tyrants will find ways and means by reciprocal alliances between themselves to render the fetters of the people as durable as brass or iron.

I have said nothing on the subject of foreign intrigues, which will agitate us in the course of the commotions. This circumstance is too obvious to need any illustration.

I should be happy madam to receive your communications from time to time particularly on the subject enlarged on in this letter. Your sentiments shall remain with me. I beg you to present to the general my affectionate and respectful compliments, and to believe me to be most respectfully, you obedient humble Servt.

H. KNOX

Mrs. Knox presents her compliments to the Genl. and yourself.

HENRY KNOX TO MERCY WARREN

NEW YORK, 21 August, 1787

MADAM,— Your highly esteemed favor of the 21st of June was duly received. But my absences and avocations lately, have been such, that I have been unable at an earlier period, to set down to form a reply.

Indeed I wished that somewhat of the proceedings of the convention might be first known, in order to discover the complexion the remainder of our lives was likely to assume, as far as depended on government.

Although this wish has not been gratified in such a manner, as to be communicated on paper, at present, yet it is well ascertained that great unanimity prevails in the convention. That the important principles are fixed - and that their deliberations are drawing to a close, so that the members will probably seperate before the 15th of next month.

In this state of things the true lovers of their country will wait to receive the result of the deliberations of the convention. I look forward to the period of publication with a degree of anxiety. I

am persuaded that some ardent and intelligent spirits may regard the propositions of the convention as inadequate to remedy the evils of our situation; while others and a greater majority too will be apt at the first blush to consider the proposed government as too high toned.

But if the characters of the convention be duly estimated, and the nature and circumstances of the society I flatter myself the government proposed will be received by the multitude as the best that can be obtained at present.

If however it should be otherwise, if the still small voice of reason should not be heard, but local demagogues successfully oppose the erection of a fair national republic, we shall most probably feel the force of blind events. Whether they will be rigid, or flexible, adverse or prosperous must be left for the present to those superior beings who can penetrate further into futurity than we poor mortals.

The information you are pleased to request on certain points respecting the Cincinnati and the characters of certain Gentlemen shall be candidly given when I shall have the honor of seeing you, which I hope will be in the ensuing October or November.

Mrs. Knox and myself have recently sustained the sharp affliction of losing our youngest child of about eleven months old, of a disorder incident to children when cutting their teeth. However much our affections have been lacerated on this occasion we are forced to believe that the system in which we are, and every thing therein, is governed by infinite wisdom.

I beg General Warren to accept my best wishes for his happiness, mental, and corporeal. I am, madam, with perfect respect and esteem Your Most obedient humble Servant,

H. KNOX

CATHERINE MACAULAY GRAHAM TO MERCY WARREN

DEAR MADAM, I have long wished, long hoped, and long expected, to receive a letter from you; the letter is at length arrived, and your reasons for not gratifying me before, are so friendly that I cannot complain.

Indeed I have expected with much impatience the result of the deliberations of your convention and as your letter contained this result it gave me a very pleasing proof of your attention. You pay me the compliment, Dear Madam, of asking for my observations on the plan of federal government proposed by the convention to the considerations of the States. I will give them you freely.

In the first place I must own to you that from some hints that were flung out in our papers I feared that it would lead much more to the principles of Monarchy and Aristocracy than I find in the propositions indeed they are grownded on simple Democracy and appear to me to be so well guarded that in the present situation of the united States were they to be adopted they bid fair to stand for ages without contracting any alloy that may affect their Temperament and indeed Dear Madam if some system of power is not established which may protect instead of ruining the liberties of America and which may direct the jarring interests of the several States to one great end of general good your contentions and dissapointments must in the end bring on a government whose principles will be as much at variance with the rights of men as are the most of our European ones. In short, Dear Madam, it is my opinion that were some plan of the kind now proposed by the convention to be adopted and carried into execution and were your people less fond of Commerce and European luxuries would they attend to the cultivation of their Lands and employ their industry in those manufactures which are necessary to the comforts of life and were strict prohibitions made against the consumption of any forreign manufactures you would in a short time be the happiest and the greatest people in the World.

