Braintree, 19 August, 1774.
The great distance between us makes the time appear very long to me. It
seems already a month since you left me. The great anxiety I feel for my
country, for you, and for our family renders the day tedious and the
night unpleasant. The rocks and quicksands appear upon every side. What
course you can or will take is all wrapped in the bosom of futurity.
Uncertainty and expectation leave the mind great scope. Did ever any
kingdom or state regain its liberty, when once it was invaded, without
bloodshed? I cannot think of it without horror. Yet we are told that all
the misfortunes of Sparta were occasioned by their too great solicitude
for present tranquillity, and, from an excessive love of peace, they
neglected the means of making it sure and lasting. They ought to have
reflected, says Polybius, that, "as there is nothing more desirable or
advantageous than peace, when founded in justice and honor, so there is
nothing more shameful, and at the same time more pernicious, when
attained by bad measures and purchased at the price of liberty." I have
received a most charming letter from our friend Mrs. Warren.[36] She
desires me to tell you that her best wishes attend you through your
journey, both as a friend and a patriot,--hopes you will have no
uncommon difficulties to surmount, or hostile movements to impede you,
but, if the Locrians should interrupt you, she hopes that you will
beware, that no future annals may say you chose an ambitious Philip for
your leader, who subverted the noble order of the American Amphictyons,
and built up a monarchy on the ruins of the happy institution.
I have taken a very great fondness for reading Rollin's Ancient History
since you left me. I am determined to go through with it, if possible,
in these my days of solitude.
I find great pleasure and entertainment from it, and I have persuaded
Johnny to read me a page or two every day, and hope he will, from his
desire to oblige me, entertain a fondness for it. We have had a charming
rain, which lasted twelve hours and has greatly revived the dying fruits
of the earth.
I want much to hear from you. I long impatiently to have you upon the
stage of action. The first of September, or the month of September,
perhaps, may be of as much importance to Great Britain as the Ides of
March were to Caesar. I wish you every public as well as private
blessing, and that wisdom which is profitable both for instruction and
edification, to conduct you in this difficult day. The little flock
remember papa, and kindly wish to see him; so does your most
affectionate