Thornton W. Burgess - "The Adventures of Johnny Chuck"

Unknown - "The World English Bible (WEB): Amos"

Charlotte M. Yonge - "The Young Step Mother"

George Washington - "State of the Union Addresses of George Washington"

The Writings of Samuel Adams, vol. III.

H >> Harry Alonzo Cushing >> The Writings of Samuel Adams, vol. III.




________________________________________________________________
1Later secretary of the Continental Congress.
2John Dickinson. Cf., page 104.



TO SILAS DEANE.

[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]

BOSTON May 31 1774

SIR/

I receivd your favor of the 26 Instant by the hands of Mr Revere.
I am glad to find that it is fully the Opinion of your Committee,
that some immediate and effectual Measures are necessary to be
taken for the Support of this Town. I have just now received
Intelligence(and I am apt to believe it) that several Regiments
are to be posted in the Town. What can this mean but to pick a
Quarrel with the Inhabitants, and to provoke them to take some
violent Steps from whence they may have a specious Pretence to
carry Matters to the greatest Extremity. We shall be hard pressd;
and it will be difficult for us to preserve among the people that
Equanimity which is necessary in such arduous Times. The only Way
that I can at present think of to bring the Ministry to their
Senses, is to make the people of Great Britain share in the
Misfortunes which they bring upon us; and this cannot be done so
speedily as the Emergency calls for, but by a Suspension of Trade
with them. I think that should be pushd as far as it will go & as
speedily as possible. Although the interrested & disaffected
Merchants should not come into it, great Success may attend it.
Let the yeomanry of the Continent, who only, under God, must
finally save this Country, break off all commercial Connection
whatever with those who will not come into it. A Congress appears
to me to be of absolute Necessity, to settle the Dispute with
Great Britain if she by her violent and barbarous Treatment of
us, should not totally quench our Affection for her, and render
it impracticable. I hope no Hardships will ever induce America to
submit to voluntary Slavery. I wish for Harmony between Britain &
the Colonies; but only upon the Principles of Equal Liberty.

Our Assembly was unexpectedly adjournd on Saturday last till the
seventh of June, then to meet at Salem. By this Means I am
prevented mentioning a Congress to the Members. I wish your
Assembly could find it convenient to sit a fornight longer, that
we might if possible act in Concert. This however is a sudden
Thought. I have written in the utmost haste, and conclude, with
great Regard to the Gentlemen of the Committee.

Sir,

Your Friend & fellow Countryman,



TO WILLIAM CHECKLEY.

[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]

BOSTON June 1 1774

MY DEAR SIR

It was with singular pleasure that I recd a Letter from you by Mr
Howe, and another since by your worthy Townsman. I began to think
you had at last entirely forgot me. I sincerely congratulate you
on the birth of a Daughter. May God preserve her life & make her
a Blessing in the World. Assure Mrs Checkley of our kind Regards
for her. I hope she will enjoy a better State of Health than she
has had in time past. You have now devolvd upon you the weighty
Cares of a Parent; you will perhaps find it difficult "to train
up the Child in the way it should go" in an Age of Levity Folly
and Vice. Doubtless you will consider your self more interrested
than ever in the Struggles of your Country for Liberty, as you
hope your Infant will outlive you, and share in the Event. Your
native Town which I am perswaded is dear to you, is now suffering
the Vengeance of a cruel and tyrannical Administration; and I can
assure you she suffers with Dignity. She scorns to own herself
the Slave of the haughtiest nation on earth; and rather than
submit to the humiliating Terms of an Edict, barbarous beyond
Precedent under the most absolute monarchy, I trust she will put
the Malice of Tyranny to the severest Tryal. It is a consolatory
thought, that an Empire is rising in America, and will not THIS
first of June be rememberd at a time, how soon God knows! when it
will be in the power of this Country amply to revenge its Wrongs.
If Britain by her multiplied oppressions is now accelerating that
Independency of the Colonies which she so much dreads, and which
in process of time must take place, who will she have to blame
but herself? We live in an important Period, & have a post to
maintain, to desert which would be an unpardonable Crime, and
would entail upon us the Curses of posterity. The infamous Tools
of Power are holding up the picture of Want and Misery; but in
vain do they think to intimidate us; the Virtue of our Ancestors
inspires us--they were contented with Clams & Muscles. For my
part, I have been wont to converse with poverty; and however
disagreable a Companion she may be thought to be by the affluent
& luxurious who never were acquainted with her, I can live
happily with her the remainder of my days, if I can thereby
contribute to the Redemption of my Country.

