Philadelphia, 29 September, 1774.
Sitting down to write you is a scene almost too tender for the state of
my nerves.
It calls up to my view the anxious, distressed state you must be in,
amidst the confusion and dangers which surround you. I long to return
and administer all the consolation in my power, but when I shall have
accomplished all the business I have to do here, I know not, and if it
should be necessary to stay here till Christmas, or longer, in order to
effect our purposes, I am determined patiently to wait.
Patience, forbearance, long-suffering, are the lessons taught here for
our province, and, at the same time, absolute and open resistance to
the new Government. I wish I could convince gentlemen of the danger or
impracticability, of this as fully as I believe it myself. The art and
address of ambassadors from a dozen belligerent powers of Europe; nay,
of a conclave of cardinals at the election of a Pope; or of the princes
in Germany at the choice of an Emperor, would not exceed the specimens
we have seen; yet the Congress all profess the same political
principles. They all profess to consider our province as suffering in
the common cause, and indeed they seem to feel for us as if for
themselves. We have had as great questions to discuss as ever engaged
the attention of men, and an infinite multitude of them.
I received a very kind letter from Deacon Palmer,[57] acquainting me
with Mr. Cranch's designs of removing to Braintree, which I approve very
much, and wish I had a house for every family in Boston, and abilities
to provide for them in the country. I submit it to you, my dear, whether
it would not be best to remove all the books and papers and furniture in
the office at Boston up to Braintree. There will be no business there
nor anywhere, I suppose, and my young friends can study there better
than in Boston, at present.
I shall be killed with kindness in this place. We go to Congress at
nine, and there we stay, most earnestly engaged in debates upon the most
abstruse mysteries of state, until three in the afternoon; then we
adjourn, and go to dine with some of the nobles of Pennsylvania at four
o'clock, and feast upon ten thousand delicacies, and sit drinking
Madeira, Claret, and Burgundy, till six or seven, and then go home
fatigued to death with business, company, and care. Yet I hold out
surprisingly.