is the Effect of their own folly. The misery they are already reduced to in the Town is great, and may be seen described in the Joy of the Countenances of those who get out. By the way I have just heard that Edes has stole out. I wish his partner was with him....

I think they go on charmingly and swimmingly at [New] York. Inclosed are a Letter from Mrs. Adams, and an Extract of a Letter from Hutchinson, found among a curious Collection of Letters now in the hands of our Friends.2 I am well assured of the Authenticity of it, and send this particular Extract more because it seems to be especially calculated to be used where you are than because it shews a greater degree of Wickedness than many others.

JAMES WARREN TO MERCY WARREN

WATERTOWN, May 18, 1775

MY DEAR MERCY,- What a Letter every day! Was ever a Woman doom'd to such drudgery before to be obliged to read half a Sheet, and some times a whole one, full of Impertinence before dinner, is enough at least to take away one's Appetite; but you see I presume my wife will not complain or scold in this way, her Love for reading, or affection for her Husband will secure a welcome to his Scribbles. I had not your Letter when I wrote yesterday. You must not look for me too soon. If I do not get home on Thursday, hope I shall on Saturday or Sunday - depend on it as soon as I can. In the mean Time you will digest a System of politics, for I find you in that strain. But remember to revere our Congress, for if we have lost many good Members we have many left; and, if we

(

I Benjamin Edes (1732-1803), printer of the Boston Gazette. His partner was John Gill -1785). They had issued a paper on April 17, and their partnership was then dissolved. Edes again started it at Watertown, June 5, returned to Boston in October, 1776, and continued to print it until December, 1780. Matthews, in Collections of the Col. Soc. of Mass., IX. 444.

2 "We hear that the Letters lately wrote by Governor Hutchinson are providentially in the Hands of the People; and, when published, will astonish every one, who has not before been thoroughly sensible of the evil Designs of that Man against the Liberties of this Country." Essex Gazette, May 2, 1775. Letters of Hutchinson are in the New England Chronicle, June 8, 1775, and subsequent issues. See Familiar Letters of John Adams and his Wife, 52.

have not all the Sense and property of the province among us, we have as good a Share as commonly is in such an Assembly, it will no longer therefore do to delay a question that should have been determined 6 months ago. Nevertheless we have gone no further than an application to the Grand Congress. There is a degree of Timidity and slowness in our movements which my Soul abominates. As soon as South Carolina got the rumour of the action here, and an uncertain one too, they took Immediate possession of all the Arms and Stores belonging to the King there, drove the Men on Board the Ships and sware they shall no more set foot on shore there. At Hallifax they burnt all the Hay which Genl. Gage depended on, and had sent Transports for, and made several Attempts to Burn the Magazines and dock Yards. They are resolved that no Tory shall come in and reside in that Province. poor Dogs, where will they go and what will they do, there is no Country where a Sentiment worthy of a Man is Entertained but detests them. Turkey or Algiers may do, but their principles and Conduct are not Calculated for any part of America. The first part of your Letter shew you as cool as a Philosopher or a politician but the last as Agitated as a Modern Soldier. Oh, the horrors of a reinforcement! Let me tell you a Story. Last Saturday1 our Troops at Cambridge took into their heads to March to Charlestown. Accordingly about 4000 marched down in very good order, with a Genl.2 at their head. This movement produced a Terror in Boston hardly to be described. You may have an Idea of it if I tell you that the Genl. once gave orders to have the Guns at the Castle spiked up, but on a little recollection and some remonstrances from one of his Colonels recoverd himself and revoked his Orders. Let your Colonel's remonstrances etc. have a Similar Effect. My cold is almost well, be not Concerned for me, take care of yourself and I hope we shall both do well. The Blessing of heaven rest on you is the daily Prayer of your Affect Husband,

1 May 13. See Frothingham, Siege of Boston, 107.

JAS. WARREN

2 Putnam.

JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

PHYLADELPHIA, May 21, 1775

MY DEAR FRIEND,-I am vastly obliged to you for your Letter. It was like cold Water to a thirsty Soul. We suffer, greatly for Want of News from you and Boston.

I am very unfortunate in my Eyes and my Health. I came from Home Sick and have been so ever Since. My Eyes are so weak and dim that I can neither read, write, or see without great Pain.

Our unwieldy Body moves very slow. We shall do something in Time, but must have our own Way. We are all secret. But I can guess that an army will be posted in New York, and another in Massachusetts, at the Continental Expence.

Such a vast Multitude of Objects, civil, political, commercial and military, press and crowd upon us so fast, that We know not what to do first. The State of fifteen or sixteen Colonies, to be considered, Time must be taken.

