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sometimes Wispers, why do you Break in (by Recounting the uninteresting occurrances that fall in your way) on the important Moments of a Gentleman whose time is not his own.

And I wish the same Reflection would have an influence on Him, so far as to unbend his Mind Enough to write a person very Avaritious of the Notices of the Worthy, and of Every Attainable Means of improvement in this scanty portion of Existence.

This Goes by Capt. Landais of the Alliance with whom I have a son. I took up my pen Intending only a few Lines to Let you know Notwithstanding the Convulsions of Nations, the Fluctuation of Events and the Vicissitudes of time, there are yet a few, a very few, of your acquaintance whom you most Esteemed in the Days of Tranquility who Remain Invariably the same. Nor Can I Lay it down till I have told you that both you and your Country have lost a Friend in the Death of Coll. Otis: who after long and patiently waiting to be called from his post, Bid Adieu to Mortality the 9th of Nov., 1778, when He paid this Last Debt to Nature. Both public and private Virtue Might justly Mourn the Deceased patron, while a Large tribute of Gratitude Mingled with tears, is Due to the Memory of an Excellent Father. From your unfeigned Friend and Humble Servant 1

MARCIA WARREN

JAMES WARREN TO SAMUEL ADAMS 2

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BOSTON, Decr. 16th, 1778

MY DEAR SIR, I am at the Close of a very Busy Day to tell you that all things here remain much in the Situation they were, no new thing haveing lately taken place. Folly and Wickedness stalk abroad with the same shameless rapidity and Confidence they ever have done and find Numbers to keep them in Countenance. Assemblies, Gameing, and the fashionable Amusements Engage the Genteel People, or those who cant be so without

I A letter from John Adams to Mercy Warren, December 18 [misdated in printing 15], 1778, is in Writings of John Adams, 1x. 474.

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

them, while more Laudable Entertainments Engage others of a different Turn of Mind. As the Seasons of the Year revolve the 22d of December returns next week and again brings us to the Celebration of our Anniversary. I wish I could have your Company again at Plymouth on that Occasion. it would certainly be an additional pleasure. The Papers furnish us with Lists of Delegates Chosen for several States. pray why is Mr. Carroll left out in Maryland. and you perhaps will ask why are some others Chose in another State.

The Inclosed Letter I beg your Care off. it is from Mrs. Warren to a Lady of her Acquaintance sent to Mr. Mathews. I can add no more but that I am assuredly yours, etc.

JAMES WARREN TO JOHN ADAMS

J. WARREN

ADAMS MSS.

PLYMOUTH, N. E., Jany. 1, 1779

MY DEAR SIR, I keep no Copies of Letters and therefor am unable to refer to the dates or the Contents. I know I have wrote you many and some of them very Lengthy. the Contents may be of no great Consequence, whether they are lost or received. how many you have wrote me, you can best tell. only one has yet reached me. I have been now ten days from the Capital, and therefore unable to give you such Intelligence as I might if there. however I believe you will not get much from there at this Time, nothing very Remarkable having taken place the last three weeks I was at Boston. The Papers that will be sent by the Navy Board by this Good Oppertunity and your Friend, the Marquis Fayette, will give you every thing you can wish to know from here. The principal Subject of Conversation seems to be a Letter lately published by Mr. Deane, attacking with great Freedom the Character and Conduct of Doctor Lee and, indeed, that of his whole Family.1 this Letter is neither Elegant or Nervous, is calculated to command the Attention and fix the prejudices of the

I Probably Deane's "Address" printed in the Pennsylvania Packet, December 5, 1778, and widely copied.

People and is designed to strike deep, as neither Congress or Individuals that compose it are spared. it is no difficult Matter to engage the prejudices of the people in a Country where Jealousy is excited on the Slightest Surmise.

Whether the author has sufficient Grounds for his Charges against Doctor Lee and for his Complaints against Congress, or whether this is a political dust he designs to avail himself of, you can better tell in France than I can here. if Dr. Lee and his Connections are guilty of Treachery or any Misconduct I hope they will be discovered and punished; but I must own at present I doubt it, and some People think the author might as well have bent his attention to clear himself from some Insinuations not much to his advantage. however, let matters be as they may, this has a Tendency to lessen the Confidence of the People in Congress, and to create Factions that may injure the Common Cause. The Tories have by such means a full Swing for their Arts, which they Improve to the greatest Advantage. I say nothing to you of the State of our Currency and other difficulties we have to struggle with. the Enemy still retain N. York and R. Island. the French and English Squadrons are supposed to be gone to the West Indies, from whence we expect great Events. Mrs. Adams writes you by this opportunity. Your pretty Daughter is here on a Winter's Visit to Mrs. Warren. She is very well and wont own that she is not happy. I am with every wish for your Happiness your Friend and Servant1

J. WARREN

MERCY WARREN TO ABIGAIL ADAMS ADAMS MSS.

