get it remains to some of them to Account for. they have frequently served me in this way lately, under pretence of the letters being publick ones. for which reason I could wish my Friends would not in future direct to me as Speaker of the House. I own I am astonished to find such a Lethargy and want of principle, a spirit prevailing in any one of the United Colonies, as to suffer an Army of 10 or 15,000, or even double that number to traverse through the heart of it with as little Interruption as a Man in times of profound peace might make a Journey. this has furnished me with Ideas intirely new and given me more anxiety than my own Apprehensions, or any thing that ever before took place have suggested. the Triumph of our Enemies and the disgrace to the Country mortify me much, but dont discourage me. I have full faith and Confidence we shall yet prevail. were I to see an Experiment of the like kind tried here with like success, I should think I had never Entertained proper Sentiments of this Country or the Contest we are Engaged in; but till I do I shall believe the Event of such a project here would be such as you and I could wish. I believe our hardy Countrymen would soon make such an Army repent their rashness and cut them to pieces before they should march thirty miles. but how comes it to pass that such an Event should take place any where. is it not oweing to the Indecition of Congress, to their delays, to the Lenity and Indulgence every where shewn our Internal Enemies, by which they have had Opportunities and Improved them to destroy the principle and spirit of defence, which was once vigorous enough any where to prevent such a disgrace. had Congress taken the same measures for forming an Army last June which they did in Septr., we should before this have had a fine Army on foot, well Cloathed and supplyed with everything, and the British Army probably cooped up in a Garrison under the Cannon of their Ships, Cut to pieces, or gone of in disgrace. had Congress last winter instead of this gone in Earnest into a Treaty with other powers, it would have Encouraged your friends and silenced your Enemies. I feel every day Embarrassment from their most Inveterate of all Enemies among ourselves; their secret Operations have always Injured us, Countermined now by our Absurd policy of foolish Lenity towards them and supported by Hopes from the small Advantages gained by the Enemy, they dare act their part without disguise. they poison the minds of the people, Interrupt our best measures and, in some measure, prevent our raising the Army so fast as I could wish. however, I have the pleasure to tell you that the prospects with regard to our quota are good. many are Inlisted and many are daily Inlisting. large quantities of Cloathing have been and now are providing with Industry and success, some of which is gone forward. the Alfred prize is arrived with Cloathing for twelve Regiments and a large quantity of

Blankets, tho' at the same time I must Lament the Loss of one of your Vessels lately taken by the Enemy, with a large quantity of powder and some arms. I am told one Bunker was the Master. I had before formed my Opinion of your "Excellent superlatively wise and great patriot.” I despise his Timidity and Inconsistency. I have long dreaded their Effects. however, we are really Engaged in the Cause of God and Men, and I trust neither the Folly or wickedness of any Individual or Number of Men will prevent a happy Issue. Mr. P[aine], I suppose, has got Home. I wish him the Enjoyment of domestic Felicity. I am glad to find you approveing our Choice of Delegates. I cant say when Mr. Adams proposes to go. I am sensible you must want him, but I believe he dont go very soon. Mr. Dana and Lovel, I suppose, go this week. I condole with you on the Loss of General Lee. this Misfortune is greatly Lamented here. how could he be so Improvident as to suffer himself to be so Exposed to the Treachery of Rascals about him or to be taken in such a manner by a few light Horse. we are in daily and anxious Expectation of hearing the Issue of a general Action. the Lord Grant it may be in our favour. I hope they will neither get the Congress Napping or any other way. I like some of the materials of it too well to wish a Change of the whole. I am pleased to hear that our Affairs abroad wear a good Aspect. Our Attention is turned almost wholly on the war in general and the particular defence of this State. you know what situation you left this Town in. it has since been Improveing and will I hope soon be in a good posture of defence. however, I could wish there was more Firmness and Spirit in our Councils. there is an Instability and versa[ti]lity in them that by no means pleases me and I think Injures the good Cause. many things take place that I dont like and many are omitted that I do. I feel the want of that Connection I used to have. we have many new people and some old ones that are Timid and want firm Nerves, and others seven Years behind us in politicks. however, will do as well as I can; sufficient for you are your own difficulties. I am apprised of the regard the British Government have for us. I shall do all I can to be provided for them in the Spring, and tho' I should deprecate my Country's being the seat of War on any other Occasion, supposeing it best for the whole, I should be willing, now my dependence is on Providence and our own. Exertions, and will think them sufficient. I hope there will be no Occasion for foreign Troops here. A Diversion in the West Indies or elsewhere might answer our purposes as well. My Compliments to my good Friend Mr. Gerry. shall write him soon. Adeu, my good Friend. I wish you the Blessings of Heaven and am, etc. [No signature.]

The Troops are Imbarking or Embarkd at Rhode Island, but where

Bound we know not. one of your armed Schooners formerly Commanded by Burke and some time ago taken by the Enemy, last week in a Storm run into a Harbour nigh Portsmouth. the Crew 50 in Number delivered up the Vessel and themselves prisoners.

