Sunday, 18 May, 1777.
I think myself very happy that not a week passes but what I receive a
letter or two, sometimes more, from you; and though they are longer in
coming than formerly, owing, I suppose, to the post being obliged to
travel farther round, yet I believe they all faithfully reach me; even
the curious conversation between Mr. Burne and your honor arrived safe,
and made me laugh very heartily.
I think before this time many of our troops must have arrived at
headquarters, for though we have been dilatory in this and the
neighboring towns, others, I hear, have done their duty better. Not an
hour in the day but what we see soldiers marching. The sure way to
prevent their distressing us here would be to have a strong army with
the General. There are a number, not more than half, I believe though,
of this town's proportion, enlisted. The rest were to be drawn at our
May meeting, but as nothing was done in that way, they concluded to try
a little longer to enlist them. The town send but one representative
this year, and that is Mr. N----s, of the middle parish. Give him his
pipe and let him laugh, he will not trouble anybody.
Phileleutheros I suppose will be chosen into the Council, since he finds
that the plan for making them lackeys and tools to the House was not so
acceptable as he expected.
"Then let me have the highest post,
Suppose it but an inch at most."
I should feel more unhappy and anxious than ever if I realized our being
again invaded by the wickedness and cruelty of our enemies. The recital
of the inhuman and brutal treatment of those poor creatures who have
fallen into their hands freezes me with horror.
'T is an observation of Bishop Butler's that they who have lost all
tenderness and fellow-feeling for others have withal contracted a
certain callousness of heart which renders them insensible to all other
satisfactions but those of the grossest kind. Our enemies have found the
truth of the observation in every instance of their conduct. Is it not
astonishing what men may at last bring themselves to by suppressing
passions and affections of the best kind, and suffering the worst to
rule over them in their full strength?
Infidelity has been a growing part of the British character for many
years. It is not so much to be wondered at that those who pay no regard
to a Supreme Being should throw off all regard to their fellow-creatures
and to those precepts and doctrines which require peace and good will to
men, and in a particular manner distinguish the followers of Him who
hath said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one towards another."
Let them reproach us ever so much for our kindness and tenderness to
those who have fallen into our hands, I hope it will never provoke us to
retaliate their cruelties. Let us put it as much as possible out of
their power to injure us, but let us keep in mind the precepts of Him
who hath commanded us to love our enemies and to exercise towards them
acts of humanity, benevolence, and kindness, even when they despitefully
use us.
And here suffer me to quote an authority which you greatly esteem, Dr.
Tillotson:--
"It is commonly said that revenge is sweet, but to a calm and
considerate mind patience and forgiveness are sweeter, and do afford a
much more rational and solid and durable pleasure than revenge. The
monuments of our mercy and goodness are a far more pleasing and
delightful spectacle than of our rage and cruelty, and no sort of
thought does usually haunt men with more terror than the reflection upon
what they have done in the way of revenge."
If our cause is just, it will be best supported by justice and
righteousness. Though we have many other crimes to answer for, that of
cruelty to our enemies is not chargeable upon Americans, and I hope
never will be. If we have erred it is upon the side of mercy; and we
have exercised so much lenity to our enemies as to endanger our friends.
But their malice and wicked designs against us have and will oblige
every State to proceed against them with more rigor. Justice and
self-preservation are duties as much incumbent upon Christians as
forgiveness and love of enemies.
Adieu. I have devoted an hour this day to you. I dare say you are not in
debt.
Ever remember with the tenderest affection one whose greatest felicity
consists in the belief of a love unabated either by years or absence.