at [Boston]--among the rest of her Cargo 10,000 Suits of Cloaths!
A most fortunate Prize for us, especially as she is said to be
the last of 8 Vessels taken bound to Quebec. However while we are
pleasing ourselves with the Acquisition we should remember that
the Want of those supplys will be a strong Stimulus to Carleton
to make an early & bold push over the Champlain in hopes of
furnishing himself at Albany; & increases the Necessity of the
Eastern States sending their Troops to Tyconderoga immediately to
supply the places of those who will return home, when the time of
their Inlistments shall expire. I have good Information from
England that a certain Captn Furze who [was] in Boston the last
year & gaind the Confidence & recd the Civilities of the People;
when he returnd gloried in the Deception & carried Intelligence
to the British Ministry, particularly of the Fortifications in &
about Boston. Some of the People may remember him. How careful
ought we to be lest while we mean only innocent Civility, we
expose our Councils & Operations to Spies.
I remain very cordially your friend,
TO MRS. ADAMS.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BALTIMORE IN MARYLAND 26 Decr 1776
MY DEAR BETSY
I have written to you once since I arrivd here, and am determind
to omit no opportunity, because I flatter myself you will at all
times be gratified in hearing from me. I am at present in good
health and am exceedingly happy in an Acquaintance with Mr Samuel
Purviance a Merchant of this Place, with whom I have indeed
before corresponded, but I never saw him till I came here. He is
a sensible, honest and friendly Man, warmly attachd to the
American Cause, and has particularly endeard himself to me by his
great Assiduity in procuring Reliefe in this part of the
Continent for the Town of Boston at a Time when her Enemies would
have starvd her by an oppressive Port bill.
Just now I receivd a Letter from my Son dated the 7th Instant; he
tells me he had very lately heard from his Sister and that she
and the rest of my Family were well. I pray God to continue your
Health and protect you in these perilous times from every kind of
Evil. The Name of the Lord, says the Scripture, is a strong
Tower, thither the Righteous flee and are Safe. Let us secure his
Favor, and he will lead us through the journey of this Life and
at length receive us to a better.
We are now informd that the People of Jersey & Pennsylvania are
in Possession of their Understanding and that they are turning
out in great Numbers to the Assistance of General Washington. Had
they done this early they would not have so deeply staind the
Reputation of America. However I shall hardly think they will do
their Duty at last if they suffer the Enemy to return without
paying dearly for the barbarous Outrages they have committed in
the Country, without Regard to Age or Sex.
Our Affairs in France & Spain wear a pleasing Aspect, but human
Affairs are ever uncertain. I have strongly recommended to my
Friends in New England to spare no Pains or Cost in preparing to
meet the Enemy early in the Spring. We have a righteous Cause,
and if we defend it as becomes us, we may expect the Blessing of
Heaven.
Remember me to my Daughter, Sister Polly & the rest of my Family
& Friends. Adieu, my dear,
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BALTIMORE Decr 30 1776
SIR
Being a Committee of Congress we are directed to employ some
suitable Person to make Application to your Honorable Board for
certain Ordnance and other Stores, which have been represented by
General Schuyler as immediately necessary for the Use of the
Northern Army. We accordingly send forward Collo Stewart, who
will lay before the Board such Stores as are wanted; which we
hope may be procurd on just and equitable Terms, and transported
with all possible Dispatch to General Schuyler, whose Receipt
will be duly acknowledgd by Congress.
We need not urge the great Importance of having our Army in that
Quarter well furnishd with every necessary Article, there being
not the least Reason to doubt of General Carletons Intentions as
early as possible to push his Forces into the Eastern States, or
of his Success in such an Attempt unless seasonably prevented.
It is therefore our earnest Request that you would afford Coll
Stuart every possible advice & assistance in the Prosecution of
this Business, and furnish him with such Money as he may have
need of for the purpose in which Case your Draft on the President
of the Congress will be duly honord.
