University of Virginia Library

TO JOHN ADAMS.

I received yours of July 7th, for which I heartily
thank you. It was the longest and best letter I have

had; the most leisurely, and therefore the most sentimental.
Previous to your last, I had written you
and made some complaints of you, but I will take
them all back again. Only continue your obliging
favors, whenever your time will allow you to devote
one moment to your absent Portia.

This is the 25th of July. Gage has not made any
attempts to march out since the battle at Charlestown.
Our army is restless, and wish to be doing
something to rid themselves and the land of the vermin
and locusts which infest it. Since I wrote you
last, the companies stationed upon the coast, both in
this town, Weymouth, and Hingham, were ordered
to Nantasket, to reap and bring off the grain, which
they accomplished, all except a field or two which
was not ripe; and having whaleboats, they undertook
to go to the Lighthouse and set fire to it, which
they effected in open day, and in fair sight of several
men-of-war. Upon their return, came down upon
them eight barges, one cutter, and one schooner, all
in battle array, and poured whole broad sides upon
them; but our men all reached the shore, and not
one life lost, two only slightly wounded in their legs.
They marched up a hill, and drew into order, in
hopes the marines would land; but they chose rather
to return without a land engagement, though 't is
thought they will burn the town down as soon as our
forces leave it. I had this account from Captain
Vinton, who with his company were there. These
little skirmishes seem trifling, but they serve to inure
our men, and harden them to danger. I hear the

rebels are very wroth at the destruction of the lighthouse.

There has been an offer from Gage to send the
poor of Boston to Salem by water, but not complied
with on our part; they returned for answer, they
would receive them upon the lines. Dr. Tufts saw
a letter from Deacon Newall, in which he mentions
the death of John Cotton; he says it is very sickly in
town. Every fishing vessel is now obliged to enter
and clear out, as though she was going a foreign
voyage. No inhabitant is suffered to partake, but
obliged to wait till the arrny is supplied, and then, if
one remains, they are allowed to purchase it. An
order has been given out in town, that no person
shall be seen to wipe his face with a white handkerchief.
The reason I hear is, that it is a signal of
mutiny. General Burgoyne lives in Mr. Sam Quincy's
house. A lady, who lived opposite, says she
saw raw meat cut and hacked upon her mahogany
tables, and her superb damask curtain and cushions
exposed to the rain as if they were of no value.
How much better do the Tories fare than the Whigs?
I suppose this worthy, good man was put in with all
confidence that nothing should be hurt.

I was very much pleased with General Lee's letter,[1]
and really entertained a more favorable opinion
of Burgoyne than I before had imbibed from his
speech: but a late letter from London, written to Mr.

Josiah Quincy, and, in case of his absence, to be
opened either by you or Mr. Samuel Adams, or either
of the Warrens, has left me no room to think that
he is possessed either of generosity, virtue, or humanity.
His character runs thus;

"As to Burgoyne,[2] I am not master of language
sufficient to give you a true idea of the horrible
wickedness of the man. His designs are dark; his
dissimulation of the deepest dye; for, not content
with deceiving mankind, he practises deceit on God
himself, by assuming the appearance (like Hutchinson)
of great attention to religious worship, when
every action of his life is totally abhorrent to all
ideas of true religion, virtue, or common honesty.
An abandoned, infamous gambler, of broken fortune,
and the worst and most detestable of the Bedford
gang, who are wholly bent on blood, tyranny, and
spoil, and therefore the darling favorite of our unrivalled
ruler, Lord Bute."

The character of Howe is not drawn much more
favorably, but Clinton's general character very good,
and 't is said he does not relish the service he is sent
upon. I am ready to believe this of Clinton, as I
have never heard of any speeches of his since his
arrival, nor scarcely any mention of him. That
such characters as Burgoyne and Howe should engage
in such a cause is not to be wondered at; but it

is really to be lamented, when a man, possessed of
one spark of virtue, should be drawn aside, and disgrace
himself and posterity by adding one more to
the already infamous list. I suppose you have heard
of Darby's arrival,[3] and the intelligence he brings. I
could not refrain wishing them everlasting fetters;
"the news received with some symptoms of pleasure,"
and "our friends increased," and a few more
such sugar plums. Were they suffering as we are,
could Americans sit thus coldly whilst Britons were
bleeding? How is it possible, that the love of gain
and the lust of domination should render the human
mind so callous to every principle of honor, generosity,
and benevolence?

May that day be far distant from America, when
"trade's unfeeling train," shall "usurp this land,
and dispossess the swain."

Your address meets with general approbation here;
your petitioning the King again, pleases (forgive me
if I say the timid and the weak) those persons who
were esteemed the lukewarm, and who think no
works of supererogation can be performed to Great

Britain; whilst others say you heap coals of fire
upon the heads of your enemies. You know you
are considered here as a most perfect body; if one
member is by any means rendered incapable of acting,
't is supposed the deficiency will be made up.
The query is, why your President left the Congress
so long as to make it necessary to choose another
member,—whether he declined returning to you
again?

I suppose you have a list of our Council. It was
generally thought that Gage would make an attempt
to come out either Election day, or upon the Fast;
but I could not believe we should be disturbed upon
that day. Even "the devils believe and tremble," and
I really believe they are more afraid of the Americans'
prayers than of their swords. I could not bear
to hear our inanimate old bachelor. Mrs. Cranch
and I took our chaise and went to hear Mr. Haven,
of Dedham, and we had no occasion to repent eleven
miles' ride; especially as I had the pleasure of spending
the day with my namesake and sister delegate.
Why should we not assume your titles when we give
you up our names? I found her comfortably situated
in a little country cottage, with patience, perseverance,
and fortitude for her companions, and in
better health than she has enjoyed for many months
past.

I fear General Thomas being overlooked, and
Heath placed over him, will create much uneasiness.
I know not who was to blame, but it is likely to
make a great and fatal gap in the army. If Thomas

resigns, all his officers resign; and Mr. Thomas
cannot with honor hold under Heath. The camp
will evince to every eye how good an officer he has
been; but this is out of my sphere. I only say what
others say, and what the general disposition of the
people is.

I need not say how much I want to see you, but
no one will credit my story of your returning in a
month. I hope to have the best of proofs to convince
them.

It cannot need any to convince you how sincerely