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that declaration should therefore be Explicitly made first and these following would have Evinced our determination to act such a part as would Intitle us to the Confidence of other Nations. I hope, however, the wisdom of Congress will steer things in such a Channel as at least to make a diversion in our favour in Europe. surely the favourable Opportunity the Enemies of Britain have while their strength is thus Employed abroad in the ridiculous manner it is will not fail to be Embraced. Our Eyes are upon Heaven and you. what shall I say to you about your dear Colony. Things look rather dull and gloomy here. The Troops left here are too few in my Opinion and want that Animation necessary to make them serviceable. in Consequence of it little has been done, I mean Comparatively, to fortify the Town of Boston. six weeks are elapsed and not so much done as you would have Expected in two. however, they are now in a way to do something. Fort Hill in a tolerable state of defence; some very good works at Charlestown, Dorchester, and others going on at Castle Island. to aid this Business we have been obliged to call in some six Coast men, to Hire others by the month, and to order a Regiment of 728 men to be raised. this last goes on heavily. what the reasons are I am not able to say, but it alarms me much to find this Colony already Involved in any difficulty to raise one Regiment, when I think the Encouragement is good. our Politicians in General Court have been Engaged too much in small Innovations of our Internal Police, such as Confession Bills, Fee Bills, etc., which do not relate to the grand Question, which is Extensive enough to Employ the most Enlarged Genius and Employ all our Time. is not this like picking up pins while the Ship is sinking. thus far have I wrote, but was Interrupted by Company. shall be able to add only.

May 3d. This Morning 3 0 Clock I was called up by an Express who brought the Inclosed. the hurry this occasions will save you a longer letter. I always Apprehended they would not leave Boston. you will be able to make your own Judgment on this matter, and I dare say the Congress will Conduct on this Occasion with their usual Wisdom. I presume as soon as the Court can be Collected this morning they will send Expresses to General Washington, etc., perhaps not to Congress, supposeing you will have it from him.1 I am Dear Sir with proper regards to all Friends yours sincerely.

[No signature.]

I believe you will want a Paymaster in your Eastern department. I am sure you want money here. Your Service is much Injured by the Soldiers not haveing their pay according to Engagements. I am Concerned for the 1 Writings of Washington (Ford), IV. 67n.

publick Credit and I am sure it is good policy to have your Bills in as many hands as they are due to.

JAMES WARREN TO SAMUEL ADAMS

1

BOSTON, August 15, 1776

MY DEAR SIR, I have not wrote to you since you have been a Member of a free and Independent State. I must, therefore, first Congratulate you on an Event which, I presume, is as agreeable to you as any that could take place. I wish you may live and Enjoy it in full health many Years. I want to know what you are about now. how goes on the Confederation, foreign Alliances and some other great matters. I seem to think that they will (now your declaration is made) go on more smoothly than before. I wish I could give you anything of Consequence from here, but what you are already informed of. Our Attention is turned to the Motions of the Armies at New York and we are with anxious Solicitude every day Expecting great Events. I hope when they come they will be favourable to us.

The Spirit of Privateering prevails here greatly. the Success of those that have before Engaged in that Business has been sufficient to make a whole Country privateering mad. many kinds of West india Goods that we used to be told we should suffer for want of, are now plentier and cheaper than I have known them for many Years.

An Opinion prevails here, and I think now without foundation, that the Hessians will not fight till a Carteel for the Exchange of Prisoners is settled. would it not therefore be Excellent policy to refuse to settle one that should Include them. You will have heard of the Reception and polite Treatment Lord Howe gave Mr. Tracey when he went on Board his Ship to get an Exchange of Prisoners, for the purpose of geting his Brother and Crew from Hallifax.2 he must have had some views more than politeness or Benevolence dictated, or he never would have Conversed with him as he did. it was really a piece of finesse. I am not in a Condition to write this Morning nor should I have done it, but after so long a silence to tell you that my Esteem and regard for my Friend Mr. Adams is as great as ever and to Express my Concern for your Health. I am sorry to hear it is declineing, tho I cant wonder at it. such long and Intense Application in a place so unhealthy must be too much for a firmer

I From the Samuel Adams Papers in the New York Public Library.

2 The privateer Yankee Hero, of Newburyport, James Tracy, commander, was taken in June, 1776, by the British ship Milford. The prisoners were brought to Marblehead in December, 1776. The brother's name was Robert Tracy.

Constitution than yours. I am sensible of the Importance of your being at Congress at this time and I know the reluctance you have at leaveing your Duty there; but your health must be attended to. we shall want you again. you must therefore take a ride and Relax your Mind and Breath some of our Northern Elastic Air. Mr. Gerry is here and Intends to set out for Philadelphia on Monday next. My regards to Mr. Adams. I am your Friend,

J.W.

