us to give our opinion of the Sense of Congress on the two Resolves referrd to either with or without consulting our Brethren as we should think best. I had Reasons of weight in my own Mind against requesting the formal Determination of Congress: Mr. J. A[dams] was of the same Mind. Mr. C[ushing] was of a different opinion, nor would he agree with us in writing an Answer joyntly. We therefore wrote seperately, and, if you think it worth while, you may read our Letters which I suppose are in the Council files. I intreat you my Friend to joyn with your Compatriots in our Colony, in inspiring our Assembly with publick Spirit. There are Persons not far from you who watch for Opportunities to disgrace the Colony in this Regard. I hope they will never give just occasion to say, "I cannot describe the egregious Want of publick Spirit which reigns here." It is exceedingly mortifying to me to hear such Paragraphs read. If I ever shall have the inexpressible Pleasure of conversing with you, I will candidly tell you who has written in this Stile. Thus much I can now assure you, that one at least of these Letter writers is not a mean Person.1 I have many things which I wish to say to you with Regard to the internal Police of our Colony but I have not Leisure now to write. You have Scilla and Charybdis to avoid. You cannot but be perplexd. I feel for you; you have need of the Grace of Patience and (though it has been long said that I have fallen out with the Word) I will add Prudence too. Persevere in that which your heart has ever been so warmly engagd in, the Establishment of a Government upon the Principles of Liberty, and sufficiently guarding it from future Infringements of a Tyrant. I will only add, there may be Danger of Errors on the Side of the People which may be fatal to your Designs. Adieu.

S. A.

JAMES WARREN TO JOHN ADAMS. ADAMS MSS. WATERTOWN, December 11, 1775 MY DEAR SIR,- Since my last I have not a scrip from you. Whether you intend by withholding the encouragement you used I Joseph Reed may have shown or read Washington's letter to him of November 28.

to give to get rid of the trouble of my many, long and tedious letters, I don't know. However, I am determined to write this once more at least, not out of spite and malice, but to rectify some errors I find I committed in my last, and to remove any impressions of despondency the temper I wrote in and the spirit of the letter might make. Captain Stevenson who was the bearer of it left us last Monday, and I hope will be with you this day. Since which I find I was much mistaken in the account I gave you of the progress of saltpetre in this Colony. It is certainly making in great quantities in many towns, and I believe we shall next spring have as much as we want. One man in Wrentham had a fortnight ago 50 lb., one at Sherburne about as much, Dr. Whittaker has 70 lb., Parson Whitwell 50, and in the County of Worcester great quantities are collecting. All agree that the process is as simple and easy . as making soap. Our committee at Newberry Port have succeeded with some improvements to make steadily 12 lb. a day, and as good as I ever saw. So much for saltpetre. We have assigned this afternoon to choose a committee to erect as soon as possible a powder mill at Sutton, and another at Stoughton. Several prizes have been taken in the week past, and among the rest a fine ship from London,' with coal, porter, cheese, live hogs, etc., etc.; and a large brigantine from Antigua,2 with rum, sugar, etc. All the country are now engaged in preparing to make salt petre, fixing privateers, or reinforcing the army. I suppose if the weather had been favourable twelve or thirteen privateers would have been at sea this day in quest of seven sail of ships which came out with this prize, and had similar cargoes. Commissions are making out for two privateers from Salem, two from Newbury Port, one of them to mount sixteen guns. I hear one is fixing at Plymouth, and one at Barnstable. It will be in the power of the Congress another year to command the American sea. We have here great numbers of fine vessels and seamen in abundance.

The 3000 militia called to reinforce the army are all I believe in camp, and I conjecture some hundreds more than are called for. Such was their indignation at the conduct of the Connecticut

I The Jenny, Captain Forster.

