Prospect of a union; I give you joy of Boston

Prospect of a union. Eastern educational radio network presents the prospect of a union of the American Revolutionary period in a series of readings from the letters of the second president of the United States John Adams and his wife Abigail. Part 10 I give you joy of Boston.

In January of 1776 John Adams set out once again from his home in Braintree Massachusetts to journey to Philadelphia where the Second Continental Congress was meeting. Adams would see during this session the time and the sentiment ripen for a declaration of independence from Great Britain which both he and his wife Abigail had for some time ardently desired. In January the task of drawing such a declaration from the Congress did not seem easy. There had been a lull in military operations and a consequent to munition of martial spirit. The spirit was also allowed by the arrival of commissioners from the King. This fact finding expedition raised hopes and some hearts but more often brought the contempt that Adams heaped upon it. He was eager to get on with the job of founding a nation and did not relish the job of arguing the futility of such attempts at reconciliation. Watertown January 24th 1776 my dear Nabat.

I am determined not to commit a fault which escaped me the last time I set out for the South what I waited on Gen. Thomas at Roxbury this morning and then went to Cambridge where I dined at Colonel Mifflin's with a general and a lady and a vast collection of other company among whom was six or seven sacraments and warriors of the French cognate Indians with several of their wives and children. A savage feast they made of it yet were very polite in the Indian style. One of these suckers is an Englishman a native of this colony whose name was Williams captivated in its infancy with his mother and adopted by some kind squaw another I think is half French blood. I was introduced to them by the general as one of the Grand Council sire at Philadelphia which made them prick up their is. They came and shook hands with me and made me low bows and scraped etc. In short I was much pleased with this day's entertainment. The general is to make them presents in cloths and trinkets. They have visited the lines at Cambridge and are going to see those at Roxbury to morrow.

We mount for the grand council fire. Well I shall think often of my little brood at the foot of Pen's here. Philadelphia February 11th 1776. There is a deep anxiety a kind of thoughtful melancholy and in some aloneness of spirits approaching to despondency prevailing through the southern colonies at present very similar to what I have often observed at Boston particularly on the first news of the port and last year about this time or a little later when the bad news arrived which dashed their fond hopes with which they had deluded themselves through the winter in this or a similar condition which shall remain I think until late in the spring when some critical event will take place perhaps sooner. But the arbiter of events the sovereign of the world only knows which way the tyrant will be turned. Judging by experience by probabilities and by all appearances I conclude it will roll onto dominion and glory that the

circumstances and consequences may be bloody in such great changes and commotion as individuals are but atoms. It is scarcely worth while to consider what the consequences will be to us. What will be the effects upon present and future millions and millions of millions. Is the question very interesting to benevolence. Natural and Christian. God grant they may. And I firmly believe they will be happy. February 18th 1776. My dearest friend I sent you from New York a pamphlet entitled common sense written in vindication of doctrines which there is reason to expect that the further encroachments of tyranny and depredations of oppression will soon make a common fate. Unless the cunning ministry by proposing negotiations in terms of reconciliation should desert the present current from its channel of reconciliation if

practicable and a peace if attainable. You very well know would be as agreeable to my inclinations and as advantageous to my interest as to any man's. But I see no prospect no probability no possibility and I cannot but despise the understanding which sincerely expect an honorable peace for its credulity and detest the hypocritical heart which pretends to expect it when in truth it does not. The newspapers here are full of free speculations. The tendency of which you will easily discover the writer's arisen from topics which have been long in contemplation and fully understood by the people at large in New England but have been attended to in the southern colonies only by gentlemen are free spirits and liberal Mann's. Who are very few. I shall endeavor to inclose to you as many of the papers and pamphlets as I can as long as I stay here some will go by this conveyance. Dr. Franklin. Mr. Chase and Mr. Charles Carroll of Carrollton Maryland are

chosen a committee to go into Canada. The characters of the two first year now. The last is not a member of Congress but a gentleman of independent fortune perhaps the largest in America one hundred fifty or two hundred thousand pounds sterling. Educated in some university in France now a native of America has great abilities in learning complete mastery of French language and a professor of the Roman Catholic religion. Yet a warm firm as zealous supporter of the Rights of America in whose cause he has hazarded his all. Mr. John Carroll of Maryland a Roman Catholic priest and a Jesuit is to go with a committee. The priests in Canada having refused baptism and absolution to our friends there. The events of war are uncertain. We cannot insure success but we can dissolve it. I am happy in this provision for that important department because I think it the best that could be made in our circumstances. Your prudence will direct you

to communicate the circumstances of the priest the Jesuit and the Romish religion only to such persons as can judge of the measure upon large and generous principles and will not in discreetly divulge it. This step was necessary for the anathemas of the church. How very terrible to our friends in Canada generally is to command in that country whose address experience and abilities added to his fluency in the French language will give him great advantages. I wish I understood French as well as you. I would have gone to Canada if I had. I feel a want of education every day particularly of that language. I pray my dear that you would not suffer your son or your daughter ever to feel a similar pain. It is in your power to teach them French and every day I see more and more that it will become a necessary accomplishment of an American gentleman and lady. Pray write me in your next the name of the author of the Austen French grammar which

gives you the pronunciation of the French words in English letters that is which shows you how the same sounds would be signified by English vowels and consonants. Write me as often as you can tell me all the news. Desire the children to write me and believe me to be there. And yours. The anxiety the uncertainty the melancholy of which Adam speaks was vastly lightened by the evacuation of British troops from Boston. Gen Howell had long planned to leave Boston for New York. The large number of Tories in and around New York made it a more logical base of operations and there was more Tory property to protect than there was in Boston. The American rebels were not unaware of the danger to New York. Indeed John Adams before he left in January for Philadelphia had advised General Washington to detach generally to go down and see to New York's defense how it was in no hurry to leave Boston. He was waiting more ships to make an easy orderly