The naval Power of Britain has blocked up this Harbour; but the
Laws of Nature must be alterd, before the port of Salem can
become an equivalent. The most remote inland Towns in the
province feel the want of a mart, & resent the Injury done to
themselves in the Destruction of Boston. The British Minister
appears to me to be infatuated. Every step he takes seems designd
by him to divide us, while the necessary Tendency is to unite.
Our Business is to make Britain share in the miseries which she
has unrighteously brought upon us. She will then see the
Necessity of returning to moderation & Justice.

Adieu,



RESOLUTIONS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF MASSACHUSETTS.

[MS., Committee of Correspondence Papers, Lenox Library.]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 17 1774

Whereas the Towns of Boston and Charlestown are at this time
suffering under the Hand of Power, by the shutting up the Harbour
by an armed Force, which in the opinion of this House is an
Invasion of the said Towns evidently designd to compel the
Inhabitants thereof to a Submission to Taxes imposed upon them
without their Consent: And Whereas it appears to this House that
this Attack upon the said Towns for the Purpose aforesaid is an
Attack made upon this whole Province & Continent which threatens
the total Destruction of the Liberties of all British America: It
is therefore Resolvd as the clear opinion of this House, that the
Inhabitants of the said Towns ought to be relievd; and this House
do recommend to all, and more especially to [the] Inhabitants of
this Province to afford them speedy and constant Reliefe in such
Way and Manner as shall be most suitable to their Circumstances
till the sense & advice of our Sister Colonies shall be known: In
full Confidence that they will exhibit Examples of Patience
Fortitude and Perseverance, while they are thus called to endure
this oppression, for the Preservation of the Liberties of their
Country.

After debate accepted



THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE OF BOSTON TO ELBRIDGE GERRY.

[J. T. Austin, Life of Elbridge Gerry, vol. i., pp. 48, 49.]

BOSTON, June 22, 1774.

SIR,

The committee of correspondence take this first opportunity to
make their most grateful aknowledgments of the generous and
patriotic sympathy of our brethren, the worthy merchants and
traders of the town of Marblehead, as well those who have already
subscribed for our relief, as those who express their readiness
to serve the trade of Boston. Our sense of their favour, as it
respects individuals, is strong and lively; but the honour and
advantage thereby derived to the common cause of our country, are
so great and conspicuous, that private considerations of every
kind recede before them.



ARTICLE SIGNED "CANDIDUS."

[Boston Gazette, June 27, 1774.]