2 The Little Hannah, Robert Adams, master. Both of these prizes were taken by Manley.

troops and zeal for the cause they immediately inlisted and arrived in camp at the time set, tho' the travelling is exceeding bad. The New Hampshire troops I am told are not behind them. The small pox is broke out at Cambridge and one or two other places among those late out of Boston. I hope good care will be taken of them to prevent its spreading. The inlistments in the army go on rather better than they did. Upon the whole the hemisphere is brighter and the prospects more agreeable than they were a week ago. Our army acknowledge they have been well treated, paid and fed, and if you had not raised the pay of the officers, they could hardly have found a subject of complaint. I am sorry it was done, tho' if the soldiers were politicians they might see it was an advantage to [them]. The southern gentlemen seem to have [taken a dislike to torn] equality among us, and don't seem [to understand] that many of the soldiers are [torn] possessed of as much property, as [torn]. The people of Boston by their imprudence [torn] town so long have given us more trouble [than both] the ministerial army and navy. I don't [torn] an eighth part of our whole time since [torn] been taken up about them people, and the[y will at] last perhaps ruin us by spreading [the small pox]. What shall we do? Determine not to [receive them], they die. Just as I finished the above I received your short letter of December 5. Shall endeavour to reconcile the troops as far as I have influence to the terms you mention. The greatest difficulty, however, is about the officers' wages lately raised. Craft[s] I know is a deserving man, and fit for the office you mention. Trot I presume is by the character you give him. But what is to be done with Burbeck? He is said to be a good officer, is well esteemed at Head quarters, and is now a lieutenant colonel. Do you design there shall be two lieutenant colonels, as well as two majors in that regiment? What shall be done for our good friend Doctor Cooper? He is a staunch friend to the cause, a great sufferer, and no income to support him. Must he not be provided for in the civil list? Do devise something.

Adieu.

It is reported from Boston that they have taken one of our privateers.1 I fear it is true.

I The Washington, Captain Martindale.

[torn] it is true they have indeed got one of our [privateers, the] brigantine the General fixed from Plymouth. She [torn] double fortified six pounders, about twenty swivels [torn]. We don't know who took her, or any [torn] about it. Tis supposed she made a stout [resistance as] much firing was heard in the Bay. [I was at Head] quarters yesterday, but the General was gone [torn] not see him. I met Crafts. He says the [torn] offered him the second majority, and that a man [who was formerly his serjeant is to have the first. [He says he wo]n't accept it. Mason is the lieutenant colonel. [torn] wishes to be made barrack master and I could [torn] if it don't make a difficulty. Brewer 1 is at present appointed, and gave up his regiment for it to accomodate matters, and facilitate the new establishment. I had a vessel arrived on Monday from the West Indies. She has been at almost all the Windward Islands. The master is sensible and intelligent. . . .

SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

PHILADA., Decr. 26, 1775

MY DEAR SIR, I have receivd your obliging Letter of the 5th Instant by Fessenden for which I am very thankful to you. The present form of our Government, you tell me, is not considerd as permanent. This affords the strongest Motive to improve the Advantages of it, while it continues. May not Laws be made and Regulations established, under this Government, the salutary Effects of which the People shall be so convincd of from their own Experience, as never hereafter to suffer them to be repeald or alterd. But what other Change is expected? Certainly the People do not already hanker after the Onions and the Garlick! They cannot have so soon forgot the Tyranny of their late Governors, who, being dependent upon, and the mere Creatures of a Minister of State, and subservient to his Instructions or Inclinations have forbid them to make such Laws as would have been beneficial to them or to repeal those that were not. But, I find every where some Men, who are affraid of a free Government, lest it should be perverted and made use of as a Cloke for Licentiousness. The Fear I David Brewer, of Palmer.

of the Peoples abusing their Liberty is made an Argument against their having the Enjoyment of it; as if anything were so much to be dreaded by Mankind as Slavery. But the Bearer Mr Bromfield, of whose Departure I was not apprisd till a few Minutes past, is waiting. I can therefore say no more at present, but that I am, Your affectionate Friend, S. A.

December 27th. Mr. Bromfield who went in a Stage Coach set off yesterday before I could close my Letter. I shall therefore forward it by the Post or any other Conveyance that may next offer.

Your last Letter informd me that "the late Conduct of the 1 had weakened that Confidence and Reverence necessary to give a well disposd Government its full operation and Effects. I am sorry for it; and presume it is not to be imputed to a Fault in the Institution of that Order, but a Mistake in the Persons of whom it is composd. All men are fond of Power. It is difficult for us to be prevaild upon to believe, that we possess more than belongs to us. Even publick Bodies of Men legally constituted, are too prone to covet more Power than the Publick has judgd it safe to entrust them with. It is happy when their Power is not only subject to Controul while it is exercisd, but frequently reverts into the hands of the People, from whom it is derivd, and to whom Men in Power ought forever to be accountable. That venerable Assembly the Senate of Areopagus in Athens, whose Proceedings were so eminently upright and impartial, that, we are told, even "foreign States, when any Controversy happend among them, would voluntarily submit to their Decisions. . . not only their determinations might be called in Question and, if Need was, retracted by an Assembly of the People, but themselves too, if they exceeded the Bounds of Moderation, were lyable to account for it."

At present, our Council as well as our House of Representatives are annually elective. Thus far they are accountable to the People, as they are lyable, for Misbehavior, to be discarded. But this is not a sufficient Security to the People, unless they are themselves virtuous.

I Council?