1

Pray write me by every opportunity and intreat all my Friends to do the same every Line from you, any of you does good. One half the Group 1 is printed here, from a Copy printed in Jamaica. Pray send me a printed Copy of the whole and it will be greedily reprinted here. My friendship to the Author of it.

The Martial Spirit throughout this Province is astonishing, it arose all of a sudden, Since the News of the Battle of Lexington. Quakers and all are carried away with it. Every day in the Week Sundays not excepted they exercise, in great Numbers. The Farmer 2 is a Coll. and Jo. Reed another. Their officers, are made of the People of the first Fortune in the Place.

Uniforms and Regimentals are as thick as Bees. America will soon be in a Condition to defend itself by Land against all Mankind. [No signature.]

I Printed by James Humphreys, Jr. An edition was printed in New York by John Anderson, omitting the second and third scenes of Act II.

2 John Dickinson. Reed was lieutenant-colonel, and Mifflin, major.

JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARren

PHYLADELPHIA, May 26, 1775

DR. SIR,- The Bearers of this are two young Gentlemen from Maryland, of one of the best and first Families in that Province, one of them is a Lawyer, the other a Physician; both have independent Fortunes. Such is their Zeal in the Cause of America and Such their fellow Feeling for the People of our Province, that they are determined to Spend the Summer in our Camp in order to gain Experience and perfect themselves in the Art military. They are Soldiers already. Their Name is Hall.1 It will be of great Importance that these Gentn should be treated with the utmost Delicacy and Politeness; their Letters to their Friends will have a great Influence on the Southern Colonies.

I should take it as a favour if you would introduce these Gentlemen to all our best Friends and to the Knowledge of every Thing that can Serve the Cause.

I can not inform you of any Thing passing here that is worth knowing. I hope We shall give Satisfaction. But it must be a work of Time. I am your Friend,

JOHN ADAMS

JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

PHYLADELPHIA, June 7, 1775

DEAR SIR,We have been puzzled to discover what we ought to do with the Canadians and Indians. Several Persons have been before Congress who have lately been in the Province of Canada, particularly Mr. Brown 2 and Mr. Price, who have informed us

I Heitman gives Edward and Elihu Hall, of Maryland, as holding continental commissions.

2 John Brown, who had brought intelligence of the capture of Ticonderoga. His testimony on the disposition of the Canadians is in the Pennsylvania Packet, May 22, 1775.

3 The Journals of the Continental Congress, 11. 66, record May 27: "Information being given that there is a gentleman in town who can give the Congress a full and just account of the state of Affairs in Canada; Ordered, that he be introduced, and he was accordingly introduced." A letter " To the oppressed Inhabitants of Canada" was prepared and sent to Canada "by the gentleman just introduced." Ib., 67, 68. It was translated into French and 1000 printed by Fleury Mesplet, at Philadelphia. The Congress printed it also in English. On James Price see Codman, Arnold's Expedition to Quebec, 8.

that the French are not unfriendly to us. And by all that we can learn of the Indians they intend to be neutral.

But whether We should march into Canada with an Army Sufficient to break the Power of Governor Carlton, to overawe the Indians, and to protect the French, has been a great Question.1 It seems to be the general Conclusion that it is best to go, if We can be assured that the Canadians will be pleased with it and join. The Nations of Indians inhabiting the Frontiers of the Colonies are numerous and warlike. They seem disposed to Neutrality. None have as yet taken up the Hatchet against us; and We have not obtained any certain Evidence that either Carlton or Johnson have directly attempted to persuade them to take up the Hatchet. Some Suspicious Circumstances there are.

The Indians are known to conduct their Wars so entirely without Faith and Humanity, that it will bring eternal Infamy on the Ministry throughout all Europe if they should excite these Savages to War. The French disgraced themselves last War by employing them. To let loose these blood Hounds to scalp Men and to butcher Women and Children is horrid. Still it [is] Such kind of Humanity and Policy as we have experienced from the Ministry.

JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

PHYLADELPHIA, June 10, 1775 DR. SIR, I have written a few lines to Dr. Warren to whom

I refer you.

It is of vast Importance that the officers of our Army should be impressed with the absolute Necessity of Cleanliness, to preserve the Health of their Men. Cleanness is one of the three Cardinal Virtues of a Soldier, as Activity and Sobriety are the other two. They should be encouraged to go into Water frequently, to keep their Linen washed and their Beds clean, and should be continually exercised in the manual and Maneuvres.

General Lee, has an Opinion of Burgoine, Clinton and How.

1 On June 1 the Continental Congress resolved, “that no expedition or incursion ought to be undertaken or made, by any colony, or body of colonists, against or into Canada." Journals of the Continental Congress, 11. 75.