Messieurs EDES & GILL,

From an Extract of a Letter from a Southern Colony, and the
Publications in last Thursday's Gazette, it is very evident a
Scheme has been concerted by some Persons to frustrate any
Attempts that might be made to suspend our Trade with Great-
Britain, till our most intolerable Grievances are redressed. The
Scheme appears to be, to SEEM to agree to the Suspension in Case
all agreed, and then by construing some Passage in a Letter from
the Committee of another Province, that they had NOT AGREED, to
declare that the conditional Signers were NOT HOLDEN. A GAME or
two of such Mercantile Policy would soon have convinced the World
that Lord North had a just Idea of the Colonies; and that
notwithstanding their real Power to prove a Rope of Hemp to him,
they were a Rope of Sand in Reality, among themselves. I would
beg Leave to ask the voluminous Querists referr'd to. whether
they conceive a Non-consumption Agreement would ever have been
tho't of in the Country, could our Brethren there have persuaded
themselves that the Merchants were in earnest to suspend Trade
the little Time there was between our receiving the Port Bill,
and the Appointment of a Congress, or any other general Measure
come into, from which a radical Relief might be expected? 2.
Whether the Trade in their last Meeting declaring, That their
CONDITIONAL Agreement was DISSOLVED, on Pretence that Advices
from New York and Philadelphia were totally discouraging, was not
highly unbecoming a People whose peculiar Circumstances rendered
it their duty to stop their Trade to Great Britain the Moment the
Port-Bill reached the Shore of America? 3. Whether they conceive
the Committee of Boston planned the Non-consumption Agreement,
and sent it first into the Country for their Adoption? or rather,
whether the Country, enraged at their preposterous Management,
did not originate the Plan and press the Committee to have it
digested, printed and recommended throughout the Colony? 4. I
would enquire whether a Backwardness in the Province, actually
suffering, to come into the only peaceful Measure that remains
for our Extrication from Slavery, would not naturally excuse
every other Province from taking one Step for the common
Salvation? 5. Whether in that Case all the Trade of the Province,
whether consisting of Spring, Summer or Fall Importations, would
in the End be worth an Oyster-Shell? 6. Whether all the Bugbears
started against the Worcester Covenant, as holding up the taking
a solemn Oath to "withdraw all Commercial Connexions," which our
honest Commentators tell the People means even to deny buying or
selling Greens or Potatoes to them, does not betray a great want
of that Candor and manly Generosity, which is expected from well-
bred and reasonble Citizens? 7. Whether the suggestion that the
Boston Merchants ceasing to Import, will throw the Trade into the
Hands of Importers in other Provinces, is not utterly unbecoming
an Inhabitant of that Town, into which the Beneficence of the
whole Continent is ready to flow in the most exemplary Manner?
For Shame! Self Interested Mortals, cease to draw upon your
worthy Fellow Citizens the just Resentment of Millions. If there
may be Some Punctilios wrong in the Non-consumption Agreement,
the united Wisdom of the Continent will surely be capable of
setting Matters right at the general Congress; and no Gentleman
Trader, be his Haste ever so great to get Rich, need distress
himself so mightily about the Profits of one Fall-Importation, if
the constant Clamour of the Trade for two Years past, that they
did Business for nothing, had any Foundation.

CANDIDUS.



TO CHARLES THOMSON.

[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]

BOSTON June 30 1774

SIR

Your Letter by order of your Committee directed to Mr Cooper with
the inclosed Resolves came to my hand this day. I shall as soon
as possible call a Committee of the Town who are appointed to
consider of Ways and Means for the Employment of the poor, and to
appropriate and distribute such Donations as our generous friends
shall make for the Reliefe of those Inhabitants who may be
deprivd of the Means of Subsistence by the Operation of the Port
Bill. This Committee consists of the standing Overseers of the
poor who are to act in Concert with others who had been before
appointed for the purposes above mentiond, as you will observe by
the inclosed Votes of the Town. The principal Reason assignd in
the Vote for joyning the Overseers is because by an Act of this
province they are a corporate body empowerd to receive Monies &c
for the Use of the poor, but those Gentlemen have since informd
the others of the joynt Committee that they cannot consistently
with the Act of their Incoporation admit of any but their own
Body in the Distribution of the Monies that may at any time come
into their hands for the Use of the poor. They are heartily
desirous of acting in Concert agreable to the Vote of the Town
but consider themselves as under Restraint by the Law. The Donors
may if they please consign their Donations to any one Gentleman
(William Phillips Esqr) to be appropriated for the EMPLOYMENT or
RELIEFE of such Inhabitants of the Town of Boston as may be
deprived of the Means of Subsistence by the Operation of the Act
of Parliament commonly stiled the Boston Port Bill, at the best
Discretion of the Overseers of the poor of Boston joynd by a
Committee appointed by said Town to consider of Ways and Means
for the Employment of the poor.