JAMES WARREN TO SAMUEL ADAMS 1

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1

WATERTOWN, Octr. 24th, 1776

MY DEAR SIR, I Received yours from Springfield and shall pay a proper regard to the Contents. have also spoke to Major Hawley as you desired. I believe there will be no danger of Barber's failing. since you left us we have been Engaged almost wholly about raising our Quota of Men. we have Committees gone to each Camp with great Encouragement in Addition to yours, and we have further Instructed them to Consult with the Generals and if they desired that our Militia now in the Army and Engaged to the 17th Novr. and first of December should be Continued, that they Endeavour to prevail with them to remain to the first of Feby. and to Engage them, three pounds per mo. from 17th Nov. this thing with a Representation made to Congress by a Committee, and which you will see before this reaches you, was done when we received Advice of the progress of our Enemies on the Lake and soon got a Copy of a Letter Genl. Schuyler sent to the Berkshire Committees. we have now a Committee Considering what further aid we can give the Northern Army. the Militia of Hampshire and Berkshire that have Arms are already marched. I believe we shall send up Ammunition and what Arms we have to those Counties, and provide some more men below. I hope their Career will be stoped. it would be a Misfortune indeed to have either of our Armies routed. we are this day designing to pass on a Commission for a Committee of War, who are to be vested with ample powers and Consequently may relieve the Assembly, dispatch Business and save money. we have no other News from any quarter. a few prizes are daily dropping in. it is reported that a ship with forty light Horse on Board has been taken in the Channel of England by a Salem Privateer after an Obstinate Engagement, in which the privateer lost seventeen men. we are about moveing to Boston, haveing taken the Room belonging to the County. A Committee are Enlargeing and prepareing the RepreI From the Samuel Adams Papers in the New York Public Library.

sentatives Room and say it will be finished next Tuesday. many of our Members, however, go with reluctance and it will delay it as much as possible. but these are small matters in Comparison of those which may be the Consequences of a General Action at York or Ticonderoga, and of those of forming a new Army, etc. God Grant us Success in both. I am an Enthusiast. I have full Confidence we shall succeed, tho' some things appear rather against us. I sent forward your Letter to Mrs. Adams. I hope to hear from you and of your safe Arrival at Philadelphia. I am with great Sincerity your Friend

J. W.

My regards to Mr. Gerry. I wrote to him last Sunday by the Express. Mr. Adams passed through this Town last Tuesday when the Court was setting, without seeing or being seen by any Body.

Our Naval Operations are Counteracted and discouraged by many sagacious devises of our Enemies or pretended Friends, but truly the lovers of Mammon, some of which I think should be Immediately remedied. A Vessel is sent out with orders to return directly back, or with Letters of that purpose, but designed only to shew upon a certain Occasion. She is on her arrival in the West Indies, Britain, or some such places Registered in the Name of some Person there, and then is Completely fixed [fitted]. the last is to Guard her against the British Cruisers, and if she is taken by ours, she is Claimed by the Original Owner, and the other said to be only designed for a protection against the Men of war, and to support the pretence the Orders and Letters are Advanced. by this means a very profitable Trade is Carried on to Hallifax, Newfoundland, the W. India Islands, etc., etc., and when they have been taken many of them have been [torn]. The Anxiety for the Event of the present Campaign is great. this is not to be wondered at. the Exultation and Tryumphing of the Tories is Intolerable. our want of Spirit to Crush them Contemptible; but above all the Indiscretion and Timidity of many of our Whiggs is truely ridiculous, tho' dangerous, being Calculated to aid and promote a general panic upon [any] reverse of our Affairs, a thing more [to be] dreaded than almost any thing.

JAMES WARREN TO SAMUEL ADAMS 1

MY DEAR SIR,

BOSTON, Novr. 18th, 1776 we are again set down in our Ancient and most Convenient Seat, your dear Town of Boston, where we proceed in Business 1 From the Samuel Adams Papers in the New York Public Library.

with a dispatch that Evinces the Conveniency of doing Business here, haveing done more in the week we have been here than we should have done in two at Watertown. we have chosen our delegates for the Ensuing Year. all the old ones were Chose by a great Majority and some of you almost Unanimously. to you we have added Mr. Dana and Mr. James Lovel, who we hear is arrived at the Jerseys. we have passed an Act for Reinforcing the Army in good Season to furnish 4000 men requested by Genl. Washington, if they shall be still wanted; tho' by the Intelligence we have of the retreat of the Army from Crown Point, and the rumour of the retreat of the British Army to the City of New York, we flatter ourselves this Campaign is at an End. we have formed a Board of War, with a very Extensive Commission, and appropriated to their disposition £200,000 to purchase every thing necessary to Enable us to Act vigorously the next Year. this Liberal Grant from our House, possessed of such a portion of Saveing Grace as they are, may shew how much we are in Earnest. if there be now an End of the Campaign, dont Britain make a Contemptible figure. now I have given you an Account of some of our doings shall I Enquire what your high Mightinesses are about. where is your Confederation. are your Embassadors gone, etc., etc. I wish I could Entertain you with any News of Importance but I can only tell you of prizes taken. but this is become so common that we hardly hear of them ourselves, unless they are from Europe with such Articles as we want much, and very rich besides. we have had divers such lately. A report prevails this day that Howe is Embarking his Troops, which occasions many Conjectures about the place of their destination. I forgot to tell you that this Harbour really looks Brilliant and Grand, as full of Ships as in the more flourishing State of Commerce, and all but a few armed Vessels prizes. you will please to remember that I have not a Line from you since your Arrival at Philadelphia. My regards to my good Friend Mr. Gerry. I am assuredly yours, etc.

JAMES WARREN to Samuel Adams 1

[No signature.]

BOSTON, Decr. 29th, 1776

MY DEAR SIR, Since my last I have several of your favours. that of the 4th Instant I received yesterday and one of the 12th this day by Mr. Brown. I hear there is one other in town which in my Absence has been opened by the Council and is yet in the possession of some of them and contains some matters of secrecy and Importance. why I dont 1 From the Samuel Adams Papers in the New York Public Library.

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