The Writings of Samuel Adams Volume IV Part 18

GENTLEMEN

Mr Woodbury Langdon1 did me the Honor of a Visit this Morning and deliverd to me your Letter of the 19th of November directed to Mr Hanc.o.c.k and myself.

I cannot but feel the Sentiments of Grat.i.tude to the Gentleman who has originated a Subscription for the Support of the Children of our very worthy deceasd Friend. I had been informd of it before; having lately seen a Letter on the Subject, in which the Name of Congress is mentiond in Terms more than "inadvertent." I am much displeasd, when I find the tender Feelings of Humanity & Benevolence towards these helpless Orphans accompanied with the Pa.s.sion of Anger, and Resentment (probably misplacd) towards that Body, which their "brave Father," if living, would not fail to honor & revere. I should be very sorry, that the "various Causes" in one Paper, should be explaind by the harsh Expressions of "Ingrat.i.tude that is unparralled [sic]," in another. I have never heard that Application has been made to the a.s.sembly of Ma.s.sachusetts Bay in Behalf of these Children; and if there had been, I am at a LOSS to conceive, from what good or generous Motives it was introducd into a Paper when the very Use of it must tend to expose & exclude them from the Character of "patriotick humane & generous." Nor can I readily think of a Reason, why the Monies to be collected, should not be paid into the Hands of one of the Ma.s.sachusetts Delegates, since it would not then have conveyd the Idea in a strong Light, that those who had been formerly among the most intimate Acquaintance and affectionate Friends of their "ill.u.s.trious Ancestors," were totally regardless of "what they owe to his deserted youth."

I will communicate your Letter to Mr Hanc.o.c.k and consult him thereon.

In the mean Time be a.s.sured that I am sincerely

Your Friend,

1 Member of Congress from New Hamps.h.i.+re.

TO ELBRIDGE GERRY.

[J. T. Austin, Life of Elbridge Gerry, vol. i., pp. 310, 311.]

BOSTON, Dec. 20, 1779.

MY DEAR SIR,

Last Sat.u.r.day the two houses of a.s.sembly of this state made choice of yourself and Mr. Osgood to represent them in the convention recommended by the joint committees of the five eastern states to be held at Philadelphia. As it was a doubt in the minds of some of the members, whether so many of the other states would send their agents as to make a convention, it was thought prudent to leave it to the gentlemen who represent this state in congress, to agree upon any two of their number for that service. But it was overruled for several reasons; one was, that it was necessary to send one gentleman at least, immediately from hence, because it was supposed such an one must be better acquainted with particular circ.u.mstances in this state, necessary to be made known to that a.s.sembly, and which are perpetually varying, than any gentleman could be who has been absent for any length of time. Some gentlemen were 10th you should be taken off a moment from your important services in congress, but all were desirous of your a.s.sistance in the convention, in case it shall meet. Mr. Osgood will set off with all possible speed.

I am with truth and sincerity,

Your affectionate friend,

TO ELBRIDGE GERRY AND JAMES LOVELL.

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

BOSTON Decr 20th 1779

GENTLEMEN/

Since my last Letter to you, I have had an Opportunity of conversing with Doctor John Warren,1 Brother of our deceasd Friend, concerning the Scituation of his Children. He tells me that the eldest Son was, as early as it could be done, put under the Care and Tuition of the Revd Mr Payson of Chelsea; a Gentleman whose Qualifications for the instructing of Youth, I need not mention to you. The Lad still remains with him. The eldest Daughter, a Miss of about thirteen, is with the Doctor; and he a.s.sures me, that no Gentlemans Dauter in this Town has more of the Advantage of Schools than she has at his Expence. She learns Musick, Dancing, writing & Arithmetick, and the best Needle Work that is taught here. The Doctor, I dare say, takes good Care of her Morals. The two younger Children, a Boy of about seven years, and a Girl somewhat older, are in the Family of John Scollay Esqr, under the particular Care of his Daughter at her most earnest Request; otherwise, I suppose, they would have been taken Care of by their Relations at Roxbury, and educated as reputable Farmers Children usually are. Miss Scollay deserves the greatest Praise for her Attention to them. She is exceedingly well qualified for her Charge; and her Affection for their deceas'd Father prompts her to exert her utmost to inculcate in the Minds of these Children, those Principles which may conduce, "to render them worthy of the Relation they stood in" to him. General Arnold has a.s.sisted, by generously ordering five hundred Dollars towards their Support. This I was informd of when I was last in Philadelphia. I called on him & thank'd him for his Kindness to them. Whether he has done more for them since, I cannot say. Probably he originated the Subscription2 you have mentiond to me. I have omitted to tell you, that two years ago I was in this Town and made a visit to the present General Warren at Plymouth. His Lady was very sollicitous that the eldest Daughter should spend that Winter with her, and desired me to propose it to Miss. I did so; but I could not prevail upon her. She said, that Mrs Miller (Mr Charles Millers Lady) at whose House she then was, did not incline to part with her, and that it would be a Breach of good Manners, and ungrateful for her to leave Mrs Miller against her Inclination. She very prettily expressd her Obligations to both those Ladies, and thus prevented my saying any more. I am very certain it was Mrs Warrens Intention to give her Board and Education. You know the distinguishd Accomplishments of that Lady. I think it does not appear that Betsy has been altogether friendless and "deserted"; or that the others are in danger of "suffering irreparably on Account of their Education." Yet as I am very desirous that they should have the greatest Advantage in their Growth into Life, I shall, among other Friends, think my self much obligd to any Gentleman who, from pure and unmixd Motives, shall add to those which they now enjoy.

