York, 2 July, 1774.
I have concluded to mount my horse to-morrow morning at four, and ride
to Wells to hear my old worthy, learned, ingenious friend Hemmenway,
whom I never was yet so happy as to hear. Mr. Winthrop agrees to be my
company. Wells is about fifteen miles from this place; from thence we
propose to ride after the evening service is over to Saco, _i. e._,
Biddeford, which is about thirty miles from here, which will leave us an
easy journey to Falmouth for Monday.
Mr. Winthrop tells me that he has heard the late Governor Hutchinson,
while he was Chief Justice, frequently say for seven years together,
that Salem was the most proper, convenient, and suitable place in the
province for the seat of government; that he frequently complimented the
gentlemen of Salem with the happiness and convenience of their situation
for the seat of government, and with his prophecies that it would
certainly be made such in a course of years. I mentioned this to Judge
Trowbridge, and he told me that he himself remembered to have heard him
say the same thing. I am very much mistaken if I have not heard him say
so too. And I remember I happened to be with Kent when he carried to
Judge Lynde his commission as Chief Justice, and Judge Lynde entertained
me for some time with conversation about making Salem the seat of
government, and with the probable effects of such a measure; one of
which he said would be a translation of a great part of the trade from
Boston to Salem. But he said he did not want to have troops in Salem.
Now let any one who knows these anecdotes judge who was the suggester,
planner, and promoter of this wrongheaded and iniquitous measure.
I write you this tittle-tattle, my dear, in confidence. You must keep
these letters to yourself, and communicate them with great caution and
reserve. I should advise you to put them up safe and preserve them. They
may exhibit to our posterity a kind of picture of the manners, opinions,
and principles of these times of perplexity, danger, and distress.
Deacon Sayward said at table this week in my hearing that there was but
one point in which he differed in opinion from the late Governor
Hutchinson, and that was with regard to the reality of witchcraft and
the existence of witches. The Governor, he said, would not allow there
was any such thing. The Deacon said he was loath to differ from him in
anything; he had so great a regard for him and his opinions, that he was
willing to give up almost everything rather than differ with him. But in
this he could not see with him.
Such is the cant of this artful, selfish, hypocritical man.
Pray remember me to my dear little babes, whom I long to see running to
meet me and climb up upon me under the smiles of their mother.