The rumors of war on this part of the Globe are now over and the free States of Holland subjected to the yoke my sentiments on this subject are I dare say so similar to your own that I think I need not trouble you with them.

The account you give me of Mrs. Russel fills me with concern both for her own sake, her Husband's, her Father and Mother's, and for what you, my Dear Madam, must suffer on the occasion for the friendship you entertained for your Niece was I know of

the tenderest kind, her constitution appeared to be always delicate but her Sister whom I am sorry to hear is in the same hapless condition had the air of robustness.

I have certainly brought my Daughter acquainted with you Dear Madam and I think I sent you her kindest remembrance in my last letter She is lately married to a Mr. Gregorie who is Capt. of an East India Man the Match is very much to mine and the rest of her friends' liking.'

You are so kind as to inquire after my present employment. I am still writing Letters on education 2 When I have finished this work I propose to resume my pen on a political subject which I have in view and this I fancy will close my sublunary labors. My Daughter, Dear Madam, returns you her particular compliments and thanks for the sentiments you have entertained in her favor Mr. Graham also joins me in respectful regards to yrself Genrl. Warren and family, From Dear Madam Your affecte And Obedt. Servt.

CATH: MACAULAY GRAHAM

KNIGHTS BRIDGE, near London, Novbr., '87.

Postscript. If there is any defect in the plan proposed by the Convention it is the want of a rotation of the presidents of Congress coerced by law, for I still think this to be the only firm support of Freedom in every mode of its existence.

JOHN ADAMS TO MERCY WARREN

LONDON, Decr. 25, 1787

MADAM, -The Sack of Rome, has so much Merit in itself that for the honour of America, I should wish to see it acted on the Stage in London before crouded Audiences. The Dedication of it does so much honour to me, that I should be proud to see it in

1 Charles Gregory. The marriage took place June 7, at Marylebone Church. The young lady was described as "daughter and heiress of the late Dr. George Macaulay, and of the female Historian of England.'

2 Later embodied in a volume, Letters on Education, with Observations on Religious and Metaphysical Subjects.

3 It is included in her Poems, Dramatic and Miscellaneous, 1790.

print even if it could not be acted. I have shewn it, in discreet confidence to several good Judges, but least their opinion might not be satisfactory I procured it at last to be seriously read, by several of the first tragical Writers in this nation. among whom were the Author of the Grecian Daughter1 and the Author of the Carmelite. They have noted their opinion in a Writing that is inclosed. It requires almost as much interest and Intrigue to get a Play Acted, as to be a Member of Parliament, and a printed Play that has not been Acted will not sell. I have not been able to find a Printer who would accept the Copy on Condition of printing it.

In short nothing American sells here. Ramsay's History Dwight and Barlow's Poems are not sold, nor, I fear will Dr. Gordon's, notwithstanding the prescious Materials he must be possessed of.

There is a universal desire and endeavour to forget America, and an unanimous Resolution to read nothing which shall bring it to their Thoughts. They cannot recollect it, without Pain.

Your Annals, or History, I hope you will continue, for there are few Persons possessed of more Facts, or who can record them in a more agreable manner. Yet let me not deceive you. America must support the Publication of it. no other Country will contribute much towards it.

In the Month of April, May or June, I hope to see my Friends at Milton Hill. in the mean time I am, Madam, with great Esteem, your most obedient and most humble Servant,

JOHN ADAMS

CATHERINE MACAULAY GRAHAM TO MERCY WARREN DEAR MADAM, I am very sorry to be driven by the course of events to awaken melancholly reflections in you rather than to endeavor to amuse you with the Bagatelles of human life. Accept however the simpathy of a friend for the great loss you have sustained in the Death of your very worthy and aimable Niece Mrs. I Arthur Murphy.

2 Richard Cumberland.