Philadelphia, 27 April, 1777.
Your favors of April 2d and 7th I have received. The inclosed "Evening
Post" will give you some idea of the humanity of the present race of
Britons. My barber, whom I quote as often as ever I did any authority,
says "he has read histories of cruelty and he has read romances of
cruelty, but the cruelty of the British exceeds all that he ever read."
For my own part I think we cannot dwell too much on this part of their
character and conduct. It is full of important lessons. If the facts
only were known, in the utmost simplicity of narration, they would
strike every pious and humane bosom in Great Britain with horror. Every
conscience in that country is not callous, nor every heart hardened. The
plainest relation of facts would interest the sympathy and compassion of
all Europe in our favor. And it would convince every American that a
nation, so great a part of which is thus deeply depraved, can never be
again trusted with power over us. I think that not only history should
perform her office, but painting, sculpture, statuary, and poetry ought
to assist, in publishing to the world and perpetuating to posterity the
horrid deeds of our enemies. It will show the persecution we suffer in
defense of our rights; it will show the fortitude, patience,
perseverance, and magnanimity of Americans, in as strong a light as the
barbarity and impiety of Britons, in this persecuting war. Surely
impiety consists in destroying with such hellish barbarity the rational
works of the Deity, as much as in blaspheming and defying his majesty.
If there is a moral law, if there is a divine law,--and that there is,
every intelligent creature is conscious,--to trample on these laws, to
hold them in contempt and defiance, is the highest exertion of
wickedness and impiety that mortals can be guilty of. The author of
human nature, who can give it its rights, will not see it ruined, and
suffer its destroyers to escape with impunity. Divine vengeance will,
some time or other, overtake the Alberts, the Philips and Georges, the
Alvas, the Geslers, and Howes, and vindicate the wrongs of oppressed
human nature. I think that medals in gold, silver, and copper ought to
be struck in commemoration of the shocking cruelties, the brutal
barbarities, and the diabolical impieties of this war; and these should
be contrasted with the kindness, tenderness, humanity, and philanthropy
which have marked the conduct of Americans towards their prisoners. It
is remarkable that the officers and soldiers of our enemies are so
totally depraved, so completely destitute of the sentiments of
philanthropy in their own hearts, that they cannot believe that such
delicate feelings can exist in any other, and therefore have constantly
ascribed that milk and honey with which we have treated them, to fear,
cowardice, and conscious weakness. But in this they are mistaken, and
will discover their mistake too late to answer any good purpose for
them.