Philadelphia, 3 December, 1775.
My best Friend,--Yours of November 12th[118] is before me. I wish I
could write you every day, more than once, for although I have a number
of friends and many relations who are very dear to me, yet all the
friendship I have for others is far unequal to that which warms my heart
for you. The most agreeable time that I spend here is in writing to you,
and conversing with you, when I am alone. But the call of friendship and
of private affection must give place to that of duty and honor. Even
private friendship and affections require it.
I am obliged, by the nature of the service I am in, to correspond with
many gentlemen, both of the army and of the two houses of Assembly,
which takes up much of my time. How I find time to write half the
letters I do, I know not, for my whole time seems engrossed with
business. The whole Congress is taken up, almost, in different
committees, from seven to ten in the morning. From ten to four or
sometimes five, we are in Congress, and from six to ten in committees
again. I don't mention this to make you think me a man of importance,
because it is not I alone,[119] but the whole Congress is thus employed,
but to apologize for not writing to you oftener.
Indeed, I know not what to write that is worth your reading. I send you
the papers, which inform you of what is public. As to what passes in
Congress, I am tied fast by my honor to communicate nothing. I hope the
Journal of the Session will be published soon, and then you will see
what we have been about in one view, excepting what ought to be
excepted. If I could visit the coffee-houses in the evening, and the
coffee-tables of the ladies in the afternoon, I could entertain you with
many smart remarks upon dress and air, etc., and give you many sprightly
conversations, but my fate, you know, is to be moping over books and
papers all the leisure time I have, when I have any.
I hope I shall be excused from coming to Philadelphia again, at least
until other gentlemen have taken their turns. But I never will come here
again without you, if I can persuade you to come with me. Whom God has
joined together ought not to be put asunder so long, with their own
consent. We will bring master Johnny with us; you and he shall have the
small-pox here, and we will be as happy as Mr. Hancock and his lady.
Thank Abby and John for their letters, and kiss Charles and Tom for me.
John writes like a hero, glowing with ardor for his country and burning
with indignation against her enemies.
As to coming home, I have no thoughts of it; shall stay here till the
year is out, for what I know. Affairs are in a critical state, and
important steps are now taking every day, so that I could not reconcile
it to my own mind to be absent from this place at present. Nothing is
expected from the Commissioners, yet we are waiting for them in some
respects. The Tories and timids pretend to expect great things from
them. But the generality expect nothing but more insults and affronts.
Privateering is licensed, and the ports are wide open. As soon as the
resolves are printed, which will be to-morrow, I will send them.