in the days of Moses and Joshua. We have very little news here. No remarkable military events have taken place in the army here. In short the General has been obliged from principles of frugality to restrain his Riflemen. While they were permitted liberty to fire on the enemy, a great number of the army would go and fire away great quantity of ammunition to no purpose. Four captains and a subaltern were killed the beginning of last week chiefly by the Riflemen, and I am persuaded they will do great execution. There was but one company of them here last week. On Sunday a very fine company came in from Virginia. Yesterday morning went through this town three companies more; as many are expected this morning. I never saw finer fellows. What a view does this and the concourse of gentlemen from all the Colonies give us of Bernard's and Hutchinson's small faction. Last evening arrived here a gentleman from Machias, with an account of their having taken two other tenders, so that they now have five prizes, three tenders and two sloops taken from Jones. Twenty-eight prisoners are on the road, and will be here this day, among whom is old Ichabod Jones.1 The rest are lieutenants of men of war, midshipmen and seamen. Five sloops after wood and fresh provisions are taken by Cargill and others, and carried into Penobscot. This is doing great service. They are reduced to great straits for wood as well as fresh provisions in Boston. It is said it would fetch three guineas a cord. They have already burnt all the fences, etc. All accounts from Boston agree that they are dismantling the Castle, and intend to destroy the works there; which, with other circumstances, induce many to suppose they have an intention to leave the town. Many people have lately come out. He has restricted them to £5 sterling in money, a small matter of furniture, and absolutely forbid them bringing out plate. What the policy should be, unless he designs to plunder, destroy, and then leave, we can't devise. Boylston, John Gill, Lovel, the Selectmen, etc., to the number of thirteen, are kept, it is said till Jones and Hicks, two insignificant prisoners we have in Concord gaol, are suffered to go into Boston. We have resolved they shall go. The General has

1 Of Machias. See Journals of the Provincial Congress (Mass.), 395 n., 399. He afterwards fled to the British. Journals of the House of Representatives (Mass.), 1775, 88.

1775]

UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA

Warren-Adams Letters

ΙΟΙ

sent in the resolve by a trumpet.' We have no answer yet, tho'
that was done last Sunday. I am very sorry I should omit any
information you had occasion for. It is not wholly and only negli-
gence. Such has been the confusion here that it was difficult to
ascertain who held many of the offices. This was the case with
young Palmer. I often asked, and never was satisfactorily re-
solved whether he was Quartermaster General or his Deputy. He
was however the first, and still acts as such in the Massachusetts
forces, and has expectations of being appointed by the General.
I can't learn that any of those appointments you so justly regret
ther hands than your own are yet made. As
was a commissary, but his temper is so petu-
1 desirous of quitting for some time, and, in-
I am taking pains to give you the informa-
biography of the officers in the army, etc. I
ral Thomas and one other General for that
eers, I wish we were in a better way. G[rid-
uch governed by a son of his, who vainly
ht to the second place in the regiment, that
Mason. The Congress thought otherways;
much trouble with them, and I understand
are yet....

journment in contemplation, and expect it
week. You will hear of the accident which
by Hitchborne. He very injudiciously kept
the opportunity he could wish to destroy
whether the letter to me was from you or
the pleasure of it, and they boast of great
that and the two letters to General Wash-

J. WARREN

are preparing to leave Boston. Sewall and
ers, are going home, and some know not
they are almost ready to call on the rocks
r them. . . .

Touse of Representatives (Mass.), 1775, 32, 47.

HANNAH WINTHROP TO MERCY WARREN
ANDOVER, Aug. 17, 1775.

