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frequented by gentlemen in great vegetables, &c., difficult and precanumbers from the other colonies as such. Great things are in the womb of Providence, great prosperity or adversity, perhaps both, the latter first perhaps.

My love and compliments and duty where due, especially to your family, Mr. Cranch's and my own. I am your friend,

JOHN ADAMS.

To the Hon. JOSEPH PALMER, of the committee of safety.

Cambridge, Aug. 7, 1775. Sir-Your favor of yesterday, came duly to my hands. As I did not consider local appointments as having any operation upon the general one, I had partly engaged, (at least in my own mind,) the office of quarter master general, before your favor was presented to me. In truth, sir, I think it sound policy to choose officers indiscriminately among gentlemen of the different governments, for as they bear a proportionable part towards the expenses of this war, if no gentleman out of these four governments came in for any share of the appointments, it may be apt to create jealousies which will in the end give disgust; for this reason, I would earnestly recommend to your board to provide for some of the volunteers who are come from Philadelphia, with very warm recommendations, though strangers

to me.

In respect to the boats, &c., from Salem, I doubt in the first place, whether they could be brought over by land; in the second, I am sure nothing could ever be executed here by surprise, as I am well convinced nothing is transacted in our camp or lines, but what is known in Boston, in less than twenty four hours; in deed, circumstanced as we are, it is scarce possible to be otherwise, unless we were to stop the communication between the country and town, camp and lines, in which case we should render our supplies of milk, Vol. III.

2

We are now building a kind of floating battery. When that is done and the utility of it discovered, I may possibly apply for timber to build more, as circumstances shall require. I remain with great esteem, sir, your most humble servant,

G. WASHINGTON.

To the Hon. J. PALMER, Watertown.

Cambridge, Aug. 22, 1775. Sir-In answer to your favor of yesterday, I must inform you that I have often been told of the advantages of Point Alderton, with respect to its command of the shipping going in and out of Boston harbor; and that it has, before now, been the object of my particular enquiries; that I find the accounts differ exceedingly, in regard to the distance of the ship channel, and that there is a passage on the other side of the light-house island for all vessels except ships of the first rate.

My knowledge of this matter would not have rested upon enqui. ries only, if I had found myself, at any one time since I came to this place, in a condition to have taken such a post. But it becomes my duty to consider, not only what place is advantageous, but what number of men are necessary to defend it, how they can be supported in case of an attack, how they may retreat if they can not be supported, and what stock of ammunition we are provided with for the purpose of self-defense, or annoyance of the enemy. In respect to the first, I conceive our defense must be proportioned to the attack of Gen. Gage's whole force, (leaving him just enough to man his lines on Charlestown neck and Roxbury,) and with regard to the second and most important object, we have only one hundred and eighty four barrels of powder in all, which is not sufficient to give thirty musket cartridges a man, and scarce enough to serve

the artillery in any brisk action a single day.

Would it be prudent then in me, under these circumstances, to take a post thirty miles distant from this place, when we already have a line of circumvallation at least ten miles in extent, any part of which may be attacked, (if the enemy will keep their own counsel,) without our having one hour's previous notice of it? Or is it prudent to attempt a meas. ure which necessarily would bring on a consumption of all the ammunition we have; thereby leaving the army at the mercy of the enemy, or to disperse and leave the country to be ravaged, and laid waste at discretion? To you, sir, who are a well wisher to the cause, and can reason upon the effect of such a conduct, I may open myself with freedom, because no improper discoveries will be made of our situation; but I can not expose my weakness to the enemy, (though I believe they are pretty well informed of every thing that passes,) by tell ing this and that man who are daily pointing out this, that, and t'other place, of all the motives that govern my actions, notwithstanding I know what will be the consequences of not doing it, namely, that I shall be accused of inattention to the public service, and perhaps with want of spirit to prosecute it. But this shall have no effect upon my mind, and I will steadily (as far as my judgment will assist me) pursue such measures as I think most conducive to the interest of the cause, and rest satisfied under any obloquy that shall be thrown upon me, conscious of having discharged my duty to the best of my abilities.

I am much obliged to you however, as I shall be to every gentleman, for pointing out any measure which is thought conducive to the public good, and shall cheerfully follow any advice which is not inconsistent with, but correspondent to, the gen. eral plan in view, and practicable

under such particular circumstances as govern in cases of the like kind. In respect to Point Alderton, I was no longer ago than Monday last, talking to Gen. C. Thomas on this head, and proposing to send Col. Putnam down to take the distances, &c., but considered it could answer no end but to alarm, and make the enemy more vigilant. Unless we were in a condition to possess the post to effect, I thought it as well to postpone the matter a while. I am, dear sir, your very humble servant, G. WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, April 2d, '76. Dear Sir-This will go by my worthy brother Dana, who is returned, as he went, a very good whig, and much more abundantly.