I have given my private Sentiment, and am with great Respect &
Gratitude to the Gentl of the City & County of Philadelphia,

Your friend & fellow Countryman,1

________________________________________________________________
1In the interval before the date of the next letter an article
signed "Candidus" was published in the Massachusetts
Spy, July 7, 1774. This is attributed to Adams by W. V. Wells,
and portions are printed in his Life of Samuel
Adams, vol. ii., pp. 187,197.



TO THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE OF NORWICH.1

[MS., Committee of Correspondence Papers, Lenox Library.]

BOSTON July 11 1774.

GENTLEMEN

Your obliging Letter directed to the Committee of Correspondence
for the Town of Boston came just now to my hand; and as the
Gentleman who brought it is in haste to return, I take the
Liberty of writing you my own Sentiments in Answer, not doubting
but they are concurrent with those of my Brethren. I can venture
to assure you that the valueable Donation of the worthy Town of
Norwich will be receivd by this Community with the warmest
Gratitude and disposd of according to the true Intent of the
generous Donors. The Liberality of the Sister Colonies will I
trust support & comfort the Inhabitants under the pressure of
enormous Power, & enable them to endure affliction with that
Dignity which becomes those who are called to suffer in the Cause
of Liberty & Truth. The Manner of transmitting the Donation will
be left to your Discretion; and that it may be conducted
according to the Inclination of the Town, I beg Leave to propose,
that it be directed to some one Gentleman (say William Phillips
Esqr) to be disposd of for the Employment or Reliefe of such
Inhabitants of the Town of Boston as may become Sufferers by
means of an Act of the British Parliament called the Boston Port
bill, at the Discretion of the Overseers of the Poor of said Town
joynd with a Committee appointed to consider of Ways & Means for
the Employmt of such Poor. The Part which the Town of Norwich
takes in this Struggle for American Liberty is truly noble; and
this Town rejoyces with you in the Harmony Moderation & Vigor
which prevails throughout the united Colonies.

You may rely upon it that there is no Foundation for the Report
that the Opposition gains Ground upon us. The Emissaries of a
Party which is now reduced to a very small Number of Men, a great
Part of whom are in Reality Expectants from & in Connection with
the Revenue, are daily going out with such idle Stories; but
whoever reads the Accounts of the Proceedings of our Town
Meetings, which I can assure you have been truly stated in the
News papers under the hand of the Town Clerk, will see that no
Credit is due to such Reports.

I shall lay your Letter before the Committee of Correspondence
who will write to you by the first opportunity. In the mean time
I am in Sincerity

Your obliged Friend &
Fellow Countryman,

________________________________________________________________
1Addressed to "Jed Huntington, Chris Leffingwell, Theoph Rogers
Esqrs."



TO RICARD HENRY LEE.

[MS., American Philosophical Society1; a draft is in the Samuel
Adams Papers, Lenox Library; an undated text is in R. H. Lee,
Life of R. H. Lee, vol. i., pp. 99-101.]

BOSTON July 15th 1774

I have lately been favour'd with three Letters from you, and must
beg you to attribute my omitting to make a due Acknowledgment
till this Time, to a Multiplicity of Affairs to which I have been
oblig'd to give my constant Attention.

