Philadelphia, 7 October, 1774.
I thank you for all your kind favors. I wish I could write to you much
oftener than I do. I wish I could write to you a dozen letters every
day. But the business before me is so arduous, and takes up my time so
entirely, that I cannot write oftener. I had the characters and tempers,
the principles and views, of fifty gentlemen, total strangers to me, to
study, and the trade, policy, and whole interest of a dozen provinces to
learn, when I came here. I have multitudes of pamphlets, newspapers, and
private letters to read. I have numberless plans of policy and many
arguments to consider. I have many visits to make and receive, much
ceremony to endure, which cannot be avoided, which, you know, I hate.
There is a great spirit in the Congress. But our people must be
peaceable. Let them exercise every day in the week if they will, the
more the better. Let them furnish themselves with artillery, arms, and
ammunition. Let them follow the maxim which you say they have adopted,
"In times of peace prepare for war." But let them avoid war _if
possible_--_if possible_, I say.
Mr. Revere will bring you the doings of the Congress, who are now all
around me, debating what advice to give to Boston and the Massachusetts
Bay.
We are all well; hope our family is so. Remember me to them all. I have
advised you before to remove my office from Boston to Braintree. It is
now, I think, absolutely necessary. Let the best care be taken of all
books and papers. Tell all my clerks to mind their books and study hard,
for their country will stand in need of able counselors. I must give you
a general license to make my compliments to all my friends and
acquaintances. I have not time to name them particularly. I wish they
would all write to me. If they leave letters at Edes and Gill's, they
will soon be sent to me.
I long to be at home, but I cannot say when. I will never leave the
Congress until it rises, and when it will rise, I cannot say. And
indeed I cannot say but we are better here than anywhere. We have fine
opportunities to serve Boston and Massachusetts, by acquainting the
whole continent with the true state of them. Our residence here greatly
serves the cause. The spirit and principles of liberty here are greatly
cherished by our presence and conversation. The elections of last week
prove this. Mr. Dickinson was chosen, almost unanimously, a
representative of the county. The broad-brims began an opposition to
your friend, Mr. Mifflin, because he was too warm in the cause. This
instantly alarmed the friends of liberty, and ended in the election of
Mr. Mifflin by eleven hundred votes out of thirteen, and in the election
of our secretary, Mr. Charles Thomson, to be a burgess with him. This is
considered here as a most complete and decisive victory in favor of the
American cause. And it is said it will change the balance in the
legislature against Mr. Galloway, who has been supposed to sit on the
skirts of the American advocates.
Mrs. Mifflin, who is a charming Quaker girl, often inquires kindly after
your health.
Adieu, my dear wife. God bless you and yours; so wishes and prays,
without ceasing,