 | Letters of Mrs. Adams, |  |
TO JOHN ADAMS.
The sickness has abated here and in the neighbouring
towns. In Boston I am told it is very sickly among
the inhabitants and the soldiery. By a man, one
Haskins, who came out the day before yesterday, I
learn, that there are but about twenty-five hundred soldiers
in town. How many there are at Charlestown,
he could not tell. He had been in irons three weeks,
some malicious fellow having said that he saw him
at the battle of Lexington; but he proved that he was
not out of Boston that day, upon which he was released,
boat, under their eye, to fish. They played about
near the shore, while catching small fish, till they
thought they could possibly reach Dorchester Neck;
no sooner were they perceived attempting to escape,
than they had twenty cannons discharged at them,
but they all happily reached the shore. He says,
no language can paint the distress of the inhabitants;
most of them destitute of wood and of provisions
of every kind. The bakers say, unless they
have a new supply of wood, they cannot bake above
one fortnight longer; their biscuit are not above one
half the former size; the soldiers are obliged to do
very hard duty, and are uneasy to a great degree,
many of them declaring they will not continue much
longer in such a state, but at all hazards will escape.
The inhabitants are desperate, and contriving means
of escape. A floating battery of ours, went out two
nights ago, and rowed near the town, and then discharged
their guns. Some of the balls went into the
workhouse, some through the tents in the Common,
and one through the sign of the Lamb Tavern. He
says, it drove them all out of the Common, men,
women, and children screaming, and threw them
into the utmost distress; but, very unhappily for us,
in the discharge of one of the cannon, the ball not
being properly rammed down, it split and killed two
men, and wounded seven more, upon which they
were obliged to return. He also says, that the Tories
are much distressed about the fate of Dr. Church,
and very anxious to obtain him, and would exchange
ill usage he has received from them, that he is determined
to enlist immediately. They almost starved
him whilst lie was in irons. He says, he hopes it
will be in his power to send some of them to heaven
for mercy. They are building a fort by the hay-market,
and rending down houses for timber to do it
with. In the course of the last week, several persons
have found means to escape. One of them
says it is talked in town, that Howe will issue a proclamation,
giving liberty to all, who will not take up
arms, to depart the town, and making it death to
have any intercourse with the country afterwards.
At present it looks as if there was no likelihood
of peace; the ministry are determined to proceed at
all events; the people are already slaves, and have
neither virtue nor spirit to help themselves nor us.
The time is hastening, when George, like Richard,
may cry, "My kingdom for a horse!" and want
even that wealth to make the purchase. I hope by
degrees, we shall be inured to hardships, and become
a virtuous, valiant people, forgetting our former
luxury, and each one apply with industry and
frugality to manufactures and husbandry, till we rival
all other nations by our virtues.
I thank you for your amusing account of the Quaker;
their great stress with regard to color in their
dress, &c., is not the only ridiculous part of their
sentiments with regard to religious matters.
Betrays some secret, that throws new reproach
On life, and makes him sick of seeing more."
What are your thoughts with regard to Dr. Church?
Had you much knowledge of him? I think you had
no intimate acquaintance with him.
Some sinister intent taints all he does."
It is matter of great speculation what will be his
punishment; the people are much enraged against
him; if he is set at liberty, even after he has received
a severe punishment, I do not think he will be
safe. He will be despised and detested by every
one, and many suspicions will remain in the minds
of people in regard to our rulers; they are for supposing
this person is not sincere, and that one they
have jealousy of.
Have you any prospect of returning? I hoped to
have heard from you by the gentlemen who came
as a committee here; but they have been here a
week, and I have not any letters.
My father and sister Betsey desire to be remembered
to you. He is very disconsolate. It makes
my heart ache to see him, and I know not how to go
to the house. He said to me the other day, "Child,
I see your mother, go to what part of the house I
will." I think he has lost almost as much flesh as
if he had been sick; and Betsey, poor girl, looks
broken and worn with grief. These near connexions,
how they twist and cling about the heart, and
when torn off, draw the best blood from it.
Plucked from the wing of human vanity."
Be so good as to present my regards to Mrs. Hancock.
I hope she is very happy. Mrs. Warren
called upon me on her way to Watertown. I wish I
could as easily come to you as she can go to Watertown.
But it is my lot. In the twelve years we have
been married, I believe we have not lived together
more than six.
If you could, with any conveniency, procure me
the articles I wrote for, I should be very glad, more
especially the needles and cloth; they are in such
demand, that we are really distressed for want of
them.
Adieu. I think of nothing further to add, but that
I am, with the tenderest regard, your
| Letters of Mrs. Adams, | |