We are with the most cordial Esteem
Sir
your most obedient
& very humble Servants
TO WALTER STEWART.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library; a portion is printed in
W. V. Wells, Life of Samuel Adams, vol. ii., pp. 450, 451.]
BALTIMORE Decr 30 1776
SIR
We are a Committee of Congress1 authorizd and directed to appoint
some suitable Person to apply to Mr Livingston Owner of a Furnace
in the State of New York, and to Governor Trumbull who has the
Direction of the Furnace in the State of Connecticutt also to the
Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay, to procure such Cannon
and Ordnance Stores, as General Schuyler has represented to be
immediately necessary for the use of the Army in the Northern
Department.
We know of no one in whom we can more chearfully confide, for the
Performance of this important Business than your self; and
therefore we request you to undertake it, as Major General Gates
has assured us, that it is not inconsistent with the General
Service, or the Duty of that Station which you hold under his
immediate Command.
You have herewith a List of the Ordnance and Ordnance Stores that
are wanted; and you will be pleasd to make your first Application
to Mr Livingston for such of the Cannon and Stores as he can
furnish. You will then apply to Governor Trumbull, to be furnishd
by him with the Remainder, to be sent to General Schuyler as
early as possible this Winter.
For the Ordnance Stores we depend chiefly upon the Massachusetts
Bay; and desire you to make Application to the Council of that
State; although we would by no means restrain you in Endeavors to
procure them in New York Connecticutt or elsewhere.
We doubt not but you will provide these Necessaries with all
possible Dispatch, and at reasonable Rates; and we desire you to
give Notice to General Schuyler and to us of the Success you may
meet with in your several Applications.
We would inform you that Congress has contracted for Cannon to be
cast in this State at the Rate of Thirty Six pounds ten shillings
p Ton. And the highest price that has been given in Pennsylvania
is Forty Pounds. We desire and expect you will purchase them at
the lowest Rate you can. The Proof of the Cannon must be
according to the Woolwich Practice.
_________________________________________________________________
1The members of the committee were Adams, Lee, Harrison, Whipple
and Hayward.
TO JAMES WARREN.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BALTIMORE Decr 31. 1776
MY DEAR SIR/
I am determind to omit no Opportunity of writing to you, although
I of late very seldom receive a Favor from you. Your second
Letter I receivd a few days ago inclosing Copies of Papers from
Spain. I am much obligd to you for them. Our Affairs in Europe
look well, and additional Measures are taking here to establish
them in that Part of the World on a solid Foundation. I assure
you Business has been done since we came to this Place more to my
Safisfaction than any or every thing done before, excepting the
Declaration of Independence which should have been made
immediately after the 19th of April 75. OUR MINISTERS ABROAD are
directed to assure FOREIGN COURTS that notwithstanding the artful
& insidious Representations of the Emissaries of the British
Court to the Contrary, the Congress and People of America are
determind to maintain their Independence at all Events. This was
done before the late Success in the Jerseys, of which you will
have doubtless had Intelligence before this Letter reaches you. I
now think that Britain will soon make a most contemptible Figure
in America & Europe--but we must still make our utmost Exertions.
Pray let the Levies required of our State be raisd with all
possible Expedition. By this Conveyance you will have a
Resolution giving large Powers to General Washington for a
limited Season. It became in my opinion necessary. The Hint I
gave you some time ago, I still think very important. General
Gates arrivd here yesterday. I have conversd with him upon it. He
told me he had conceivd the Idea before and wishes the Measure
may [be] tryed. It requires Secrecy and Dispatch. Lt Coll Steward
will set off tomorrow with Directions to proceed as far as Boston
to purchase Ordnance & other Stores if they cannot be procurd
elsewhere. He is General Gates Aid de Camp & is very clev[er.] I
wish you would take Notice of him.
But I am now called off. Adieu my Friend,
Regina Azucena
razucena@gis.net
TO ARTHUR LEE.
[R. H. Lee, Life of Arthur Lee, vol. ii., pp. 225, 226; a draft
is in the Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BALTIMORE IN MARYLAND, Jan., 2d, 1777.
MY DEAR SIR,--It has been altogether from a regard to your safety
that I have restrained myself from continuing on my part that
correspondence which you was obliging enough to indulge for
several years. I know very well that your avowal of and warm
attachment to the cause of justice and truth, have rendered you
exceedingly obnoxious to the malice of the British king and his
ministers; and that a letter written by a zealous asserter of
that cause addressed to you while you was in their power, would
have brought upon you the resentment of that most cruel and
vindictive court. But I cannot omit this opportunity of writing
to you after so long a silence, to assure you that I am most
heartily engaged according to my small ability, in supporting the
rights of America and of mankind.