I have not yet had the Honor of an Interview with Mr Hanc.o.c.k, since I sent him the Letter which you wrote to us joyntly, and requested his Sentiments thereon. Adieu, my dear Friends, and believe me to be respectfully

Yours,

1 Numerous bills of John Warren against the United States, for the expenses of the education of Joseph Warren, are in the Ma.s.sachusetts Archives.

2 The text of this subscription, from an autograph copy by Adams in the Lenox Library, is printed below, pages 171-173.

COPY OF A SUBSCRIPTION PROPOSD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHILDREN OF THE LATE MAJOR GENERAL WARREN--DATED AT PHILADELPHIA; & INCLOSD IN A LETTER FROM E. GERRY & JAMES LOVELL TO JOHN HANc.o.c.k & SAMUEL ADAMS.

The Honble Major General Warren who after de voting his Time & Talents for many years to his Country, gloriously fell in defending her Rights & Liberties, in the well fought Battle of Bunkers Hill, left four Orphan Children--Minors, two Sons and two Daughters--who from his Attention to the great & common Cause of these States, were left unprovided for and who on his Death found themselves without Parents, or the Means of Support.

The Honble Congress has resolvd to be at the Expence of the Education of the Elder Son; the other Son and two Daughters remain to this Time without other a.s.sistance than what some generous & charitable Persons have afforded them. Application has been made to the a.s.sembly of the Ma.s.sachusetts Bay & in September last to Congress on the Subject; but the Multiplicity of Business or other Causes have hitherto prevented their obtaining any Grant in their Favor--in the mean time the Children of this patriotick Hero are suffering greatly on Account of their Education, and unless speedily relievd must suffer irreparably. Nothing more need be said on a Subject which every patriotick as well as humane and generous American must feel sensibly, on recollecting the Character and Death of their brave Father, to induce them to their Reliefe, & thereby to discharge some Part of what they owe the brave Father of these deserted youth.

Whatever Sums may be subscribd, will be receivd by the Honble the President of the Council of the State of Ma.s.sachusetts Bay in Boston, & under their Direction will be applied to the Support and Education of these Children, in such a Manner as is becoming their Birth, and as will tend to render them great and good Citizens, & worthy of the Relation they stand in, to their ill.u.s.trious Ancestor.

PHILADELPHIA Novr 1st 1779

We the Subscribers engage to pay the Sums affixd to our Names to the Honble William Paca Esqr l, to be transmitted to the President & Council aforesaid. Witness our Hands.

1 Member of Congress from Maryland.

TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF Ma.s.sACHUSETTS.

[MS., Ma.s.sachusetts Archives.]

STATE OF Ma.s.sACHUSETTS BAY IN COUNCIL Decr 23d 1779

[Ordered that Genl Ward

Mr Thos Cus.h.i.+ng

Mr Adams

Mr Fisher Esqr

Mr Pitts be

a Comtee to wait upon the Hone House of Representatives with the following message]1

The Council Board have taken your Message of this Day in due Consideration. It is important; nor out of Season. It is most certainly inc.u.mbent on those who have accepted of Places of the highest Trust, to attend constantly to the Duties of their Stations. This is the just Expectation of the Publick & ought never to be dispensed with. The Board have been so sensible of the obligations they owe to their Country in this Regard, that they have frequently orderd a Call of their Members when it became necessary and previous to your Message they directed the Attendance of those who are now absent. If the Publick suffers Injury from a Want of Application to its pressing Affairs, in any others;--Members of the General a.s.sembly, it is hoped the joynt authority of both Houses will be employd effectually to prevent it.

1 The portion here bracketed is not in the autograph of Adams.

1780