DEAR MRS. WARREN, THE FRIEND and Sister of My Heart, What a great Consolation is it that tho the restless ambition and unbounded Avarice and wicked machinations of some Original Characters have deprivd us of many of the pleasures of life yet are they not able to take from us the heartfelt Satisfaction of mutual affection and Friendly Converse. Your Favor Truly Delineates human nature in a disagreeable light. The Contrast is very striking! What have we to expect from such Vitiated Persons as you present to view in the British Generals. I hope their Wicked inclinations will be restraind. I am Charmed with the Portrait you give of General Washington. Must not we expect Success under the direction of so much goodness. But my heart Bleeds for the people of Boston, my Blood boils with resentment at the Treatment they have met with from Gage. Can anything equal his Barbarity. Turning the poor out of Town without any Support, those persons who were possessd of any means of Support stopd and Searchd, not sufferd to carry anything with them. Can anything equal the distress of parents Seperated from their Children, the tender husband detaind in Cruel Captivity from the Wife of his Bosom, she torn with anxiety in fearfull looking for and expectation of Vengeance from the obdurate heart of a Tyrant supported by wicked advisers. Can a Merciful Heaven look on these things and not interpose. Is there not a day of retribution at hand! Should these things continue what a horrid Prospect would a Severe Winter afford and how many must fall a Sacrifice to the unrelenting rigors of Cold and Want. Be ye clothd and be ye warmd will be of little Efficacy to the trembling nakd limbs or the hungry Soul of many a one who once livd in Affluence. I believe human Nature never produced but one Parallel Tyrant, Cesar Borgia, the Series of whose Cruelties will at any time make human Nature Shudder. You kindly enquire after my Sister. I have seen her but once since the Charlestown Conflagration. She is poorly accomodated at Stoneham. I found her and my Brother Mason 1 I Thaddeus Mason (1706–1802), who married for his third wife Anne Fayerweather.

too much affected with their Loss. I really think their prospects peculiarly discouraging. He has been out of business for a Twelvemonth past, a Large Family to provide for. He advanced in life and losing his habitation by the hands of as barbarous an enemy as ever appeard on the theatre of life to torment mankind. Where is the Historic page that can furnish us with such Villainy. The Laying a whole town in ashes after repeated promises that if they would protect their troops in their return from Concord, it should have been the last place that should suffer harm. How did they give shelter to the wounded expiring soldiers; their houses their beds were prepared to receive them, the women readily engaged in pouring balm in to their wounds, making broths and Cordials to support their exhausted spirits, for at that time the Softer Sex had not been innured to trickling blood and gaping wounds. Some of the unhappy Victims died. They gave up the ghost Blessing the hands that gave relief, and now in return for their kindness they take the first opportunity to make 500 householders miserable involving many a poor widow and orphan in one common ruin. Be astonished o heavens at this and let the inhabitants of America tremble to fall into the hands of such a merciless foe.

/of

But a more pleasing theme presents to me and I most Sincerely rejoice in the Late Appointment of your dear Consort to an Honorable and I hope profitable employment. The Assiduity and Fortitude with which he has Labord in the Fair field of Patriotic Virtue thro much self denial and Toil I think merits very highly of his Country and it must give pleasure to every Friend of Liberty to see such Abilities and unabating Services meet with some recompence before the Warfare is finished. May He long live a Blessing to his Country and reap the fruits of his Labors in a quiet and peaceable resting place. I now write from the Solitude of Andover and tho reducd to humble life yet by no means is my firm persuasion staggered in the glorious Cause we are Struggling in, the Cause of Virtue truth and justice. Your Faith that the united Efforts will be Blest with Success animates me. I catch a spark of that heavenly Flame which invigorates your breast knowing your Faith has a permanent Foundation and your acquaintance

with those in the Cabinet must enable you to form a better Judgment than those who have not those advantages. After I have made an apology for this Scrawl hope you will consent I should finish it with my sincere regards to Coll. Warren. I subscribe your Ever Affectionate,

HANNAH WINTHROP

JOHN ADAMS TO MERCY WARREN

BRAINTREE, Aug. [26], 1775

MADAM, I have been the happiest Man these two Days past, that I know of in the World. I have compared myself in my own Mind, with all my Friends and I cannot believe any of them so blest as myself.

In the first Place, Rest, you know, is Rapture to a weary Man and I was quite weary enough to enjoy a State of Rest for a Day or two in all its Perfection, accordingly I have Slept by the best Computation, Sixteen Hours in the four and twenty.

In the next Place for the two last Days I have been entirely free from the Persecution of the "Fidgets and Caprices, Vanity, Superstition, and Irritability," which are Supposed by Some to assault me, now and then both from within and without. This is rare Felicity indeed.

Thirdly I have been allowed the Pleasure of rambling all alone, through the Fields, Groves and Meadows, and over the lofty Mountains, of peaceful happy Braintree, that wholesome Solitude and Nurse of Sense,

Where Contemplation prunes her Ruffled Wings
And the free Soul looks down to pity kings.

Fourthly and lastly, I have enjoyed the Conversation of the amiable Portia and her little prattling Brood of Children. This is a Pleasure of which I can Say no more. Mrs. Warren can conceive it; I cannot describe it.

Now taking all these Circumstances together neither Mr.Warren nor Mr. [erased], nor Mr. any Body that I can recollect, has been in a Situation equal to mine.