several (at least trading) powers in Europe, forming alliances to support an independence declared many months past. But so it is. May God in his good Providence carry us safely through this difficulty, and I shall think we have gained the summit of the mountain. By the best intelligence we have the Commissioners are appointed. They are to consist of thirty-nine, three to each Colony; that they are instructed not to treat with Congress. Can they with all their negro policy be so stupid as to suppose that they will be able to avail themselves of the advantage of getting different terms from different colonies, and by that means, without any trouble but a voyage from Britain, destroy a union so formidable to the existence of that nation?

Anxiety marks every countenance. People can't account for the hesitancy they observe. While some apprehend that you are startled at the measures already taken, others wonder why the principles and dictates of common sense have not the same influence upon the enlarged minds of their superiours that they feel on their own, and none can see safety or happiness in a future connection with B[ritain], void as they are of true policy, justice or humanity. All wish to see a brisk foreign trade, that will both make us rich and safe.

I am in a poor situation to give you intelligence. I have but a very imperfect account of the military operations. The bombardment and cannonade of Boston begun on Saturday last, and our army took possession of Dorchester Hill on Monday or Tuesday night, without any difficulty, and have strongly entrenched. What is to be next I know not. I presume you will have every particular from Head quarters. Whether Howe has a design to evacuate Boston or not is to me very uncertain, but some circumstances look like it. Where he will go if he does, is equally uncertain. Can Administration, with all their stupidity, view with indifference the French force in the West Indies, or is not that true? If true, it must be important to them or us. No prizes lately taken. A ship of 300 tons from Boston to New York, mounted with the carriage guns, thirty men, some coal, 7000 cannon ball, and a few other articles, lately run on shore on the back of the Cape, the ship bilged, and everything on board taken pos

session of and secured by our people. I can give you no particular account of the three regiments for Canada from those governments, but I dare say they are gone. Every thing was favourable when I last heard. I want to hear from your fleet, their destination, success, etc. I want to hear the character, the business, etc. of the Baron de Woedke, Knight of Malta, who passed through this town in his way to Congress, with letters to Dr. Franklin,

The House have voted a bounty of £6 to those that shall inlist for two years into the two battalions to be raised here; of £3 for one year; and of thirty shillings to those who shall inlist into any of the five battalions left here. I have my doubts and fears about this measure. I fear that bounties will rise faster than money can depreciate or goods rise. I fear the displeasure of Congress, that they will be disgusted. The Board have prudently stopped it for the present. I don't know but the result will be to write to you before it goes further.

SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

PHILADA., March 8, 1776

MY DEAR SIR, I now sit down just to acknowledge the rect of your favor of the 14th. of Feby., and to mention to you a Matter which considerd in itself may appear to be of small Moment but in its effects may possibly be mischievous. I believe I may safely appeal to all the Letters which I have written to my Friends since I have been in this City to vindicate myself in affirming that I have never mentioned Mr. C., nor referred to his Conduct in any of them excepting one to my worthy Colleague Mr. A., when he was at Watertown a few Weeks ago, in which I informd him of the side Mr. C. had taken in a very interesting Debate; and then I only observd that he had a Right to give his Opinion whenever he thought himself prepard to form one. Yet I have been told it has

1 Frederick William de Woedtke. On March 16 Congress elected him to be a Brigadier General. He died, near Lake George, N.Y., in July, 1776. In the Journals of the House of Representatives (Mass.), April 2, 1776, he is described as "Chevalier del Ordre de St. Jean Jerusalem de Malta."

2 Cushing.

been industriously reported that Mr. A. and myself have been secretly writing to his Prejudice, and that our Letters have operated to his being superceded.1 So fully persuaded did some Gentlemen seem to be of the Truth of this Report, and Mr D[uer] of N.Y. in particular, whom I have heard express the warmest Affection for Mr. C., that he appeard to be surprizd to hear me contradict it. Whether this Report and a Beliefe of it inducd the Friends of Mr. C. to open a charitable Subscription in Support of his Character I am not able to say. If it was so, they ought in Justice to him to have made themselves certain of the Truth of it; for to offer Aid to the Reputation of a Gentleman without a real Necessity is surely no Advantage to it. A Letter was handed about addressd to Mr. C. The Contents I never saw. His Confidential Friends signd it; other Gentlemen at their Request also set their hands to it, perhaps with as much Indifference as a Man of Business would give a Shilling to get rid of the Importunity of a Beggar. I hear it is supposd in Watertown to be a Vote of Thanks of the Congress to Mr. C. for his eminent Services, in which his Recall is mentiond with Regrett; but this is most certainly a Mistake. The Gentlemen signd it in their private Capacity with Submission, should they not have addressd it to another person, or publishd it to the World after the Manner of other Addresses? For if they intended it to recommend Mr. C. to his own Constituents, was it not hard to oblige him to blow the Trumpet himself which they had prepard to sound his Praise. But Major Osgood is in haste; I must therefore drop this Subject for the present and conclude, affectionately yours.

JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

[No signature.]

March 21, 1776

MY DEAR SIR, I have not recd more than one Letter from you since I left you and that was a very Short one. I have written as often as I could. If you get a Sight of the New York and Phila

1 On January 18 Massachusetts had reëlected its representatives in Congress, but chose Elbridge Gerry in the place of Cushing.

delphia News Papers you will see what a mighty Question is before the Tribunal of the Public. The Decision is yet in suspence, but a Guess may be formed what it will be.

The Day before Yesterday the Committee of Observation of this City, a virtuous brave and patriotic Body of Men 100 in Number, voted with only one dissentient Voice to petition their Assembly now sitting, to repeal their deadly Instructions to their Delegates in Congress. This Assembly a few days ago, upon a Petition from the Same Committee and some other Bodies, has voted seventeen additional Members in order to make the Representation of this Province more adequate.

You will soon see a sett of Resolutions, which will please you the Continental Vessells the Provincial Vessells and Letters of Marque and Privateers will be let loose upon British Trade.1

I hope, and believe it will not be long before Trade will be open. Foreign Nations, all the World I hope, will be invited to come here, and our People permitted to go to all the World except the Dominions of him, who is adjudged to be Nerone Neronior.

I think the Utmost Encouragement must be given to Trade, and therefore We must lay no Duties at present upon Exports and Imports, nor attempt to confine our Trade to our own Bottoms or our own seamen. This for the present.

We have so much Work to do, by sea and Land, and so few Hands to do it, that We shall not be under any Necessity, nor will it be good Policy, I think, to attempt such Restrictions as yet.

The Act of Assembly here for seventeen additional Representatives will give a finishing Blow to the Quaker Interest in this City - at least to its Ascendency. It will strip it of all that unjust and unequal Power which it formerly had over the Ballance of the Province. The Tories here, attribute this Maneuvre to your Friends, to whom you are sometimes so partial. If the Charge is true, the Posterity of Pennsylvania will have cause to bless your Friends from Generation to Generation.

You can't think how much I am flattered with it. As I have the Pleasure of a particular Acquaintance and frequent friendly Conversations with several Gentlemen of this City belonging to I Journals of the Continental Congress, IV. 229.

the Committee of Observation I am inclined to hope, that a small Portion of this Merit is due to me. But I would not be too vain and proud of it.

[No signature.]

JAMES BOWDOIN TO MERCY WARREN

MIDDLEBOROUGH, March 23, 1776

I perfectly agree with you, Dear Madam, that G. Britain is in a disgraceful situation, not only with regard to what you have with great Propriety instanced in, but also in her sending Commissioners to treat with those she calls Rebels. These Commissioners are probably by this time arrived at Philadelphia, but how they can introduce with a good grace, the errand they are come upon, is difficult to conjecture. We are told they will not have anything to do with the Congress, but will treat with the Colonies seperately. If this be their plan, it requires no great share of the prophetic spirit to foretell, they will not be able to execute it; for it is not likely that any of the united Colonies will enter into a seperate treaty with them, but will undoubtedly refer them to the Congress, which represents the whole, and which for many reasons is the only suitable body to negotiate with them. The ministry have hitherto refused to acknowledge that body as the Representative of the Colonies, and do not allow that the Colonies conjunctly can legally be represented at all; and from hence, and also from the hope of gaining advantages by seperate treaties, proceeds the disinclination to treat with the Congress. But it appears likely they must bring their stomachs to it, if they mean to do anything in a way of negotiation. The Commissioners have undoubtedly a discretional power to act according as they find things circumstanced; and when they are informed of the disgraceful precipitate flight of their troops from Boston, the firmness and entirety of the union of the Colonies, and their preparedness and capacity to defend themselves, and therefore that the british troops can make no great impression, they will condescend, I imagine, to treat with the Congress. But if you should ask, Madame, how will the Congress conduct on this occasion? My answer is, extremely well; for