Philadelphia, 28 April, 1776.
Yesterday I received two letters from you from the 7th to the 14th of
April. It gives me concern to think of the many cares you must have upon
your mind. Your reputation as a farmer, or anything else you undertake,
I dare answer for. Your partner's character as a statesman is much more
problematical.
As to my return, I have not a thought of it. Journeys of such a length
are tedious, and expensive both of time and money, neither of which is
my own. I hope to spend the next Christmas where I did the last, and
after that I hope to be relieved; for by that time, I shall have taken a
pretty good trick at helm, whether the vessel has been well steered or
not. But if my countrymen should insist upon my serving them another
year, they must let me bring my whole family with me. Indeed, I could
keep house here, with my partner, four children, and two servants, as
cheap as I maintain myself here with two horses and a servant at
lodgings.
Instead of domestic felicity, I am destined to public contentions.
Instead of rural felicity, I must reconcile myself to the smoke and
noise of a city. In the place of private peace, I must be distracted
with the vexation of developing the deep intrigues of politicians, and
must assist in conducting the arduous operations of war, and think
myself well rewarded if my private pleasure and interests are
sacrificed, as they ever have been and will be, to the happiness of
others.
You tell me our jurors refuse to serve, because the writs are issued in
the King's name. I am very glad to hear that they discover so much sense
and spirit. I learn, from another letter, that the General Court have
left out of their bills the year of his reign, and that they are making
a law that the same name shall be left out of all writs, commissions,
and all law processes. This is good news too. The same will be the case
in all the colonies, very soon.
You ask me, how I have done, the winter past. I have not enjoyed so good
health as last fall. But I have done complaining of anything. Of
ill-health I have no right to complain, because it is given me by
Heaven. Of meanness, of envy, of littleness, of ----, of ----, of ----, I
have reason and right to complain, but I have too much contempt to use
that right. There is such a mixture of folly, littleness, and knavery in
this world, that I am weary of it, and although I behold it with
unutterable contempt and indignation, yet the public good requires that
I should take no notice of it by word or by letter. And to this public
good I will conform.
You will see an account of the fleet in some of the papers I have sent
you. I give you joy of the Admiral's success. I have vanity enough to
take to myself a share in the merit of the American navy. It was always
a measure that my heart was much engaged in, and I pursued it for a long
time against the wind and tide, but at last obtained it.
Is there no way for two friendly souls to converse together although the
bodies are four hundred miles off? Yes, by letter. But I want a better
communication. I want to hear you think or to see your thoughts. The
conclusion of your letter makes my heart throb more than a cannonade
would. You bid me burn your letters. But I must forget you first. In
yours of April 14 you say you miss our friend in the conveyance of your
letters. Don't hesitate to write by the post. Seal well. Don't miss a
single post. You take it for granted that I have particular intelligence
of everything from others, but I have not. If any one wants a vote for a
commission he vouchsafes me a letter, but tells me very little news. I
have more particulars from you than any one else. Pray keep me
constantly informed what ships are in the harbor and what fortifications
are going on. I am quite impatient to hear of more vigorous measures for
fortifying Boston harbor: Not a moment should be neglected. Every man
ought to go down, as they did after the battle of Lexington, and work
until it is done. I would willingly pay half a dozen hands myself, and
subsist them, rather than it should not be done immediately. It is of
more importance than to raise corn. You say "inclosed is a prologue and
a parody," but neither was inclosed. If you did not forget it, the
letter has been opened, and the inclosures taken out. If the small-pox
spreads, run me in debt. I received, a post or two past, a letter from
your uncle at Salem, containing a most friendly and obliging invitation
to you and yours to go and have the distemper at his house if it should
spread. He has one or two in his family to have it.
The writer of "Common Sense" and "The Forester" is the same person. His
name is Paine, a gentleman about two years ago from England, a man who,
General Lee says, has genius in his eyes. The writer of "Cassandra" is
said to be Mr. James Cannon, a tutor in the Philadelphia College. "Cato"
is reported here to be Doctor Smith--a match for Brattle. The oration
was an insolent performance. A motion was made to thank the orator, and
ask a copy, but opposed with great spirit and vivacity from every part
of the room, and at last withdrawn, lest it should be rejected, as it
certainly would have been, with indignation. The orator then printed it
himself, after leaving out or altering some offensive passages. This is
one of the many irregular and extravagant characters of the age. I never
heard one single person speak well of anything about him but his
abilities, which are generally allowed to be good. The appointment of
him to make the oration was a great oversight and mistake.
The last act of Parliament has made so deep an impression upon people's
minds throughout the colonies, it is looked upon as the last stretch of
oppression, that we are hastening rapidly to great events. Governments
will be up everywhere before midsummer, and an end to royal style,
titles, and authority. Such mighty revolutions make a deep impression on
the minds of men, and set many violent passions at work. Hope, fear,
joy, sorrow, love, hatred, malice, envy, revenge, jealousy, ambition,
avarice, resentment, gratitude, and every other passion, feeling,
sentiment, principle, and imagination were never in more lively exercise
than they are now from Florida to Canada inclusively. May God in his
providence overrule the whole for the good of mankind. It requires more
serenity of temper, a deeper understanding, and more courage than fell
to the lot of Marlborough to ride in this whirlwind.