481To John Adams from William Tudor, 21 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I arriv’d in this City last Monday 15th. Instant. I left Boston with much Regret, not so much because I was coming to this unfriendly Town, as because I left that defenceless, or next to it. Nothing had been done towards securing the Harbour except building a Fort on Fort Hill. The 5 Regiments left there are neither of them full, and the General Officer who commands the little Army is but...
482To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 22 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I wrote last Thursday Morning by the Post to our Friend Mr. S. Adams—to which I refer you on some Things of a public Nature. After so many Weeks Possession of this Town you would be surpriz’d to see in what a defenceless State we still remain. The Business of Fortifying has lain between Genl. Ward and a Committee of the General Court: Between them both, little or nothing has yet been done. We...
483To John Adams from Isaac Smith Sr., 22 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you, by last Weeks post, and am confirmd in my Opinion As to what I wrote you, with referance to a free trade with the Neutral Islands by the many Captures of the southern Vessells in the West Indies; two days since I saw a Master from Gaudelupe who left itt 24 days Ago and he heard of two Briggs two days before being taken One from Virginia or Maryland and the Other from Philadelphia...
484To John Adams from Horatio Gates, 23 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellent Letter of the 23d: of March, and one by Mr. Dana, are now before me. How any Mortal can entertain an Idea that Liberty, and Safety, can be secured without Independency, I have no Conception; this half Faced policy, may amuse Timid Statesmen, Treacherous Whiggs, and the Tools of Designing Scotchmen; but not one Honest, Sensible, determin’d American can be deceived by it; go on to...
485To John Adams from Benjamin Kent, 24 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
When I had the last pleasure of your company at Watertown I told you, I would write you when Our Attack upon the Kings Troops shou ld afford matter of Some importance. But alass their fears of their demerits, made em flee when no man pursued ’em, and may they eat the fruit of their doings and be fill’d with their own Devices. But to the Purpose. What in the name of Common Sense , are you...
486To John Adams from Samuel Chase, 28 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I left Ticonderoga last Wesdnesday and arrived at this Fort yesday afternoon. Our Troops were to come off the next Day, and twenty four Batteaus have already passed, and the Wind blows a fair and fresh Gale. I am afraid all our Efforts to take Quebec will prove fruitless. We met on the Lake the Letter from General Arnold to General Schuyler. I hope you will attend to every Quarter of America,...
487To John Adams from Joseph Greenleaf, 30 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
It gives me no pleasure to meddle with departments not my own. But necessity is laid upon me to inform you (for I suppose you are as yet uninform’d) That Doctr. Loyd, who stands charged with being an Associator, and an addressor to Gen. Gage, and who, perhaps tomorrow, will be under arrest in order to be examined and punished for said Crimes, That this same Dr. Loyd is imploy’d to put up...
488To John Adams from James Warren, 30 April – 1 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Were I as Ceremonious as I suppose the Ladies will be about their Tea visits, after the late Indulgence of Congress, I should hardly have taken up my pen at this time to disturb your repose, or Interrupt your Business. Are you Sensible how seldom you write to me or does it proceed from Choice or Necessity. My writeing at this Time is mearly to discharge A Duty of Friendship. I have scarcely A...
489To John Adams from John Winthrop, April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you the 5th instant by my son William who was going to Philadelphia; but as he was to stay some time at New York, being employed by Col. Warren as Paymaster, I suppose you have not yet received that letter. In it I took the liberty to request your influence, that either my brother might be appointed sole Clerk of the Superior Court; or, if it should be thought best to have two, my son...
490To John Adams from Archibald Bulloch, 1 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
As a Multiplicity of public Business prevents my revisiting Philadelphia, I have embraced an Opportunity by Major Walton of enquiring after your Welfare; and as he is capable of giving you the amplest Account of the State of this Province, I wou’d take the Liberty of introducing him to your Notice and Acquaintance. I make no Doubt but it will afford you the highest Pleasure to see one...
491To John Adams from William Gordon, 1 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
It is almost too late to congratulate you upon our regaining Boston; but I may give you joy of our not having as yet relost it. We ought by this time to have had the harbour fortified so strongly, that a fleet could not have ventured in to have insulted the town, without paying dear for it: but there has been strange not-doings. You will ask me, who is to blame? Should I answer without...
492To John Adams from William Stearns, 1 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Necessity of the present address must be my apology for making it. I am engaged as Counsel for certain Heirs at Law to a Large real Estate, and to assist them in the settlement of it. A part of it indeed falls to them as heirs by Will. About this the Contest is settled. But there is one half of the real Estate which Said heirs think was wrested from them by a Deed made by their ancestor,...
493To John Adams from Horatio Gates, 4 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 27th: of April was put into my hands by Colonel Clinton, we had much conversation together upon the Critical and political State of this Country; He thinks with You, and I; and has besides a very Uncommon share of Knowledge, and penetration; I shall endeavour to Cultivate his Friendship, and Acquaintance. The Six Regiments under General Sullivan, are Saild for Albany, with a...
494To John Adams from Isaac Smith Sr., 4 – 8 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I suppose there were some dispatches went of f yesterday to your body respecting the late News of more Troops expected. I did not think they would have been Able to have procured so many Troops. By some London papers which Cap. Lee saw on board the Vessell bound to N.F.Land, not a Transport but a Vessell that came Out with them, itt seems the Ministry have Agreed to pay the K. of Prussia his...
495To John Adams from John Sullivan, 4 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your agreeable favour of the 15th ultimo. I Delayed answering it till I could give you information how matters were Like to go in this City. Soon after I received your Letter I Sent for Colo. Sears Mr. John Smith and Some others (which I knew to be Staunch) to Spend An Evening with me that I might Converse with them upon the Subject. I was Some what at a Loss to...
