Philadelphia, 11 February, 1776.
Here I am again. Arrived last Thursday, in good health, although I had a
cold journey. The weather, a great part of the way, was very severe,
which prevented our making very quick progress. My companion[124] Was
agreeable and made the journey much less tedious than it would have
been.
I can form no judgment of the state of public opinions and principles
here, as yet, nor any conjectures of what an hour may bring forth.
Have been to meeting, and heard Mr. Duffield from Jeremiah ii. 17: "Hast
thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord
thy God, when He led thee by the way?" He prayed very earnestly for
Boston and New York, supposing the latter to be in danger of
destruction. I, however, am not convinced that Vandeput will fire upon
that town. It has too much Tory property to be destroyed by Tories. I
hope it will be fortified and saved. If not, the question may be asked,
"Hast thou not procured this?" etc.
To-morrow Dr. Smith is to deliver an oration in honor of the brave
Montgomery. I will send it, as soon as it is out, to you. There is a
deep anxiety, a kind of thoughtful melancholy, and in some, a lowness of
spirits approaching to despondency, prevailing through the southern
colonies, at present, very similar to what I have often observed in
Boston, particularly on the first news of the Port Bill, and last year
about this time, or a little later, when the bad news arrived which
dashed their fond hopes, with which they had deluded themselves through
the winter. In this or a similar condition we shall remain, I think,
until late in the spring, when some critical event will take place,
perhaps sooner. But the arbiter of events, the sovereign of the world,
only knows which way the torrent will be turned. Judging by experience,
by probabilities, and by all appearances, I conclude it will roll on to
dominion and glory, though the circumstances and consequences may be
bloody.
In such great changes and commotion, individuals are but atoms. It is
scarcely worth while to consider what the consequences will be to us.
What will be the effects upon present and future millions, and millions
of millions, is a question very interesting to benevolence, natural and
Christian. God grant they may, and I firmly believe they will, be happy.