Jan. 19, 1779

I intended writing my Friend Mrs. Adams when Mr. Thaxter returned but dare say he gave you a satisfactory Reason why I did not. since which many matters have taken up my time. the bussy and the gloomy scenes have alternately played before me

I A letter from Samuel Adams to James Warren, January 6, 1779, is in Writings of Samuel Adams, IV. 113.

and commanded my Attention almost ever since I left your house with a Heart full of anxiety.

I saw my Father no more as my foreboding Heart presaged. He breathed his last sigh and bid Adieu to mortality before I reached his now Desolate Mansion.

Why was this such a painful Circumstance to me. How inconsistent, how irrational are our Wishes. when the saint is on the Threshold of Eternity and his Lord has commissioned a Messenger to Release him from his Labours and Bestow the Reward shall we wish a Moments Detention, that we may be permited the painful, the terifying satisfaction of standing by his Couch, while the trembling soul is taking Leave of its shattered tenement, and is looking abroad, amidst the Dark, profound, ethereal oeconimy, for a New and more permanent Habitation.

My excellent parent had long done his Work, and was patiently waiting this important Change. He longed to Depart and to be with Christ, and to unite his song of praise with the separate spirit of one whose Life was such that her Children could not be forgiven if they did not arise and call her Blessed, so long as Memory is lent them.

Forgive the fond overflowings of fillial affection, and I will lead you from a subject so unpolite to a more Fashionable theme, to the Disputes of polititions and statsmen. there if any where is Developed the Dark Windings of the Human Heart. How often when they have involved themselves in Guilt, do they send a Hue and Cry for justice to overtake such as are about to Detect them. perhaps we may soon see the Methods taken to exculpate the knave were the best Means of Bringing to light the knavery: and had the Former been silent, the odium of the Latter might have been fixed where it was not due, but by opening a Door for a strict scrutiny I hope truth will be Discovered. And punishment and Disgrace will rest where it ought.

If your Little Good Girl is unhappy she Conceals it from me, for she smiles as if she enjoyed herself and says plimouth is as pleasant as either Boston or Braintree. I shall endeavour to keep her in that sentiment as long as I can. if you hear anything from france we are not so immersed in our own Happiness but what she and

I can listen with pleasure, nor would Inteligence from any other quarter be unentertaining handed forward by your pen.

Make my Regards to Mr. Thaxter and to all other Braintree Friends. I will not write what I think of this young gentleman, but when I see you I will tell you.

It gives me pleasure in such a day as this when Vice is strengthened by Fashion, and Crimes are fostered by the appelation of Taste, to see any coming on the stage of action who have understanding and Virtue sufficient to Dare to be Good. but this may be one of the Antiquated Whims of your undisguised Friend 1 MARCIA WARREN

JAMES WARREN TO SAMUEL ADAMS 2

BOSTON, Feby. 12th, 1779

MY DEAR SIR,- From the principle that has long Uniformly Influenced my Conduct I went Home to join in the Celebration of our Anniversary, where I had the Misfortune to be taken very Lame, which has detained me till Yesterday, when for the first time I returned here. this only has prevented my acknowledgements of your several favours of Novr. 23d and Jany. 6th, and also the Copy of a Letter from Paris, all which I have Improved in my small Circle to promote the Cause of Truth and patriotism and in support of the Characters of Honest and able patriots against arts and Insinuations which appear to me groundless in their Nature and Infamous in the manner they are done in.

I wish Truth had a more general Influence upon Mankind than it has, and that it was not in the power of designing Men to blind them, or party views to Lead them Astray against that and their own Interest; but we have seen it has done so and I see it now and fear I shall as long as I live. The late publications in Philadelphia are a General Topic here and I suppose all over the Continent. Opinions are as various as Characters and Given with some

I A letter from Samuel Adams to James Warren, February 12, 1779, is in Writings of Samuel Adams, IV. 123.

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

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