496To John Adams from William Tudor, 4 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I was much oblig’d by the little Essay you sent me and more so by the Letter which accompanied it. The Plan proposed is an exceeding good System for the Government of the young and as yet uncorrupted States of America, and approaches so near the Form of the N. England late Constitutions, stript of their Inconveniences and monarchical Appendages, that I think it must be approved and soon...
497To John Adams from Joseph Ward, 5 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour of your Favour of the sixteenth of April. You observe, Sir, very justly, that every motive of self preservation, of honor, profit, and glory, call upon us to fortify this Harbour so as to be impregnable; and I hope we shall hear and obey . There has been a great clamour among many people against the Troops here because they did not go on faster with the Works, but you may be...
498To John Adams from James Warren, 8 – 9 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Since my last we have the formidable Accounts of the Exertion of the powers and Malice of Britain which I suppose have reached you by this time or will tomorrow. It is reported here that the Fleet and Army are arrived at Hallifax and are determined to Attack this Colony again. This is Confirmed by some deserters from the Ship below who say that they have heard the Officers talk of their...
499To John Adams from James Sullivan, 9 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
To intrude on one who in the greatest Political Tempest is Tyed to the helm of the Mighty Vessel of Empire, wrecked and tossed by the Whirling blasts of Despotism, must give disagreeable Sensations to one (if there is such) of less Sensibility than myself—but as the greatest Events are Swiftly impelling each other upon us, and each moment in the present being worth an age in any other Time I...
500The General Court to the Massachusetts Delegates, 9 – 10 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed you have an Account of Powder supplyed the Army lately before Boston, by this Colony. We have not been able to procure the proper Vouchers for the delivery of the whole of it to the Army, but as it was delivered on the day of the Battle at Bunker Hill and at other times of Alarm and Confusion, we trust that neglect will be excused. The Account is not supposed to contain the whole of...
501To John Adams from Richard Devens, 16 – 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I was honoured with yours of April 29. It gives me much pleasure that any inteliganc I was capable of giving respecting Salt Petre was in any degree sattisfactory. My last to you Was April 10. At that time we had taken into the Colony Store 7670 lb saltpetre. The next period for receiving it was the 23d. when we took in 4500 lb. The next time was the day before yesterday when we...
502To John Adams from Henry Knox, 16 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the honor to address you sometime ago and soon after it I sat out upon a Journey to New York Ticonderoga &c: whilst I was upon my Journey your kind Letter came to Cambridge but by some mischance it was not till lately I had the pleasure to receive it. I blush at what you must have thought of my negligence. I am much oblig’d to you for the favorable opinion you are pleas’d to...
503To John Adams from Richard Lee, 18 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed you have a printed Resolve which passed our Convention to the infinite joy of our people. The Resolve for Independency has not that peremtory and decided Air I could wish. Perhaps the proviso which reserves to this Colony the power of forming its own Government may be questionable as to its fitness. Would not a Uniform plan of Government prepared for America by the Congress and...
504To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post I received your’s of May 6th. and am not troubled at your Acceptance of the Resignation of G. W. He is, indeed, a cool prudent Man, and accepted the Post of Danger for his Country at a critical Time, when others seem’d to decline it. He is a through New England Man in his Principles and Inclinations, but not made for an high Command in the Field. I cannot wholly excuse any...
505To John Adams from William Cushing, 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Amidst the trouble of our times, I have pleasure in the thought of your being on the bench and appointed to the head of it, a place I have heretofore had a Secret imagination you were destined to, which proves in event, not an enthusiastical Chimera. Reed, Paine and Sargeant it seems, have declined: and Foster, Sullivan and Warren are appointed in their room. Col. Warren has not yet accepted,...
506To John Adams from Patrick Henry, 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favor with the pamphlet came safe to hand. I am Exceedingly obliged to you for it, and I’m not without Hopes it may produce Good here, where there is among most of our opulent Familys, a strong Byass to Aristocrasy. I tell my Friends you are the Author. Upon that Supposition I have two Reasons for liking the Book. The Sentiments are precisely the same I have long since taken up, and they...
507To John Adams from Benjamin Hichborn, 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I have felt a degree of Criminality in my long Silence, which has given me many uneasy Reflections; and yet I should have suffered more from writing. I don’t know whether my Conduct will admit of an apology; and if it should not, I should even in that Case be less unhappy than I must have been if had given no occasion to make one. Believe me Sir, it is not from a want of Friendship, affection...
508To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Our former Acquaintance contracted in early Life, and under Circumstances which Experience Shews is hardly to be effaced by Length of Time or local Distance is Sufficient Apology for calling your Attention a Moment from the Important Considerations now before you, on which the Fate of this our rising Empire depends, to the inccorect Suggestions of a Friend, on Matters he conceives of Some...
509To John Adams from Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I wrote You soon after I arrived here a Letter which I hope You received; but which you have not yet acknowledged. The many studied Embarrassments thrown in the Way of the Canada-Expedition have at last in a great Measure answered the Purpose for which I fear they were all along intended. Ever since I have seen the Inside of the Congress I have trembled. Nothing short of a radical Change in...
510To John Adams from Nathanael Greene, 26 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
The peculiar situation of American affairs renders it necessary to adopt every measure that will engage people in the service. The danger and hardships that those are subject to who engage in the service, more than those who do not, is obvious to every body which has the least Acquaintance with service, tis that which makes it so difficult to recruit. The large force that is coming against...