From John Adams to James Warren, 30 July 1775
To James Warren
Philadelphia July 30th. 1775
Dear Sir
For the Honour of the Massachusetts I have laboured in Conjunction with my Brethren to get you chosen Paymaster General, and Succeeded So well that the Choice was unanimous: But whether We did you a Kindness or a Disservice I know not. And whether you can attend it, or will incline to attend it I know not. You will consider of it however.
Pray, who do you intend to make Secretary of the Province? Has not our Friend deserved it? Is he not fit for it? Has any other Candidate So much Merit, or So good Qualifications? I hope his temporary Absence will not injure him.1
This Letter goes by my good Friend Mr. William Barrell2 a worthy Bostonian transmuted into a worthy Philadelphian; But whether you will grasp His Letter or the Hand that writes it first, Is uncertain, both about the same Time I hope.
RC (MHi:Warren-Adams Coll.); addressed: “To the Hon. James Warren Esqr. Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Massachusetts Bay Watertown favoured by Mr Barrell.” Only an unmeaningful fragment of the second page of this letter has been found, having the address on the verso.
1. Undoubtedly Samuel Adams, who was elected permanent secretary on 10 Aug., replacing Perez Morton, who served while Adams was in Philadelphia. Adams took up his duties on 15 Aug. (M-Ar:Executive Council Records, 17:16, 23, 26).
2. William Barrell (d. 1776) began business in Philadelphia, about two years before his death, as a representative of the Boston firm of Amory and Taylor. He was a brother-in-law of John Andrews, whose letters to Barrell describing Boston under siege, taken from a collection of Barrell papers in the Massachusetts Historical Society, have been published in , 1st ser., 8 (1864–1865):316–412. For a brief sketch of Barrell see same, p. 318–319.