JAMES WARREN TO SAMUEL ADAMS 1

BOSTON, Feby. 2d, 1777

MY DEAR SIR, I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 8th Jany, three days ago. I have not been negligent of the hint you mention, but have been greatly at a loss in what manner to put it in Execution here that would not at the same time destroy all hopes of Success. the necessity of Communicating it to so many would certainly have that Effect. I am, therefore, glad to hear that you have fallen on other measures not liable to that Objection. I wish it may be Attended with success. It will certainly be an Important Event if Effected. I shall let it sleep in Oblivion till I hear of the Attempt. I am glad to hear that our Troops and some of our Officers have Obtained a Name and a Character in the Army. I Enjoy and sincerely Congratulate you on the agreable reverse of our Affairs. The Incursion of the Enemy into the Jersies, though it at first gave great Spirit to our Internal Enemies and damped the Spirits of such of our Friends as are Constituted only to sail before the wind, has already turned much to our Advantage. the late success of our Arms has Blasted and Confounded the Hopes and Insolence of the one, and inspired the other with a degree of resolution that may last till the next Misfortune. We have, indeed, had enough to do with the sauciness of the Tories, and the Timidity and wretched folly of many of the whigs. the Events of War are uncertain, but I think we have much to hope for from the present Enterpriseing Spirit of the Army. when you please you will give me the reason why the resolution you mention was not Communicated to me. you have raised my Curiosity with regard to this matter. I hope your Resolution with respect to the Officers in your hands will not abate if Genl. Lee should be treated in the manner you Expect. Lenity and even kindness and Tenderness on our Side is want of policy when Opposed to Barbarity on the other. I have great Expectations from the present Spirit of Congress. it gives me great pleasure to hear things go agreable to your Mind. while they do I ever presume they are Conducted to the Advantage of the Country. what the perticulars are I do not Enquire, but Consider as the Arcana of State. however, if I may Conjecture that the forming a General Constitution be one subject. I hope to hear I From the Samuel Adams Papers in the New York Public Library.

soon that it is Compleated and that in the Execution of it the defects and wretched management in the old Country will be Avoided. Pensions and Sinecures will be an Abhorrence to the present Age, and does it not approach nearly to them to keep up one of the highest Officers with pay and perquisites with the Command of a very Inferiour one. it is a Charming thing to be a favourite at Court. had I been so lucky, the paymaster's pay and perquisites might have been Continued to me to this time, my resignation Notwithstanding. I dont mention this as a thing I wish. I should despise the Pay, etc., of a Major General without doing the Duty, or flying to the Assistance of a Neighbouring State if attacked. if there be now Existing any such Instance you may depend on its being the subject of Conversation. if any such should hereafter Exist do define the powers with which he is Invested, that we may know whether it is necessary for the Court to Interpose upon the smallest Occasions -the move

ing a single Company or furnishing them with a Blanket or a Dinner, sat verbum sapienti. my Friend Gerry has a Compleat Idea of what has taken place before now. My Friend Mr. Adams gave me the Slip and left me disappointed in looseing an Opportunity of saying many things to him which I had prepared for the parting Interview. I shall persecute him with Letters as soon as I can. I hope he is well and now with you, and also Mr. Lovel, by whom I wrote you. we have no kind of News. we are on the Eve of a three weeks recess which, if nothing takes place to prevent, will Commence in a day or two, haveing passed a Bill against Treason, a Tax Bill, and one or two others, and varied our determinations about raiseing the Army till it is become almost a Byword, and the Business much delayed. how many Men are Engaged I know not. I believe a Considerable Number. the whole would soon be got if we were steady, but we have lately passed and sent out a new resolve, bitterly against my Sentiments, holding up a design of levying them on the Towns. I fear the Operation of this will be to stop any further Inlistments till the Soldiers can Extort from their Townsmen fifty Dollars apiece in addition to the Bounty already given. I wish you Health and happiness and am, with regards to my Good Friends, yours sincerely. [No signature.]

Brigadier Knox is here and has sent in a Memorial and desired the Bounty we give to the fifteen Battalions may be given to four others now to be raised. it seems to be Curious to have one of your Generals petitioner for this Bounty, but how they can be raised without I know not. however, it is not Complyed with.

This Town is full of People of Consequence. your Promotions are rapid and the Increase of the Army has Multiplied Officers so that they are as

In

numerous here as the British Officers used to be. I feel like a very considerable person and that it is time for me to retire to my Farm, etc., etc., but this Letter is long enough. Adeu.

JAMES WARREN TO SAMUEL ADAMS 1

PLYMO., Febry. 24th, 1777

MY DEAR SIR, -I have now for a rarity been at Home a fortnight where I had the pleasure of receiveing your favour of the 1st Instant two days ago. I have a prospect of being at home one week more and then the Court meets again. I never at Home or Abroad received a Line from you that was displeasing to me. I never received one that did not give me great pleasure. I always Consider them as favours and Endeavour in some measure to deserve them. if my Friend had been Capable of being Infected with the Ill humours of any Man, I should have suspected he had caught a little of the pevishness of the when he seems to have lost his Confidence in the Attention and Affection of his Friend. it was certainly a fortunate Circumstance that Mr. Lovel arrived as he did, with a full Conviction of both. to be serious I do Employ every leisure hour in writeing to you and my other friends. but I have been Extreemly Engaged in Business and greatly fatigued. I have since that by Mr. Lovel wrote you a very long Letter by Mr. Bromfield, which I hope you have received by this time. I did not, however, give you any Account of the reception the proceedings of the Committees you mention, supposeing it would be taken for granted that they were agreable to the New England Assemblies whose Committees they were. and indeed this was the fact. they were received, believed and submitted to like the doctrines of holy writt. A quotation from the report of the Convention would silence any Man and knock down all Opposition at once, and this was really carried a great length with regard to the whole, and in general was and is Universally the case. A Spirit of Enthusiasm prevailed with regard to this matter, and had it not been for the Audacity of a few who ventured at the hazard of their reputation to question the policy of some part of the report, we might have been Involved in greater Confusion than we are. I recollect, however, but one Instance. the Convention reported that the Bounty to be given to the Soldiers in the N. England States should be no more than £10. each. I was always for giveing a Bounty to the Soldier in Addition to that given by Congress, supposeing that Justice required it. but I always wished it should be small, and ever Opposed the Extravagant Measures taken with regard to that matter. but when the I From the Samuel Adams Papers in the New York Public Library.