The unrighteous and oppressive Act of the British Parliament for
shutting up this Harbour, although executed with a Rigour beyond
the Intent even of the Framers of it, has hitherto faild, and I
believe will continue to fail of the Effect which the Enemies of
America flatter'd themselves it would have. The Inhabitants still
wear chearful countenances. Far from being in the least Degree
intimidated they are resolved to undergo the greatest Hardships,
rather than Submit in any Instance to the Tyrannical Act. They
are daily encouraged to persevere, by the Intelligence which they
receive from their Brethren not of this Province only, but of
every other Colony, that they are consider'd as suffering in the
common Cause; and the Resolution of ALL, to support them in the
Conflict. Lord North had no Expectation that we should be thus
Sustained; on the Contrary he trusted that Boston would be left
by all her Friends to Struggle and fall alone.--He has therefore
made no Preparation for the Effects of an Union. From the
Information I have had from Intelligent Persons in England, I
verily believe the Design was to seize some Persons here, and
send them Home; but the Steadiness and Prudence of the People,
and the unexpected Union of the Colonies, evidenc'd by liberal
Contributions for our Support, have disconcerted them; and they
are at a loss how to proceed further. Four Regiments are now
encamp'd on our Common, and more are expected; but I trust the
People will, by a circumspect Behavior, prevent their taking
occasion to Act. The Port Bill, is follow'd by two other Acts of
the British Parliament; the one for regulating the Government of
this Province, or rather totally to destroy our free Constitution
and substitute an absolute Government in its Stead; the other for
the more IMPARTIAL Administration of Justice or as some term it
for the screening from Punishment any Soldier who shall Murder an
American for asserting his Right. A Submission to these Acts will
doubtless be requir'd and expected; but whether General Gage will
find it an easy thing to FORCE the People to submit to so great
and fundamental a Change of Government, is a Question I think,
worthy his Consideration--Will the People of America consider
these measures, as Attacks on the Constitution of an Individual
Province in which the rest are not interested; or will they view
the model of Government prepar'd for us as a Sistem for the whole
Continent. Will they, as unconcern'd Spectators, look upon it to
be design'd only to top off the exuberant Branches of Democracy
in the Constitution of this Province? Or, as part of a plan to
reduce them all to Slavery? These are Questions, in my Opinion of
Importance, which I trust will be thoroughly weighed in a general
Congress.--May God inspire that intended Body with Wisdom and
Fortitude, and unite and Prosper their Councils!

The People of this Province are thoroughly Sensible of the
Necessity of breaking off all Commercial Connection with the
Country, whose political Councils direct to Measures to enslave
them. They however THE BODY of the Nation, are being kept in
profound Ignorance of the Nature of the Dispute between Britain
and the Colonies; and taught to believe that we are a perfidious
& rebellious People.

It is with Reluctance that they come into any Resolutions, which
must distress those who are not the objects of their Resentment
but they are urg'd to it from Motives of Self-preservation, and
therefore are signing an agreement in the several Towns, not to
consume any British Goods which shall be imported after the last
of August next; and that they may not be impos'd upon, they are
to require an Oath of those from whom they shall hereafter
purchase such Goods. It is the Virtue of the Yeomanry that we are
chiefly to depend upon. Our Friends in Maryland talk of
withholding the Exportation of Tobacco; this was first hinted to
us by the Gentlemen of the late House of Burgesses of Virginia
who had been called together after the Dissolution of your
Assembly--This would be a Measure greatly interesting to the
Mother Country.

Should America hold up her own Importance to the Body of the
Nation and at the same Time agree in one general Bill of Rights,
the Dispute might be settled on the Principles of Equity and
Harmony restored between Britain and the Colonies.

I am with great Regard
Your Friend & Fellow Countryman,

_______________________________________________________________
1In this instance the body of the letter actually sent, from
which this text is taken, is not in the autograph of
Adams, only the subscription, signature, and address being in his
hand. The draft is wholly in his autograph.



TO NOBLE WYMBERLEY JONES.1

[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]

BOSTON July 16 1774

GENTLEMEN

Having receivd Information that the respectable Inhabitants of
the Town of Savvannah have expressd a Degree of Uneasiness, as
considering themselves neglected in the general Application which
the distressd Town of Boston have made to the Colonies in America
for Advice and Assistance in their present painful Struggle with
the hand of Tyranny, I beg Leave to assure you that by express
Direction of the Town of Boston a Letter was addressd to the
Gentlemen of Savannah upon the first Intelligence of the
detestable Port Bill. Permit me to add Gentlemen that the
Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Boston at whose
Request I now write, set too high a Value upon your Advice and
esteem a general Union of too great Importance, to neglect any
Steps at this alarming Crisis, which may have a Tendency to
effect so desirable a Purpose.