I hope he will be appointed a judge or attorney general immediately, as he is certainly well qualified for either. Since my return to this place, I have lived in tolerably good humor with our old friend, notwithstanding the rude anger he expressed in certain letters. I have had two conversations between him and me, concerning his seat upon a certain bench. He has not said positively, but perhaps if the place should be left open till his return, which probably will not be very long for a visit at least, he may be induced to accept. For my own part I wish he might. I have ever lived in friendship with him, until in the month of August last, he was pleased to quarrel with me, chiefly on account of some important points of rank, I suppose. But these seem to be blown over.

The evacuation of Boston is a great event, and if wisely improved will be a decisive one. But we must fortify the harbor. I must intreat you to let me know with what quantities of powder you are likely to be supplied, and what cannon you have or can get, or what you want. Perhaps we might get some assistance from the continent in fortifying

that harbor, if we knew what assistance you would want. Let us know and we will try.

The tories, I think, will never lose sight of that town; if they can possibly prevail on the ministry to set on foot another expedition against it, they will. They will pursue it with a bitterness and severity inex pressible. Fortify, fortify, and never let them get in again.

We continue still between hawk and buzzard. Some people yet expect commissioners to treat with Congress, and to offer a carte blanche. All declare if they do not come empowered to treat with us, and grant us our bill of rights, in every iota, they will hesitate no longer.

I wish I could enter into an unreserved detail, but I dare not. I think we shall do pretty well. The conventions are now about meeting every where, and we expect assistance from them. In great haste, adieu. J. ADAMS.

Pray let us know how much powder you have furnished to the continental army, from the magazines of the province, or of town stocks. Because, if we knew how much, we would endeavor to have it reimbursed to you. We must get these town stocks replaced, and the colonial magazine replenished.

April 12th, 1776.

We begin to make some little fig. ure here in the naval way. Capt. Barry was fitted out here, a few days ago, in a sixteen gun brig, and put to sea by the Roebuck man of war, which lies in Delaware River, and after he got without the Capes, fell in with a tender, belonging to the Liverpool man of war, and took her after an engagement of two glasses. She had eight carriage guns and a number of swivels. One thing remarkable is, that four of her guns are marked Liverpool, which shows that guns are not very plenty with them, otherwise the Liv.

erpool would not have spared any part of hers.

I long to hear what fortifications are preparing for Boston harbor. I can't but think that row galleys would be of excellent use. They might dodge about behind the isl ands in that harbor, and into shoal water, in such a manner, that the weight of their metal, and the cer tainty of their shots, and the place between wind and water at which they would be levelled, would render them terrible to large ships. Fire carried upon rafts and in small vessels, I should think, would be very troublesome to these gentry. I can not bear the thought of their ever getting into Boston again, or into that harbor. I would willingly contribute my share,-that indeed would be but little,-towards any expense; nay, I would willingly go and work myself upon the fortifications, if that was necessary.

Where will the cloud burst next? Have they gone to Halifax ? Will they divide their force? Can they do that with safety? Will they attempt Quebec? or will they come to New York? or will they come to Philadelphia? or go farther south to Virginia, or one of the Carolinas? or, which I sometimes suspect is more probable than any other sup position, will they linger out the summer in Halifax, like Lord Loudoun and themselves, fighting mock battles, and acting Grub-street plays? I should dread this more than their whole force applied to any part of the continent. I really think this is the best game they can play, with such a hand as they have, for, upon my word, I am almost enough elated to boast that we have high and low and jack in our hands, and we must be bad gamesters indeed, if we lose the game. You and the rest of my friends are so busy, I presume, in purifying Boston of small pox and another infection which is much more malignant, I mean toryism; and I hope in forti

fying the harbor, that I have reconciled myself to that state of ignorance, in which I still remain, of all the particulars, discovered in Boston. Am very desirous of knowing, if I could, what quantities of saltpetre came in, and what progress is made in the manufacture of it, and of cannon and muskets, and especially the powder mills. Have you persons who understand the art of making powder?

The above letter is without sig nature, but endorsed on the back, in Gen. Palmer's handwriting, as John Adams.

couragement as will effectually answer the purpose? I was of opinion last fall that twelve dollars should be given for all that should be brought to the commissary, in consequence of the resolve then issued by the court; but since that was not the opinion of the members in general, and we are now greatly in want of this article, would it not be a good plan to exempt from the du, ties of war all manufacturers of firearms? to give a premium to them for each apprentice which they shall take, and journeyman that they shall employ, and thirteen or fourteen dollars for all that shall be delivered agreeably to the former resolve, in

To the Hon. JOSEPH PALMER, at Boston, twelve months? Surely when the Massachusetts Bay.

