from the Tory merchants, etc., to the sick and wounded in Boston, and some forage for the Light horse. She is carried in to Cape Ann. There are two letters from one Gamble, an officer, one to General Gage, the other to Sherriff, which tell them that they are to expect no aid to Government from there; that Carleton dare not issue his orders to the militia, supposing they could not be obeyed; that the Canadians, poisoned from New England, had got in use the damned abused word Liberty. I can't recollect the time she sailed, her bills [of] lading dated September 5, but the master says that Carlton has had no success in recruiting. He went off the night he came away, for St. Johns, with about seventy five raggamuffins, the whole posse he could collect; that there were at Quebec 10,000 barrels powder. I long for them more than turtle or pine apples. Arnold was last Monday with his detachment, sixty miles up Kennebeck, every thing as it should be. We please ourselves with fine prospects of success. I say nothing about St. Johns, etc. presuming you know as much or more about it than I do. The money arrived safe here last Fryday, and I assure you gives a new face to our affairs, which by a greater delay must have run into confusion. I thank you for your short letter; would have thanked you more if it had been longer. . ... Is it worth while to wonder that some people can't feel improprieties? However ambition and variety I think, must predominate and mark strongly the character of a man who can act such a part, if he has any sense at all. I am glad to find the Congress in such a temper. . . . I must write General Court news, and plans on foot for fixing armed Vessels, animated by our late success. . . . 1 Captain Thomas Gamble, of the 47th Regiment. 2 William Sheriff. 3 Writing to Mrs. Adams on September 27th, Warren said: "I have been detained here three weeks, expecting every minute the remainder of the money to be sent from Philadelphia. The delay is unaccountable to every one here. We are all agreed that there is some wickedness at the bottom, but know not where. It is suspected to be in one of the Treasurers, whose principles I am told would not recommend him to the place he holds." Adams MSS. The two treasurers were Michael Hillegas and George Clymer. Journals of the Continental Congress, 11. 221. JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 2, 1775 DR SIR, I believe you will have a surfeit of Letters from me, for they will be as inane as they are numerous. The Bearer of this is Major Bayard 1 a Gentleman of this City, of the Presbyterian Persuasion, of the best Character, and the clearest affections for his Country. I have received so many Civilities from him, that I could not refuse myself the Pleasure of introducing him to you. Our Obligations of Secrecy are so braced up, that I must deny myself the Pleasure of Writing Particulars. Not because some Letters have been intercepted, for notwithstanding the Versification of them, they have done good, tho they have made some People grin. This I can Say with Confidence, that the Propriety and Necessity of the Plan of Politicks so hastily delineated in them is every day, more and more confessed even by those Gentlemen who disapproved it at the Time when they were written. Be assured, I never Saw So Serious and determined a Spirit as I see now every day. The high Spirited Measures you call for will assuredly come. Languid and disastrous Campaigns are agreeable to Nobody. Young Mr. Lux desires his Compts. to you and your Lady. He is vastly pleased with his Treatment both from you and her. Remember me to her. I have Shocking Letters from her Friend at Braintree, such as have put my Phylosophy to the Tryal. I wait only for another Letter to determine whether I shall come home.2 [No signature.] SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN - PHILADA., Octob. 3, 1775 MY DEAR SIR, - I take the Liberty of recommending to your Notice Mr. Bayard, a worthy Inhabitant of this City, who with his Friend Mr. Henry intends to make a Visit to the American 1 Colonel John Bayard? N.Y. Gen. and Biog. Record, xvi. 53. 2 This refers to the two letters of Mrs. Adams of September 8 and 16, in Familiar Letters, 94, 96. Camp. They are both honest Whigs, and as such I am sure they will be duly regarded by you. This day Dr. Franklin setts off for Cambridge, being deputed by the Congress in Conjunction with Mr. Lynch of South Carolina and Coll. Harrison of Virginia to consult with the General and some Gentlemen of the four New England Colonies, concerning the most effectual Methods of continuing supporting and regulating the Continental Army. This Embassy I conjecture will be attended with great and good Consequences. The Intelligence received by the July Packett, which arrivd at New York a few days ago, has convincd some, who could not be prevaild upon to believe it before, that it is folly to supplicate a Tyrant, and that under God, our own virtuous Efforts must save us. I hope, that our Troops will before long force their Way into Boston. If such a Design should be in Contemplation I dare say you will encourage it to the utmost of your Power. Mr. Lynch is a Man of Sense and Virtue. Coll. Harrison's Character may be drawn from his Confidential Letter publishd not long ago in Madam Draper's Gazette. I hope these Gentlemen will be treated with all the Respect which is due to the publick Character they sustain. I mentiond to my valuable friend Coll. Lee (Brother of my trusty Correspondent Dr. Lee 2 of London) his going upon this Embassy. Indeed he could not have been well spared from the Congress, and therefore I was the more easily satisfied with his Objection, which was the Want of Health. You would have been exceedingly pleasd with him. In your Letter to Mr. J. A. you promise to write to me. I shall be happy in receiving your Letters by every Opportunity. If I am not much mistaken, a short time will afford you a delightful Subject to write upon. Our army must not long remain inactive. They must improve the golden Season, before the Rebels can be reinforced, which probably will be this Fall. We are expecting every Moment important News from General Schuyler. May God prosper our Designs in that Quarter. I wish you would inform me, how Affairs are carried on in General Assembly. Adieu. S. A. 1 Richard Henry Lee. 2 Arthur Lee. JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN PHILADELPHIA, Octr. 7th, 1775 DR. SIR, -The Debates and Deliberations in Congress are impenetrable Secrets; but the Conversations in the City and the Chatt of the Coffee house are free and open. Indeed I wish We were at Liberty to write freely and Speak openly upon every Subject, for their is frequently as much Knowledge derived from Conversation and Correspondence as from Solemn public Debates. A more intricate and complicated Subject never came into any Man's thoughts than the Trade of America.1 The Questions that arise when one thinks of it, are very numerous. If the Thirteen united Colonies should immediately Surcease all Trade with every Part of the World what would be the Consequence? In what manner, and to what degree, and how soon would it affect, the other Parts of the World? how would it affect G. B., Ireland, the English West India Islands, the French the Dutch the Danish, the Spanish West India Islands? how would it affect the Spanish Empire on the Continent? how would it affect the Brazills and the Portuguese Settlements in America? If it is certain that it would distress Multitudes in these Countries, does it therefore follow that it would induce any foreign Court to offer Us assistance, and to ask us for our Trade or any Part of it? If it is questionable whether foreign States would venture upon Such Steps, which would perhaps be Violations of Treaties of Peace, and certainly would light up a War in Europe, is it certain that Smugglers, by whom I mean private Adventurers belonging to foreign Nations would come here, through all the Hazards they must run? Could they be suffered to clear out for America in their own Custom houses? Would they not run the risque of Seizure from their own Custom House officers, or of Capture from their own Men of War? Would they not be liable to be visited by British Men of War, in any Part of the Ocean, and if found to have no Clearances be seized? When they arrived on any Part of the Coast of N. America would they not be seized by Brittish Cutters, I See Adams' "Notes of Debates,” October 4 and 5, in Journals of the Continental Congress, III. 476. |