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sistent with decency should be used on such an Occasion as agreeing best with our Circumstances and profession; but their is such a yariant and Inconsistency between the practice and profession of patriots as well as Christians that I can easily Conceive even a Member of Congress Exhibiting on such an Occasion all the Magnificence of Monarchy. I want much to hear of the full Completion of the Confederation. I shall take Care of the Order you sent me and in a few days have it settled. Manley has returned here greatly Chagrined, and full of Bitterness and resentment against you, who he Considers as the principle Occasion of his disappointment. it is Circulated with Industry that you are the patron of McNeil and Intend to have the decision of the Court Martial set aside. You can hardly Conceive with how much pleasure this, and indeed every other Story to your disadvantage is received and propagated here by a Party who are determined at all Events to ruin your Interest. I stop'd their Career in this by reading and telling a paragraph in your Letter relating to that matter. I shall always oppose the measures of this Party. for if I have no partiality for you, I have a prejudice against many of them. I cant bare the Influence of Men who were so hid in Holes and Corners a few Years ago that it was difficult to find them; and when found dared not tell you which side they belonged to. Especially when that Influence is directed against the Capital and most Staunch Friends this Country ever had. those Men must have an Idol. they most of them worship'd Hutchinson; they all now worship another who, if he has not H's Abilities, certainly equals him in Ambition and Exceeds him in Vanity. I wish I could give you a few Anecdotes. they would Excite your Indignation and perhaps ridicule. The servility and flattery I am daily a Witness [of] is disgusting enough.

Mr. Hancock is returned, seems to be in pretty good Health, is gone on the Expedition against R. Island, and there as Major General of this State Commands, as the Newspapers will Inform you, the second Line of the Army. I am told he sollicited the Council to be ordered on this Business, which after some Opposition obtained. What a noble Example of Heroism, as well as Patriotism does this Conduct Exhibit. we want a Homer or a

Virgil to Celebrate it and surely Congress itself must be the Mecenas to prompt and Encourage them.1

We have no News. our Expectations are now fixed on the R. Island Expedition. we are very anxious for the return of the French Fleet, without which I fear it will not Succeed. we have had a hard Gale of Wind and other very unfavourable weather since our Army was Collected. my best regards to Mr. Gerry, Lovel and Dana. I am your Friend.

[No signature.]

JAMES WARREN TO SAMUEL ADAMS 2

BOSTON, Augt. 25th, 1778

MY DEAR SIR, -I wrote you by last Post pretty much in a hurry, nor do I recollect the perticulars of it. I believe there may have been in it some Treason against puppys and villains and some other things, which may Consign it to the Flames before this reaches you, but I think I did not say enough about Capt. Manley. I do think no Caution ought to be used in speaking of his Bravery. with a Command of a Single Ship my opinion is he would equal perhaps any in that respect, tho his Judgment and Abilities might not be equal to others in the direction of more Ships than one. however, between us, I would much rather trust him even there than another I could name, whose pretences to both are more Confident, and besides who believed better in the begining in a Little Schooner Exposed to all the Men of War, and who did more service by makeing prizes. and in short as Capt. Hinman Cant be Expected here in Season for the Ship at Norwich, I do think Manley should have her. As for Capt. Landais, no Exertions of mine shall be wanting to Afford him every Assistance in my power to man his Ship. he rises in my Esteem every day and I have the pleasure to add in that of others too. the other Captains are Convinced that he is Master of his Business, and that with his agreable Manners and disposition force Conviction of the Judicious1 On Hancock's return to Massachusetts, see Writings of Samuel Adams, Iv. 49. 2 From the Samuel Adams Papers in the New York Public Library.

ness of the Appointment against every prejudice. I suppose you have such direct Intelligence from your Generals that it would be vain, or at least Unnecessary for me to think of giving you any Intelligence of the proceedings at Rhode Island. I may however venture to predict that there is an End of our Expectations from that Expedition. the French Fleet has left them and I think they must retreat and leave the Island. there is no other Alternative but to strike a great and Capital Blow, such an one as the Genius of an Hanibal or a Frederic would dictate, or leave the Island. The French Fleet is hourly Expected here. an Agent from them has applyed to us for Pilots to meet them off Cape Cod and for Sparrs to repair them. I have sent out twelve Pilots and am provideing the Sparrs. the Council have desired us to furnish every thing they have Occasion for. I Consented, but I find they will heave themselves into the hands of those kind of Gentry here who will take Care to make their money of them (I say I, Mr. Deschon is gone to Providence on our Business, Mr. Vernon has been absent six months). I am somewhat perplexed to know how to dispose of the Raleigh and Resistance, which are both ready for Sea and would have sailed this day if the Fleet had Continued before. Rhode Island.1 I wish I could have the Sentiments of the Marine Committee as soon as possible, tho' I dont know but shall take some measures without, as soon as I can see Count De Estaing. We have no foreign News, nor any other domestic. I am yours Sincerely.

