Part 43

"Our Newspapers are remarkeable lately for more groundless Paragraphs than most others." It is true. And there are some Men who with all other political Qualities, cannot keep a political Secret. I thought it not prudent to mention it, and did not to any one; but to my great Surprize saw it in one of the Papers. It was however a great Wonder, as I was told a paragraph of one of your own Letters was either read or explaind in a large table Circle, and so it got into the Press. The Intelligence was far from being displeasing to any of your virtuous fellow Citizens, unless to those who think your Presence in Congress indispensible.

In the Hint I gave you in one of my Letters I was far from intending you should think I meant Capt Mc Neil. I am sure he is a Man of too much Honor to write the anonimous Letter the Committee receivd.

I hope the General Assembly when they come together will turn their Attention principally to the fitting up & supplying their Quota of the Army. The Council have given Colo Blaney their best Advice and he appears to be well pleasd with the Candor & Respect they have shown him.

TO THE LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

To the Honorable Council and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled.

March 9, 1780.

The petition of Samuel Adams of Boston humbly shows:--

That when the British troops were in possession of the town of Boston, in 1775, he suffered the loss of the greatest and most valuable part of his household furniture, and has since been indulged with the use of sundry articles belonging to certain absentees until the General Assembly should be pleased to otherwise order them to be disposed of.

Your petitioner prays the Honorable Court that he may be permitted to avail himself of the purchase of the said furniture at the prices that may be set upon them by good and discreet men.

And as in duty bound, he shall pray, &c.

TO JOHN ADAMS.

BOSTON March 15 1780

MY DEAR SIR/

The immediate Departure of Mr Appleton who takes the Charge of this Letter, prevents my saying to you more than a very few Words. Colo Niles informd me yesterday that your Lady & Family were well when he saw them on Saturday last. Our General Assembly began a Session the last Week. They are intent on filling up their Quota of the Army. The Convention is adjournd till the first Wednesday in June next.1 The Fabrick is not materially injurd. It is proposd that the People should state their Objections if they have any, and that the Convention shd adapt it to the General Sentiments & give it the Sanction--a New Convention to be called, if two thirds of the people shall think it expedient in the year 95 to make Alterations as Experience may dictate. Mr Appleton is the Son of our Friend the Loan Officer. I think he will not dishonor his Country abroad.

My Regards to Dr F-- Mr D-- Colo L if you see him & all Friends--Adieu my dear Friend.

1 Its address to the public is printed in W. V. Wells, Life of Samuel Adams, vol. iii., pp. 90--96

TO JAMES LOVELL.

BOSTON Mar 25 1780

MY DEAR SIR

Your Favor of the 9th was deliverd to me by Mr Brailes.... one day this Week & the Day following that of the 28 of Feb by the Post.--" New York presses Congress hard upon the Resolution, in Regard to Vermont." &c. Our Assembly in their first Letter to Congress on the Subject, expressd a Doubt whether they should be ready by the Time appointed. They immediately appointed a Come to state their Claim, consisting of three Gentle-men, two of whom viz Mr Bowdoin & Mr Lowell are not Members. The great Business of the Convention of which all the Come were Members intervened. Their Report however is expected in a very few Days. I wish this Matter could be settled to the Satisfaction of all. If there was Reason to expect that all would be satisfied with a Decision of Congress, I should think the sooner it is done the better. But the Grant People, you say, now refuse. It may be a Question then whether it wd be best to attempt a Settlement in the Time of War, and especially at a Juncture of it, when the only Object of all should be to prosecute it with their utmost united Force and Vigor. Nothing however but the Multiplicity of most pressing Affairs, has prevented this State being ready hitherto. They are in Earnest to support their Claim. They were discontented with the Decision in 1739, and I think afterwards directed their Agent Mr Bollan to manifest it to the King in Council. I will examine the Letters of that Day & make this certain to you. Ethan Allen was in this Towne last Winter, and returnd disgusted on his being informd that we were determined to support our Claim.

The Resolutions of Congress, a Sketch of which you sent to me, came to the Council by the same Conveyance. The Assembly being sitting, they were laid before them. Every practicable Measure is taking to promote the great Business of recruiting the Army & every other Essential to a vigorous Campaign. I have noticed the honest Intention of ---- without feeling any Jealousy on the Occasion. It is always my Endeavor to render the recommendations of Congress most respectable; tho I perceive, that the artful Writers in some of the Philadelphia Papers affect to hold up a Contrast between the present & the "illustrious Congress of '74"--I may be supposd

be impartial, having had the Honor of being a Member from the Beginning; and I do verily believe that in point of Understanding, Wisdom, Integrity, and Diligence in Affairs they are as respectable now as they were then. It is the Wish of Tories and Britons to make them appear little in the Eye of the World. Under God they have done Wonders. By an affectionate Union of the Members with each other, by their joynt & unwearied application to the publick Business, by Vigilance Zeal and an inflexible Independence of Spirit they will continue reverd by the Friends and dreaded by the Enemies of our Country.

I thank you for the Intelligence you inclosd, and have made a prudent Use of it, by communicating it to some of the leading members of the Assembly who are my confidential Friends. To others I have given it in my own way as Articles of my political Creed, and I think to good Effect. What do you think of Penobscott? The late Expedition,1 tho it turnd out very unfortunate, was perhaps as great an Exertion as has been made by any State since the War began. Our State must demand a reimbursement. It is more than probable that if we had succeeded we shd have had the Charge paid with thanks. And we shd have richly deserved it. Britain I doubt not considers that an important Post and so will.... if she regards her Navy.

You know that by our Charter the Crown reservd the Masts. Another Circumstance I will.... remind you of, that part of our Eastern Country was held by the Crown & the People of the Province as it were in joynt Tenancy. He could not originate the Sale of any Part of it, nor could they complete the sale without his Confirmation. Will it not be her Policy to keep Possession of that part of our Territory till Terms of Peace are proposd, that she may take occasion to say she is in Possession of her own. And will it not then be somewhat difficult for Mediator to find Arguments against her holding it? Should not Congress assist us in endeavoring to recover possession? We want Ships. If a french Squadron should again visit these Seas it is natural for a Massachusetts Man to wish, that they should make Hallifax their capital object. Probably America wd think it for her Interest if she.... that the Masts & the Fishing Ground must be the great Security of their Independence & Prosperity? We must have the reach of our arms or we shall never be able even to defend ourselves....

I declare to you I shall not feel perfectly easy till those two provinces are annexed to the United States as Nature seems to have designd, and the unmolested Right to the Fishery is secured to us. I believe my letter is become tedious to you. I will conclude with mentioning that several Persons have hinted to me the Necessity of establishing an American Consul in France. If it should be thought expedient to propose it to Congress & they should judge it proper, Mr Perez Moulton2 (whom you know) desires me to inform the Mass Delegates that he intends residing in that Country a few years & would gladly accept of that appointment.

1 Cf. Pages 154, 158 et seq.

2 Cf. Vol. iii., p. 293.

TO JOHN ADAMS.