wise preceptor by the Choice of Subjects, might in every branch of Literature inspire the young mind with the love of God and his Country, and make that, Recreation which is too often considered and dreaded as a Task. I doubt not many a Genius hath been spoiled by being obliged to trudge on thro the dull round of stated exercises, and faulted if nature forces to an excentric motion.

You discover your love to dear N England in all you do or write: partiality here perhaps may be a Virtue: but to ascribe the happy Cause of American Independence to NE only, is with me a doubt. I also dearly love my Country, and tho I feel too great a partiality for her, yet the heroes and Statesmen, S° Caro: and Virginia have furnished for the Field and the Cabinet, lead me to believe their Constituents are inspired with the same glorious Spirit.

You ask me, whether a Nation may not be independent and at the same time bound in the strongest Fetters of Slavery. There was a time at the beginning of this bloody Contest when I trembled for my Country, fearing, whether free or bound, we should all turn Sots. The Vice is altered, The man's the same, and unless heaven interpose we shall all turn Sharpers, and tho free in a political, yet in a moral Sense, Slaves to the worst of passion, Covetiousness. What follows is between me and thee, and friendship must apologize for what is imprudent or otherwise amiss. I most sincerely value you as my Friend, but as much as I value you my Country lies nearer my heart, and I greatly fear the differences now subsisting between you and your once worthy Friend M Hancock] may greatly hurt her interest: the Effects are already visible; the enemies of America triumph in the Strife and are taking every measure to encrease the Flame. The Friends of their Country cannot stand by idle Spectators; they see the encreasing Contest with weeping eyes and aching hearts, & wish a Reconciliation. Permit me my Friend to attempt (however inadequate to the Task) a Restoration of friendship between two who once were dear to each other, and who now perhaps from mistakes and misapprehensions seem so distant.

It was an excellent Observation of Luther, between whom and Calvin a breach once happened, Calvin, says he, was first in the Transgression, but I glory in being first in the Reconciliation. Here was discoverable true greatness of Mind, and we have the evidence of Inspiration, that he who conquers himself is greater than he who taketh a city. I am sure, from your Soul, you detest the modern notions of honor, and pray, my dear Sir, tell me where lies the difference, but in degree, between him who settles a Dispute by a Sword or pistol and the man who but nurses an unfriendly sentiment against his brother: this temper you much dislike in another, why will you suffer a moment in your own bosom? The dear Master, who you now love was first in

the Reconciliation and hath forgiven you; "go thou and do likewise" let his precept, let his dear example force you to a reconciliation; let the Cry of the Widow and Fatherless throughout America, who dearly love and honor you both; let the dear Country plead the necessitylet every argument drawn from Calvary to the least Aceldama in America be urged to unite in Friendship, two Gentlemen, upon whose reconciliation so much good to the Country depends.

You are both men and must both die and, then, if not till then, this must be the Work, or the pillow of death will be uneasy. I could use a thousand arguments and point out as many motives, but words are needless; your own good sense can supply more and of more Cogency than my Invention can furnish.

Did I not remember I was writing to one who I believe to be a follower of the meek and lowly Savior, I should fear this unaccustomd freedom would dissolve a Friendship, I most highly prize, but as I trust the Friendship is mutual, I will believe you will receive it as it is really designed an Instance of the sincere Esteem and regard with which I am Yr most sincre (tho perhaps weak) Frd and Ser.1

ADAMS TO SAVAGE.

BOSTON, Nov. 29, 1785.

MY DEAR FRIEND, Being from an intimate Acquaintance assured that you are a Friend to men of real Merit, give me Leave to recommend to you Sam' Barret Esq', who is desirous of being appointed Clerk of the Sessions and of the Common Pleas in your County. His good Character you well know. He has met with repeated singular Misfortunes during the late War and since. From his Representation, of the Truth of which I cannot doubt, he has conducted himself with Candour, Judgment, and Integrity. If it be not inconsistent with your own upright Views, you will oblige me by favouring his Wishes. I am affectionately Your Friend.

Dr. GREEN communicated the following note:

I have received from Mr. J. H. Morse, of San Francisco, for the Society, an interesting relic of former times. It is a ticket which entitles J. F. Fellows to a free pass for three months on the Winnisimmet Ferry between Chelsea and Boston. It reads as follows:

1 Adams's reply is in Wells, "Life and Public Services of Samuel Adams," III. 56.

WINNISIMMET FERRY.

No.

CHELSEA, Oct. 1 1845

This Ticket Entitles Mr. J. F. Fellows and the persons whose names are hereupon endorsed, to pass in the Steam Boats whenever they run between Boston and Chelsea, for a term beginning at this date, and ending Jany, 1846

Not Transferable.

[Endorsed] Miss Fellows.

D. W. SMITH Cashier.

Sixty-five years ago Chelsea was a village of five thousand inhabitants, and to-day, together with the towns of Revere and Winthrop set off from its territory, it has a population of sixty thousand persons. What interested me especially in the ticket was the fact that more than sixty years ago I knew Mr. John F. Fellows, who at that time lived in Chelsea and was connected with "The Boston Daily Atlas."