In my last letter to you near two years ago, I ventured to give
you my opinion that if the British troops then in Boston, should
attempt to march out in an hostile manner, it would most surely
effect a total and perpetual separation of the two countries.
This they did in a very short time; and the great event has since
taken place, sooner indeed than I expected it would, though not
so soon, in my opinion, as in justice it might, and in sound
policy, it ought. But there is a timidity in our nature which
prevents our taking a decisive part in the critical time, and
very few have fortitude enough to tell a tyrant they are
determined to be free. Our delay has been dangerous to us, yet it
has been attended with great advantage. It has afforded to the
world a proof, that oppressed and insulted as we were, we are
very willing to give Britain an opportunity of seeing herself,
and of correcting her own errors. We are now struggling in the
sharp conflict; confiding that righteous heaven will not look
with an indifferent eye upon a cause so manifestly just, and so
interesting to mankind.
You are now called to act in a still more enlarged sphere. Go on,
my friend, to exert yourself in the cause of liberty and virtue.
You have already the applause of virtuous men, and may be assured
of the smiles of heaven.
Your brother, Mr. R. H. Lee, will give you a particular account
of our affairs in America; nothing therefore remains for me to
add, but that I am your very affectionate friend,
TO JAMES WARREN.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BALTIMORE Jany 8th 1777
MY DEAR SIR
I have several times referrd you to a Hint which I gave you not
long ago, and which I have not thought prudent to repeat lest by
an Accident my Letters should be intercepted. I have still the
same opinion of the Importance of the Affair, but having spent
this Evening with General Gates and conversd with him upon that
and other Matters, we have concluded upon a more sure Way of
effecting it than the Way I proposd to you. I wish therefore if
you have already communicated it to any one of our Friends, that
you would injoyn them to close Secrecy, and that it may be even
forgot till the Event of it shall be known to the World.
I am much pleasd to find that the New England Troops have so
great a Share in the Honor of the late Action in the Jerseys.
General Gates speaks very highly of the Militia you sent him last
Fall. He applauds greatly their Zeal for the Cause and
particularly their Readiness to tarry in the Service after the
Expiration of the Term of their Inlistments in November, and
tells me he gave them an honorable Discharge. I have not the
Pleasure of knowing General Bricket but he mentions him to me as
a worthy & good officer.
We have further good Accounts from our Army which are credited
although they are not yet authenticated. I verily believe that
the Incursions of the Enemy into the Jerseys will be in the Event
much to our Advantage, and that this Campaign will end gloriously
on our side; I never will be sanguine in my Expectation for I
know the Events of War are uncertain, but there seems to be an
enterprizing Spirit in our Army which I have long wishd to see
and without which we may not expect to do great Things. The same
enterprizing Spirit also takes place here. We have done things
which I would not have flatterd my self with the least hope of
doing a Month ago. This Express will carry to the Council a
Resolution which I presume will of course be communicated to you.
In my next I will give you a very particular & good reason
why it is not communicated TO YOU in this Letter. We understand
that by the Enemies Treatment of General Lee there appears to be
a Design to consider him as a deserter & take away his Life.
Congress have directed General Washington to acquaint Howe that
if this is his Intention five of the Hessian field officers now
in our hands together with Lt Coll Campbell shall be detained &
sacrificd as an Atonement for his Blood should the Matter be
carried to that Extremity; and this Resolution will most
undoubtedly in my opinion be executed in full tale.
Adieu,
TO JOHN ADAMS.
[John Adams, Works, vol. ix., pp. 448-450.]
BALTIMORE, 9 January, 1777.
I have every day for a month past been anxiously expecting the
pleasure of seeing you here, but now begin to suspect you do not
intend to give us your assistance in person. I shall therefore do
all that lies in my power to engage your epistolary aid. You will
by every opportunity receive my letters, and, I dare say, you
will be so civil as to answer at least some of them.
