revolution from the incoming of

forreign Settlers will rather prove advantageous in the event of things than otherwise.

Mr. Adams has published a Defence of the American Constitutions I have not yet had time to read it, therefore can give you no account of it; but I suppose you will have received a copy before this comes to hand

We are now upon the Eve of a Treaty with France 1 which is in a stile of politicks so new to this Country and so agreable to the present views of our old enemy that it alarms many; yet the two houses of parliament seem only to have considered it as a party business, tho it might have been imagined that the spirit of reformation which has taken place in the counsels of that formidable power would have produced more serious and anxious debates and more deliberate conclusions I thank you, Dear Madam, for your kind wishes and do most sincerely return them by earnest desires and hopes that you may never again experience the sorrows you have felt.

I was happy to hear that Mrs. Russel had brought so agreable an addition to Mr. Russel's felicity as a child, and I sincerely hope that it has not been clouded with the loss which rumour says he has sustained in one of his ships taken by an Algerine Corsair.

When you see our mutual friend Mr. Gerry I shall be obliged to you if you will make our compliments of congratulation on his marriage 2 which tho an event of an old date we only heard this winter by Dr. Prevost the Bishop of New York.

You flatter me much, Dear Madam, in interesting yourself on the subject of my composition my present thoughts are employed on education for tho the History of your late glorious revolution is what I should certainly undertake were I again young, yet as things are I must for many reasons decline the task.

My Daughter I thank God enjoys at present a perfect state of health she is much obliged by your remembrance and joins me and Mr. Graham in best compliments to your self Genl. Warren and

I The treaty negotiated by William Eden and Dupont de Nemours.

2 To a daughter of James Thompson of New York.

3 Samuel Provoost (1742-1815).

family. From Dear Madam Your Very Sincere Friend And Obedt. Servt.

CATH: MACAULAY GRAHAM

KNIGHTS BRIDGE, near LONDON, March 6, '87.

pray make our compliments to Mr. Otys's family and to your Sister and to General Lincoln and his family.

BENJAMIN LINCOLN TO MR. AND MRS. WARREN

General Lincoln presents his respectful compliments to General Warren and Lady. Whilst he mingles his joys with those of their other friends on the safe return of their son Major Warren,1 he begs leave to add his warm congratulations on the very important and felicitating circumstance that in addition to a knowledge of duty he has ever discharged it with ability and the greatest punctuality. He has not only merited, but has gained the esteem of all who have been happy enough to form an acquaintance with him.

Monday morn,

12 March, 1787.

MERCY WARREN TO HENRY Knox

KNOX MSS. MILTON, May 2d, 1787

SIR, From your extensive acquaintance, connexions and Correspondence, I am sensible you cannot wish to see a new signature to your address. Nor should I interrupt the thread of political attention, or break in on the more agreable moment of polite amusement, but from the habits of Friendship which for several Years has subsisted between yourself and his parents, a son of mine has requested me to apply to you in a small affair relative to bussiness. This young Gentleman in common with many in these days of commercial embarasment has had the I Henry Warren.

misfortune to suffer many disappointments in the mercantile line, which has obliged him to bring his affairs to a certain point and offer an equal dividend to his Creditors. and he now only waits for an answer to a Letter wrote several weeks since to your Brother on a matter of no considerable moment which yet I understand cannot be negotiated with Mr. Breck1 without his

consent.

By Mr. Breck and by all else (except in one very singular instance) he has been treated in the most delicate and polite

manner.

But as it is both proper and equitable that each creditor should receive a similar proposition, the settlement of all his affairs now only remain at a stand till Mr. Breck shall receive an intimation from Mr. W. Knox that he is at liberty to compound in the same manner that other Gentlemen have already consented. Your Goodness of disposition, without the additional motive of Friendship which we have the honour to Claim, I am confident would lead you to wish a young person in the meridian of active life might as soon as possible be extricated from any further impediments to usefulness and industry. I therefore think I am certain it will not be many days before either yourself or Brother will pay the necessary attention to this request and authorise Mr. Breck to act agreable to his own and to the inclination of every other Gentleman of Generosity and Benevolence.

You will not fail to make my best Compliments to Mrs. Knox. shall not we have the pleasure of seeing you both in the environs of Boston in the Course of the ensuing season. In the interim your Friends on Milton hill would be gratifyd in knowing how the political Hemisphere opens to your eye on the important spring of '87.

But if you, sir, should judge that inquiries of this nature are not altogether consonant to Female Genius, then tell us the Gradations of Theatrical improvement and anything that will do honour to the taste, the understanding, or the heart of a single American, either as a writer, a Hero, a statesman, or an Honest man.

I know the amor patriae burns too strongly in your breast to

I Samuel Breck.

« AnteriorContinuar »