Colonel T. W. HIGGINSON submitted a series of war letters, extracts from which were, in his absence, read by Dr. E. H. Hall. These were private letters, written to his daughter by Dr. Seth Rogers, Surgeon of the First South Carolina Volunteers under Colonel Higginson in 1862-64, a regiment of that name enlisted under Brigadier General Rufus Saxton, Military Governor of the Department of the South. This regiment (renumbered in February, 1864, the thirty-third United States Colored Infantry under an alphabetical arrangement) was lately pronounced by the "Association of the Graduates of West Point" to have been "the first regiment of colored troops ever formed and enlisted into the service of the United States." The first Massachusetts colored regiment, Colonel Shaw's, was some months later; and it is to be remembered that the entire number of colored troops enlisted during the Civil War was 186,107, by official announcement.

...

A SURGEON'S WAR LETTERS.

CAMP SAXTON, BEAUFORT, S. C.
December 27, 1862.

There is a little more of solid reality in this work of camp-life than I have found in any previous experience. You remember my delight in the life of ship surgeon, when I had three hundred and fifty of the lowest Irish to care for. Multiply that delight by ten and you will approximate to what I get among these children of the tropics. A more childlike, jovial, devotional, musical, shrewd, amusing set of beings never lived. Be true to them and they will be devoted to you. I leave all my things in tent unguarded and at loose ends, as I could never think of doing in a white regiment, and if I ever lose anything you shall be informed. Their religious devotion is more natural than any I ever witnessed. At this moment the air is full of melody from the tents, of prayer and hymns, mingled with the hearty yah, yah, of the playful outsiders.

Last night I had too many business letters to get off in today's mail to allow me time for writing half of what I wished, and since then I have lived so long that much has been lost in the ages. I want, once for all, to say that Col. H. is splendid - pardon the McClellan word, beyond even my anticipation, which, you know, has for years been quite exalted. I stood by General [Rufus] Saxton, who is a West Pointer, the other night, witnessing the dress parade, and was delighted to hear him say that he knew of no other man who could have magically brought these blacks under the military discipline that makes our camp one of the most enviable. Should we by possibility ever increase to a brigade I can already foresee that our good Colonel is destined to be the Brigadier General.

I am about selecting my orderly from among the privates, and just now a Lieutenant brought little "Charlie" before me: a boy of fourteen or fifteen, who saw his master shot at Hilton Head without weeping over it; who had some of his own teeth knocked out at the same time. He has always taken care of his master and knows so many things that I shall probably avail myself of his bright eyes and willing hands. We have had an old uncle "Tiff," whom I should take if I had the time and strength to wait upon him when he should get too tired to wait upon me. He is a dear old man who prays day and night. I have forgotten whether I have written that the mocking-bird sings by day and the cricket by night. To me it is South America over again. The live oak grows to enormous size. Today I made thirty of my longest paces across the diameter of the branches of one of thes

handsome trees. The beautiful gray moss pendent everywhere from its branches gave the most decided impression of fatherliness and age. Col. H. kindly invited James and me to mess with him and the adjutant. Thus we have a pleasant little table under the supervision of "William and Hattie," in an old home just outside the camp. I am yet sharing the young captain's tent, but in a day or two shall have my own pitched. . . . We are not more than fifty rods from the shore. Our landing is remarkable for its old fort, built of shells and cement in 16- by Jean Paul de la Ribaudière. Its preservation is almost equal to monuments perpetuated by Roman cement.

The chance for wild game here is excellent, and in anticipation I enjoy it much, while in reality I doubt whether I shall ever find time for such recreation, and actual profit to our stomachs. It is not very easy for us to get fresh meat here, but we shall not suffer, because oysters are plentiful and fresh.

Our Chaplain is a great worker, and has a good influence over the soldiers I presume Mr. Wasson knows him, - Mr. [James H.] Fowler, who was not long ago at Cambridge.

My first assistant surgeon is Dr. Hawks 2 of Manchester, N. H. He is a radical anti-slavery man, somewhat older than I, and has had a large medical experience and in addition has been hospital surgeon at Beaufort during several months. He has been rigidly examined by three regimental surgeons from New England, and they have given him. a very flattering certificate of qualification. I consider myself fortunate in having a man so well fitted for the place. The men and officers like him, and I fancy will take to him quite as much as to me. The second assistant is not yet decided upon, but will probably be a young man who has already been several months in the army. The hospital steward has also had experience . . .

December 31, 1862.

I examine from sixty to eighty men every morning and make prescriptions for those who need them. Doing this and visiting those in the hospital, usually keeps me busy from breakfast to dinner; after that my assistants can "see care" ordinarily of everybody till next morning. My afternoons are almost equally busy in contriving ways to keep the soldiers from getting sick, improving my hospital, etc. We have to make everything as we go on. The hospital is the upper floor of an old cotton gin building. I had the machinery moved and

1 The writer appears to have been confused in his reference. Ribault's colony of 1562 was at Port Royal Sound, in the territory then known as Florida. Two years after René de Laudonnière established himself at the mouth of St. John's River, Florida, where he was superseded by Ribault in 1565. In that year the Spaniards under Menendez wiped out the settlement. See 2 Proc., vIII. 416. 2 J. M. Hawks.