I have given our friend Warren, in one of my letters to him, the
best reason I could for the sudden removal of Congress to this
place. Possibly he may have communicated it to you. I confess it
was not agreeable to my mind; but I have since altered my
opinion, because we have done more important business in three
weeks than we had done, and I believe should have done, at
Philadelphia, in six months. As you are a member of Congress, you
have a right to know all that has been done; but I dare not
commit it to paper at a time when the safe carriage of letters is
become so precarious. One thing I am very solicitous to inform
you, because I know it will give you great satisfaction. If you
recollect our conversation at New Haven, I fancy you will
understand me when I tell you, that to ONE PLACE we have added
four, and increased the number of persons from THREE to six. I
hate this dark, mysterious manner of writing, but necessity
requires it.
You have heard of the captivity of General Lee. Congress have
directed General Washington to offer six Hessian field-officers
in exchange for him. It is suspected that the enemy choose to
consider him as a deserter, bring him to trial in a court-
martial, and take his life. Assurances are ordered to be given to
General Howe, that five of those officers, together with
Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, will be detained, and all of them
receive the same measure that shall be meted to him. This
resolution will most certainly be executed.
We have this day passed a recommendation to the Council of
Massachusetts Bay of a very important nature. It will be sent by
this express to the Council, to whom I refer you for a perusal of
it.
Our affairs in France and Spain wear a promising aspect, and we
have taken measures to put them on a respectable footing in other
parts of Europe; and I flatter myself too much if we do not
succeed.
The progress of the enemy through the Jerseys has chagrined me
beyond measure; but I think we shall reap the advantage in the
end. We have already beat a part of their army at Trenton, and
the inclosed paper will give you a farther account which we
credit, though not yet authenticated. The late behavior of the
people of Jersey was owing to some of their leading men, who,
instead of directing and animating, most shamefully deserted
them. When they found a leader in the brave Colonel Ford, they
followed him with alacrity. They have been treated with savage
barbarity by the Hessians, but I believe more so by Britons.
After they have been most inhumanly used in their persons,
without regard to sex or age, and plundered of all they had,
without the least compensation, Lord Howe and his brother (now
Sir William, knight of the Bath) have condescended to offer them
protections for the free enjoyment of their effects.
You have seen the power with which General Washington is vested
for a limited time. Congress is very attentive to the northern
army, and care is taken effectually to supply it with every thing
necessary this winter for the next campaign. General Gates is
here. How shall we make him the head of that army?
We are about establishing boards of war, ordnance, navy, and
treasury, with a chamber of commerce, each of them to consist of
gentlemen who are not members of Congress. By these means, I
hope, our business will be done more systematically, speedily,
and effectually.
Great and heavy complaints have been made of abuse in the
Director-General's department in both our armies; some, I
suppose, without grounds, others with too much reason. I have no
doubt but as soon as a committee reports, which is expected this
day, both Morgan and Stringer will be removed, as I think they
ought.1
To the eighty-eight battalions ordered to be raised, sixteen are
to be added, which, with six to be raised out of the continent at
large, will make one hundred and ten, besides three thousand
horse, three regiments of artillery, and a company of engineers.
We may expect fifty or sixty thousand of the enemy in June next.
Their design will still be to subdue the obstinate States of New
England. It was the intention that Carleton should winter in
Albany, Howe in New York, and Clinton at Rhode Island, that, with
re-enforcements in the spring, they might be ready to attack New
England on all sides. I hope every possible method will be used
to quicken the new levies, and that the fortifications in the
harbor of Boston will be in complete readiness. Much will depend
upon our diligence this winter.
The attention of Congress is also turned to the southward. Forts
Pitt and Randolph are to be garrisoned, and provisions laid up
for two thousand men, six months. By the last accounts from South
Carolina, we are informed that late arrivals have supplied them
with every thing necessary for their defence.
I have written in great haste, and have time only to add, that I
am, with sincere regards to your lady and family, very cordially
your friend,
P. S. Dr. Morgan and Dr. Stringer are dismissed without any
reason assigned, which Congress could of right do, as they held
their places during pleasure. The true reason, as I take it, was
the general disgust, and the danger of the loss of an army
arising therefrom.
