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This letter wile b. deliverd to you by my worthy Friend fot Whipple a Delegate of the State of New Hampshire. Hei wish in may haow an

with some one

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one of Inflespie in the Mapochinitys pay upon Matter which union that State particularly. know of no one to whem. I can recommend him in this Quasion wilt mai Propriety than to yourself. The will be able to give you suct Information of Serine Things Paper in this precaring Seine, when an Acident might won the Intelligence. wrong Channel

as the would not then to thrus on

Schove by the Boston Papers bat brought to 111; that you an again plaid again plaid in the hair of the Hong of Representatives, with which I am well pleasda offr Pain Speater pro Terry. M. Stanet fist Member. of the Boston Seal and off I bushing a bouncettor at large. I have the Honor of horowing but few & your Members. I hope my frumpy men have been wise in their Slusions, and I pray God to the thin Indeavors for the Establishermal of publick Liberty Visher and Happiness.

one of the will hear before this will Movements of the bremy It has been the gennai Fpinion for some Mouths pase that Philadelphia in their Otpiel. Should they gain this Point, whil will it avail them, unless they beat our Army. This I think they will not do. My Wish is that one may beat them, because it would, in my opinion, put a glorious end to the pamparijs, & vuy probably the War. I confess I have always been so very wrong headed as out the won will plaasd, with what called the Bhatian was in Armicas. Iumui. Differences between the Seituations of the farthaginian and the British Gannals. But I have no Indponent in Military Mallow, and then for will leave the subject. to be discussed, as it contain by wittle, by those who on Mailers fil.

I cannot con dude this latter without thanking you for your fase in carrying a challer in which I was interes through the General Assembly, of which I have been in found. I wish to hear from you by one Friend MIA. Adince my Grind

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2

SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

PHILADA., June 18, 1777

MY DEAR SIR,This Letter will be delivered to you by my worthy Friend, Colo. Whipple,' a Delegate of the State of New Hampshire. He is a Gentleman of Candor, and I wish he may have an opportunity of conversing freely with some one of Influence in the Massachusetts Bay upon Matters which concern that State particularly. I know of no one to whom I can recommend him on this Occasion with more Propriety than to yourself. He will be able to give you such Information of Persons and Things as one would not chuse to throw on Paper in this precarious Time, when an Accident might turn the Intelligence into a wrong Channel.

I observe by the Boston Papers last brought to us, that you are again plac'd in the Chair of the House of Representatives, with which I am well pleased - Mr. Pain Speaker pro Temp., Mr. Hancock first Member of the Boston Seat, and Mr. T. Cushing a Councellor at large. I have the Honor of knowing but few of your Members. I hope my Countrymen have been wise in their Elections, and I pray God to bless their Endeavors for the Establishment of publick Liberty, Virtue and Happiness.

You will hear before this will reach you of the Movements of the Enemy. It has been the general Opinion for some Months past that Philadelphia is their Object. Should they gain this Point, what will it avail them, unless they beat our Army? This I think they will not do. My Wish is that our Army may beat them, because it would, in my opinion, put a glorious End to the Campaign, and very probably the War. I confess I have always been so very wrong headed as not to be over well pleased, with what is called the Fabian War in America. I conceive a great difference between the situations of the Carthaginian and the British Generals. But I have no Judgment in Military Matters, and therefore will leave the Subject to be discussed, as it certainly will be, by those who are Masters of it.

I cannot conclude this Letter without thanking you for your I William Whipple (1730-1785).

Care in carrying a Matter in which I was interested through the General Assembly, of which I have been informed by our Friend Mr. J. A. I wish to hear from you. Adieu, my Friend.

JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

S. A.

PHILADELPHIA, June 19, 1777

DEAR SIR, Yours of the 5th inst. is before me. It may be very true, that your Regiments are as full, as those of any other State; but none of yours were so early in the Field, and we must, not flatter ourselves with the Reflection that ours are as full as others. When many Daughters do virtuously, we must excell them all. We are the most powerfull State. We are so situated as to obtain the best Intelligence. We were first in this Warfare: and therefore We must take the Lead, and set the Example the others will follow.

The Armies at Ti and in the Jersies begin to be very respectable: but not one half so numerous as they ought to be. We must not remit our Exertions.

You must not decline your Appointment to the Navy Board. If you should, I know not who will succeed. Congress have passed no order for a constant Residence at Boston. No doubt the most of your Time will be taken up at Boston, but you need not renounce your Native Town and County. It is a Board of very great Importance. I hope your Commissions and Instructions will be soon forwarded. The Cause of their Delay so long is the same, I suppose, that has retarded all other marine affairs - Causes, which it would be thought inexpedient to explain.

I am very sorry to see in the Papers, the Appearance of Dissensions between the General Court and the Town of Boston, and to learn from private Letters, that there are Divisions between the Eastern and Western Part of our Commonwealth. I wish to know, the Run of the Instructions from the Towns, on the Subject of a Constitution, and whether you are in a way to frame one. Surely the longer this Measure is delayed, the more difficult it will be to accomplish. The Rage of Speculation, Improvement and Refine

ment is unbounded, and the longer it is suffered to indulge itself the wilder it will grow.

I am much mortified that our State have neglected so long, to Number their Regiments, and to send us a List of them and of all their officers. We loose one half the Reputation, that is due to us, for want of a little Method and Regularity, in Business.

We are much embarrassed here, with foreign officers.1 We have three capital Characters here, Monsr. de Coudray, General Conway, and Monsr De la Balme. These are great and learned Men. Coudray is the most promising officer in France. Coudray is an officer of Artillery, Balme of Cavalry, and Conway of Infantry. Coudray has cost us dear, his Terms are very high, but he has done us such essential service in France, and his Interest is so great and so near the Throne, that it would be impolitick, not to avail ourselves of him.

I live here at an Expence, that will astonish my Constituents, and expose me, I fear to Reflections. I spend nothing myself, I keep no Company, and I live as simply, as any Member of your Houses, without Exception. But my Horses are eating their Heads off, and my own and servants Board are beyond any Thing you can concieve. I would have sold my Horses and sent home my servant, but we have been every Moment in Expectation of the Enemy to this Town, which would oblige me to move and in that Case such Confution would take Place, and such a Demand for Horses to remove Families and Effects into the Country, that I should not be able to obtain one to ride fifty Miles for Love nor Money.

I have not made, and I can't make an exact Computation; but I don't believe, my bare Expences, here, if I should stay with my servant and Horses the whole year will amount to less than two Thousand Dollars. If my Constituents are startled at this, I can not help it, they must recall me.

We are in hourly Expec[ta]tion of momentous Intelligence, from every Quarter. Heaven grant it may be prosperous and pleasing. [No signature.]

I Washington had complained of the demands made by these officers. See Writings of Washington (Ford), v. 369, 403; Ballagh, Letters of Richard Henry Lee, 1. 293.