[No signature.]

Augt. 27th. The French Fleet do not yet appear. Our Army still Continues on Rhode Island. General Hancock returned last Evening to this Town. it is reported and believed, I suppose, that he is come to order back the French Squadron. if it was reported that he came to arrest the Course of Nature, or reverse the decrees of Providence, there are enough to believe it practicable.

I They were ordered to cruise off North Carolina, to take armed vessels fitted out by the Goodriches (John, Bridger and William) of Virginia.

HANNAH WINTHROP TO MERCY WARREN

CAMBRIDGE, Aug. 29, 1778

It would be a Vain thing in me to pretend to give you the tidings the occurrences that the fleeting days and weeks present to View especially as you are so nearly connected with one who has so large a share in the Present Scene and who I doubt not communicates freely to you. We who are at a greater distance and can only behold Events as they take place have nothing to do but wonder and patiently wait the Issue. We have lately seen vast numbers of men hieing away for a field of battle hurrying thither with the most Sanguine expectations but the great Mover of Universal Nature has seen fit by the operation of His Stormy winds to check our fond imaginations and we daily have the Mortification of seeing the men return without the Palm of Victory. Our Son the Librarian1 was a Zealous Volunteer and is not yet come back from Camp. The British G1 P[hillip]s here kept a day of Festivity on the occasion and humanely orderd his officers not to insult our Men on their return. We who live among them must expect to meet with Chagrin as they are always by some Means or other Possest of the Secret many days before we are.

I have lately been Favord with a Review which Contains some lines which gave me great Pleasure. If you have not happend to have seen it or was not the Philomela who sang it I doubt not they will amuse you; but I must beg the Favour you would return them as they Cost me some time in Copying. Rather than detain you from what will give you more pleasure than anything of mine be pleasd to Accept Sincere Affection from your Unalterable Friend,2

I James Winthrop.

HANNAH WINTHROP

2 A letter from Samuel Adams to James Warren, September 1, 1778, is in Writings of Samuel Adams, IV. 52.

JAMES WARREN TO SAMUEL ADAMS1

BOSTON, Sept. 2d, 1778

MY DEAR SIR, - We are all under Arms. A Fleet of fifteen sail of the Line and seven Frigates appeared in the Bay last Sunday and Yesterday came Close in by the Light House. they are not to be seen this Morning, but I suppose will show themselves again about Noon. we suppose this to be Lord Howe's Squadron Joined by some new Comers. the French Admiral is makeing every disposition to receive them if they Attempt to come in, not only in the Arrangement of his Ships, but by fortifying Nantasket, George's Island, etc., where he has mounted Cannon and landed men. whether they mean to amuse this Squadron till their Troops make a safe retreat to Hallifax, or whether they design to Attack the French even in this port is Uncertain, but I rather think the first. we have a foolish Spirit prevailing with rancour against the French for leaving Rhode Island. I call it a foolish one because in my Opinion, if the Conduct of the French has been bad, Common discretion would dictate silence to us, and that the only thing was to make the best of it at present. this is the doctrine I preach and practise. I cant bear to see the Whiggs falling in with the views of the Tories and Joining with them in a Clamour that may prove greatly Injurious if not ruinous to us. but we have always been plagued more with the Folly of the Whigs than with the wickedness of the Tories. Time wont permit me to add more than that I am your Friend.2

[No signature.]

SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

MY DEAR SIR,- The Bearer of this Letter, Ebenezer Hazard Esq, is a sensible Gentleman of good Character, and has had a liberal Education at the College in Princetown. He has a few years

1 From the Samuel Adams Papers in the New York Public Library.

2 A letter from Samuel Adams to James Warren, September 12, 1778, is in Writings of Samuel Adams, IV. 58.