________________________________________________________________
1Dr. John Morgan, director general, and Dr. Samuel Stringer,
director of hospitals in the northern department, were
removed from office January 9 by the Continental Congress.
TO JAMES WARREN.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BALTIMORE Jany 16 1777
MY DEAR SIR/
We receivd by Mr Williams a Letter from the Council of
Massachusetts Bay, requesting a Sum of Money for Payment of
Bounties to the Troops to be raisd in that State. Accordingly
three hundred thousand Dollars are orderd for that Purpose, which
will be forwarded to the Paymaster as soon as it can conveniently
be done.
I observe that our Assembly have made it necessary, that three of
their Delegates should be present and concurring in Sentiment
before the Voice of our State can be taken on any Question in
Congress. I I could have wishd it had been otherwise. Only three
of your Delegates are now present. So it may happen at other
times. One of them may be sick; he may be on a Committee, or
necessarily absent on publick Business; in which Case our State
will not be effectually represented. While I am writing at the
Table, Mr Gerry is necessarily employd on the Business of the
Publick at home, and the two present cannot give the Sense of the
State upon a Matter now before Congress. Were all the three
present, one Dissentient might controul the other two so far as
to oblige them to be silent when the Question is called for.
Indeed the Assembly have increasd the Number of Delegates to
Seven. But I submit the Matter, as it becomes me, to my
Superiors.
Major Hawley and my other patriotick Fellow Laborers, Are they
alive and in Health? I have not receivd a Line from any of them
excepting my worthy Friend Mr Nathl Appleton, whose Letter I will
acknowledge to him by the first opportunity. My Friends surely
cannot think I can go through the arduous Business assignd to me
here without their Advice and Assistance. I do not know whether
you ever intend to write to me again. Assure the Major from me,
that a few more of his "BROKEN HINTS" will be of eminent Service
to me.1
You cannot imagine how much I am pleasd with the Spirit our
Assembly have discoverd. They seem to have put every Country into
Motion. This forebodes in my Mind that something great will be
done. I have not, since this Contest began, had so happy Feelings
as I now have. I begin to anticipate the Establishment of Peace
on such Terms as independent States ought to demand; and I am
even now contemplating by what Means the Virtue of my Countrymen
may be secured for Ages yet to come. Virtue, which is the Soul of
a republican Government. But future Events, I have learnd by
Experience, are uncertain; and some unlucky Circumstance may
before long take Place, which may prove sadly mortifying to me.
But no such Circumstance can deprive me of the Pleasure I enjoy,
in seeing at a Distance, the rising Glories of this new World.
Adieu my Friend. Believe me to be unfeignedly yours,
_________________________________________________________________
1Cf., page 52.
TO MRS. ADAMS.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BALTIMORE Jan 29th 1777.
MY DEAR BETSY
Yesterday I had the Pleasure of receiving two Letters from you by
the same hand, dated the 9th and 22d of December. And just now a
Letter is deliverd to me from my Friend Mr Bradford, dated the
13th of this Month, wherein I am informd that you was then in
good Health and Spirits. If you had not told me that you had
written to me Six Letters since I left Boston, I should have
suspected that you did not keep a good Look out for Expresses
which come this Way. I have now receivd only four of them. The
others may possibly have fallen into the Hands of the Lords
PROTECTORS of America. There is one Way in which you may probably
make up the Loss to me, and that is by writing oftener. I assure
you, it would not be troublesome to me to receive half a Dozen
Letters from you at one Time.
You tell me you was greatly alarmd to hear that General Howe's
Army was on the March to Philadelphia. I have long known you to
be possessd of much Fortitude of Mind. But you are a Woman, and
one must expect you will now and then discover Timidity so
natural to your Sex. I thank you, my Dear, most cordially for the
Warmth of Affection which you express on this Occasion, for your
Anxiety for my Safety and your Prayers to God for my Protection.
The Man who is conscientiously doing his Duty will ever be
protected by that Righteous and all powerful Being, and when he
has finishd his Work he will receive an ample Reward. I am not
more convincd of any thing than that it is my Duty, to oppose to
the utmost of my Ability the Designs of those who would enslave
my Country; and with Gods Assistance I am resolvd to oppose them
till their Designs are defeated or I am called to quit the Stage
of Life.