Philadelphia, Monday, 2 June, 1777.
Artillery Election! I wish I was at it or near it. Yours of the 18th
reached me this morning. The cause that letters are so long in
travelling is that there is but one post in a week, who goes from hence
to Peekskill, although there are two that go from thence to Boston.
Riding every day has made me better than I was, although I am not yet
quite well. I am determined to continue this practice, which is very
necessary for me.
I rejoice to find that the town have had the wisdom to send but one
Representative. The House last year was too numerous and unwieldy. The
expense was too great. I suppose you will have a Constitution formed
this year. Who will be the Moses, the Lycurgus, the Solon? or have you a
score or two of such? Whoever they may be, and whatever form may be
adopted, I am persuaded there is among the mass of our people a fund of
wisdom, integrity, and humanity which will preserve their happiness in a
tolerable measure.
If the enemy comes to Boston again, fly with your little ones, all of
them, to Philadelphia. But they will scarcely get to Boston this
campaign. I admire your sentiments concerning revenge. Revenge in
ancient days (you will see it through the whole Roman history) was
esteemed a generous and an heroic passion. Nothing was too good for a
friend, or too bad for an enemy. Hatred and malice without limits
against an enemy were indulged, were justified, and no cruelty was
thought unwarrantable. Our Saviour taught the immorality of revenge, and
the moral duty of forgiving injuries, and even the duty of loving
enemies. Nothing can show the amiable, the moral, the divine excellency
of these Christian doctrines in a stronger point of light than the
characters and conduct of Marius and Sylla, Caesar, Pompey, Antony, and
Augustus, among innumerable others. Retaliation we must practice in some
instances, in order to make our barbarous foes respect, in some degree,
the rights of humanity. But this will never be done without the most
palpable necessity. The apprehension of retaliation alone will restrain
them from cruelties which would disgrace savages. To omit it then would
be cruelty to ourselves, our officers and men.
We are amused here with reports of troops removing from Rhode Island,
New York, Staten Island, etc.; wagons, boats, bridges, etc., prepared;
two old Indiamen cut down into floating batteries, mounting thirty-two
guns, sent round into Delaware river, etc., etc.; but I heed it no more
than the whistling of the zephyrs. In short, I had rather they should
come to Philadelphia than not. It would purify this city of its dross.
Either the furnace of affliction would refine it of its impurities, or
it would be purged yet so as by fire. This town has been a dead weight
upon us. It would be a dead weight upon the enemy. The mules here would
plague them more than all their money.