Philadelphia, May 31, 1776.

Dear Sir-The conviction which the late measures of the administra. tion has brought to your minds, of doubting persons, has such an effect, that I think the colonies can not long remain an independent, depending people, but that they will declare themselves, as their interest and safety have long required, entirely separated from the prostituted government of Great Britain. Upon this subject I have written to our friend, Col. Orne, and beg leave to refer you thereto. The principal object of our attention at this important time, I think, should be manufacturing arms, lead and clothing, and obtaining flints, for, I suppose, since the measures adopted by North Carolina and Virginia, that there can not remain a doubt with our assembly of the propriety of declaring for independency, and therefore that our thoughts will be mostly directed to the means for supporting it. Powder and cannon are so successfully manufactured, that if the spirit continues with sufficient encouragement for the manufacturer, I think we may be sure of full supplies. With respect to arms then, is it not necessary that each assembly should give such en

success of our measures so much depends on obtaining this article, we shall not hesitate to give such encouragement as will obtain it, with as good success as we have heretofore the article of saltpetre.

The lead you have before attended to, and I hope you will pursue the plan of carrying on the works at Northampton. If a manufacturer is wanted, I apprehend the colony of Virginia will spare us one. They sent to Europe for several, and are now successfully carrying on the works in that colony. works in that colony. Pray, my dear sir, pursue these objects as of the greatest importance.

Flints, I think, must be imported, and clothing may be manufactured if the inhabitants are timely apprised thereof. Would it not be well to recommend to them at large, to exert themselves for obtaining by their manufacturers, a sufficiency of woolen and linen for the ensuing year, and also for the assembly to cause a sufficient number of blankets and coats, &c., to be made for the soldiers, agreeably to the method. pursued the last year. The men must be well fed, clothed, armed, and paid, or you can never oblige them to do their duty. Our friends, Major Hawley, the speaker, Gen. Orne, and Mr. Sullivan, I think will

assist and promote these measures, would spread through the colonies;

if you think it convenient to suggest the same.

I hope that one or more cannon forges will be encouraged in our colony, and with respect to clothing, think that after this year, our trade will plentifully supply us. I remain, sir, with sincere regard for yourself and friends, your most obedient and very humble servant,

ELBRIDGE GERRY.

P. S. If manufacturers can be obtained without sending to Virginia, it will save much time and expense, as the works are far beyond the Alleghany Mountains.

Fragment of a letter to Gen. PALMER,

from Samuel Adams.

I heartily congratulate you upon the removal of the barbarians from the capital. We owe our grateful acknowledgments to Him, who is, as he is frequently styled in Holy Writ, "the Lord of hosts." We have not yet been informed with certainty, what course the enemy have steered. I hope we shall be upon our guard against future at tempts. Will not care be immediately taken to fortify the harbor, and thereby prevent the entrance of ships of war hereafter? But I am called off and must conclude abruptly. Adieu, my friend, and be assured that I am affectionately

yours,

April, 1776.

S. ADAMS.

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and besides that, they would all consider themselves the more interested in the success of our army, and in providing for its support. But then there was less room for persons belonging to the colonies, which had first raised the army, who were well worthy of notice. Many of our friends were discontented, who did not advert to this as the true cause why they were not promoted.

In 1776, we find Gen. Palmer and his son stationed at Hull; and in 1777, they are in Rhode Island. The expedition to Rhode Island From the jourwas not fortunate. nals and letters of Gen. Palmer, which are very full at this time, we gather that the coöperations he depended upon, failed him; that he was blamed and even accused by Major Gen. Spencer, in order that the latter might screen himself from blame, and that a court of enquiry followed. We learn also, that he was acquitted, but the impression remained that he had not been sufficiently energetic.* To those who read all the letters and memoranda made at the time, and know how to value his word, it is plain that he was not at all obnoxious even to this reproach. His ardor and ener.

gy were all that was to be desired, and the plan failed only through the shortcomings of others. We shall select a few letters, to make this ob vious. They are interesting, also, as showing the spirit and feeling of the times.

Boston, Aug. 8th, 1777. To Gen. Spencer- * * I hope you will excuse my again mentioning an expedition to Rhode Island; it appears probable that as the enemy's forces are now divided into three parts, at very considerable dis

* See Bradford's History of Massachusetts, Vol. II.

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