1To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 6 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I take the first Opportunity to acknowledg the Honor I receiv’d in a Letter sign’d by you as Chairman of a Committee of the Honorable Congress for obtaining a just and well authenticated account of the Hostilities committed by the Ministerial Troops and Navy &c., and desiring me to take some Part in this Business. You will be so good as to present my Compliments to the other Gentlemen of the...
2To 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...
3To 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...
4To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 27 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I find by your Letter of 16th. Instant that you had no Expectation of the disagreable News from Canada. Our Accounts from thence are not very perfect. According to these, A Reinforcement for Quebec came up the River before the City on 6th. of this Month. Our Army suddenly retir’d, leaving good Part at least, of Cannon Baggage, and their sick. They had determin’d it is said, in a Council of...
5To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 1 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
We are full of anxious Expectation here. Howe has sail’d from Hallifax, it is suppos’d for N. York, and is probably there before this Time, for he left the former place on 10th June as we have been inform’d by several Masters of Vessels arriv’d here. Just after receiving this Advice we were alarm’d with an Account of the Plot at N. York. The Discovery seems very fortunate, and the whole may...
6To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 15 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
It gives me high Pleasure, if my Narration of Nantasket was acceptable to you. I did not lay the least Imputation upon your Neighbors. They did all that Circumstances would allow. Canada, you know, lay much upon my Mind. I was long ago apprehensive. There was too much Neglect on all Sides of that important Quarter, and, without doubt, great Misconduct there. Pray let it be strictly examin’d,...
7To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 14 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of June 10, in Answer to mine on the Continental Currency, I have now to thank you for. Who brought it I know not, but it was never deliver’d to me till four days ago. A Number of the most sensible Gentlemen among us, with whom I have convers’d upon the Subject are fully of opinion that there is no Way they can at present think of, so effectual to promote public Credit in the...
8To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 3 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
I scratch a Line in utmost Hast—Your kind Letter I receiv’d by Mr Jackson the Day after sending one to you. Your Tickets sell rapidly. Your Loan Office will fill apace. I wrote to you, or Mr Adams on the American Navy. Manly’s Character rises here. He has sail’d to Cape Ann for some Men there and has press’d thro great Difficulties to get out—something must be done to expedit Matters in that...
9To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 29 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
I wish, with you, that N. England may not fail to furnish their Quota of the Continental Army even to a single man; but am afraid we shall not be able to accomplish it soon. Some Towns have already rais’d and sent forward their full Proportion. This has done much more, besides Manning the State Vessels and Privateers: but others are yet greatly deficient; and yet all Circum stances...
10To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 10 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
I have lately wrote you more than one Letter which I hope you have receiv’d. Howe has confess’d his Inferiority in the Field by retreating from the Jerseys, but I am sorry He has escap’d so whole. I have been in Hopes that our Army would have been strong enough to have taken some Station between Brunswick and Amboy, and to have cripled Him in his Retreat if not totally cut it off. I long for...