They have this additional Motive to invite all the Colonies into
one firm Band of Opposition to the oppressive Measures of the
British Administration, that they look upon this Town as
conflicting for all. The Danger is general; and should we succumb
under the heavy Rod now hanging over us, we might be esteemd the
base Betrayers of the Common Interest.

We are informd that the Infant Colony of West Florida has
contended for the Right on an annual Choice of Representatives. A
noble Exertion certainly if it has taken place. Being your
Neighbor, be pleasd to convey to them our warmest Regards, and
encourage them in the Pursuit of so important an Object.

Your Correspondence with the Committee of this Town will always
be esteemd a singular Gratification.

I am in their Behalf
Gentlemen
Your Friend and
Fellow Countryman

SIR

Having had your Name and Character metiond to me as a warm and
able Friend to the Liberties of America, I have taken the Liberty
to address the foregoing Letter to your Patronage & beg the favor
of you to communicate the same to the other Friends of Liberty in
Georgia and to assure you that I am with very great Regard,

Your very humble Servt,

_______________________________________________________________
1Of Savannah Georgia, Cf., C. C. Jones, Biographical Sketches,
pp. 124-136; and C. C. Jones, History of Georgia,
vol. ii., p. 166 and passim.



TO CHRISTOPHER GADSEN.1

[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]

BOSTON July 18 1774

MY DEAR SIR

I have lately receivd several Letters from you for which I am
much obliged. It cannot but afford Pleasure to an observing
American to find, that the British Administration, by every
Measure they take for the Suppression of the Spirit of Liberty in
the Colonies, have promoted, till they have at length established
a perfect Union; which, if it continues, must effect the
Destruction of their cursed Plans of arbitrary Power.--The Boston
Port bill is a parliamentary Punishment of this People, designd,
as Lord North expressd himself, to convince America that they are
in earnest.--What will his Lordship think, when he finds, that
his "spirited Measures" have not the designd Effect, wch was to
intimidate us--that America is also IN EARNEST and the whole
Continent united in an effectual Measure, which they have always
in their Power to adopt, to distress the Trade of Britain, &
thereby bring her to her Senses. The Premier little thought of
this united Resentment, and therefore has made no Preparation
against the Effects of it. He promisd himself that the . . . ,
and leave her to fall under the Scourge of ministerial Vengeance.
The noble and generous Part which all are taking & particularly
South Carolina on this Occasion must convince him that the
British Brothers, each of whom resents an Attack upon the Rights
of one as an Attack upon the Rights of all. The Port bill is
followed by two others; One for cutting the Charter of this
Province into Shivers, and the other to encourage Murderers by
skreening them from Punishment. What short Work these modern
Politicians make with solemn Compacts founded on the Faith of
Kings! The Minds of this People can never be reconciled to so
fundamental a Change of their civil Constitution; and I should
think that General Gage, allowing that he has but a small Share
of Prudence, will hardly think of risqueing the horrible Effects
of civil War, by suddenly attempting to force the Establishmt of
a Plan of civil Government which must be shocking to all the
other Colonies even in the Contemplation of it; but the more so,
as they must consider themselves to be deeply interrested in the
Attempt.--I pray God that he may not wantonly exercise the
exorbitant Power intended to be, if not already, put into his
Hands.--If the Wrath of Man is a little while restraind, it is
possible that the united Wisdom of the Colonists, may devise
Means in a peaceable Way, not only for the Restoration of their
own Rights and Liberties, but the Establishment of Harmony with
Great Britain, which certainly must be the earnest Desire of Wise
and good Men. I am

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