withdrawal the Americans sent him off a little sooner than he planned. When they fortified Dorchester Heights making his position untenable the Americans built these fortifications in one night as they had Bunker Hill. They effectively masked the sounds of their work by a decoy cannonade that much impressed Abigail Adams listening from a hill in Braintree. Saturday evening March 2nd 1776 I was greatly rejoiced at the return of your servant to find you had safely arrived and that you were well. I never heard a word from you after you left New York. And a most ridiculous story has been industriously propagated in this in the neighboring towns to injure the cause and blast your reputation to wit that you and your president had gone on board a man of war from New York and sailed for England. I shouldn't mention so idle a report but that it is given uneasiness to some of your friends. Not that they are in the least credit at the

report but because the gaping vulgar swallowed the story. One man had deserted them and proved a traitor another might accept. I assure you such high disputes took place in the public house of this parish that some men were colored and dragged out of the shop with great threats for reporting such scandalous lies. And an uncle of ours offered his life as a forfeit for you if that report proved true. However it's been a nine days model and will now cease. I heartily wish every Tory was extirpated from America. They are continually by secret means undermining and injuring our cause. I'm charmed with the sentiments of common sense and wonder how an honest heart one who wishes the welfare of their country and the happiness of posterity can hesitate one moment at adopting them. I want to know how those sentiments are received in Congress. I dare say there would be no difficulty in procuring a vote and instructions from all the assemblies in New England for independency.

I most sincerely wish that now when the lucky minute it might be done. I've been kept in a continual state of anxiety and expectation ever since you left me. It's been said tomorrow and tomorrow for this month when the dreadful tomorrow will be I know not. But Hauke the house this instant shakes with the roar of cannon. I've been to the door and find as a candidate from our army orders I find are coming for all the remaining militia to repair to the lines on Monday night by twelve o'clock. No sleep for me tonight. And if I cannot have no guilt upon my soul with regard to this cause how shall the miserable wretches who have been the procurers of this dreadful scene and those who are to be the actors lie down with a load of guilt upon their soul. Sunday evening March 3rd I went to bed after 12 but got no

rest. The cannon continued firing and my heartbeat pace with them all night. We had a pretty quiet day. But what tomorrow will bring forth. God only knows. Monday evening tolerable quiet today. The militia have all mustered with three days provision and are all marched by eight o'clock this afternoon. So the notice was no longer than 8 o'clock Saturday and now we have scarcely a man but our regular guards either in Weymouth Hingham or Braintree or Milton and the militia from the more remote towns are called in a sea coast guards. Can you form to yourself an idea of our sensations. I've just returned from Penn's Hill where I've been sitting to hear the amazing roar of cannon and from whence I could see every shell which was thrown. The sound I think is one of the grandest in nature and is of the true species of the sublime. It is now an incessant roar. But over the fatal

ideas which are connected with the sound. How many of our dear countrymen must fall. Tuesday morning I went to bed about 12:00 and rose again a little after 1:00. I could no more sleep that I had been in the engagement but rattling of the windows the jar of the House and the continual roar of 24 pounders the bursting of shells gave us such ideas and realize a seemed to us of which we could scarcely form any conception. About six this morning there was quiet. I rejoiced in a few hours calm. I hear we got possession of Dorchester here last night. Four thousand men upon it today lost but one man. The ships are all drawn around the town. Tonight we shall realize a more terrible scene still. Oh I sometimes think I cannot stand it I wish myself with you out of hearing as I cannot assist them. I hope it will give you joy of Boston even if it is in ruins before I send this away. I'm too

much agitated to write as I ought and language for want of rest. Thursday Basti all my anxiety and distress is at present as an end. I feel disappointed this day our militia are all returning without affecting anything more than taking possession of Dorchester Hill. I hope it's wise and just but all the muster and stare I hoped and expected more important and decisive scenes I would not have suffered all I have for two such hills. Ever since the taking of that we've had a perfect calm. Nor could I learn yet what effect it has had in Boston. I do not hear of one person escaping since I was very much pleased with your choice of a committee for Canada. All those to whom I ventured to show that part of your letter approved the scheme of the priest as a master stroke of policy. I feel sorry that General Lee has left us but his

presence in New York was no doubt of great importance as we have reason to think it prevented Clinton from landing and gathering together such a nest of vermin as would at least have distressed us greatly. But how can you spare him from there. Can you make his place good. Can you supply it with a man equally qualified to save us. How do the Virginians relish the troops said to be destined for them. Are they putting themselves into a state of defense. Oh I cannot bear to think of your continuing in a state of supineness this winter. There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads on to fortune. Omitted all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries on such a full sea. Are we now afloat. And we must take the currents when its service or lose our ventures. March 19th 1776. Yesterday I had the long expected and much wished pleasure of a letter from you of various states from the second to the

10th of March. This is the first line I have received since I left you. I am much pleased with your caution in your letter and of writing names both of persons and places or any other circumstances which might designate to strangers. The writer or the person written to or the persons mentioned characters and descriptions will do as well. The lie which you say occasions such disputes at the tavern was curious enough. Who could make it and spread it. And much obliged to an uncle for his friendship. My worthy fellow citizens may be easy about me. I never can forsake what I take to be their interests. My own have never been considered by me in competition with theirs. My ease. My domestic happiness my pleasures my little property my personal liberty my reputation my life have little weight and ever had in my own estimation in comparison of the great object of my country. I can say it with great sincerity as Horace says a virtue. To America only and her friends

are friends. You ask what is start of commonsense sensible man. I think there are some whims some socialism's some artful addresses to superstitious notions some keen attempts upon the passions in this pamphlet. But all agree there is a great deal of good sense delivered in a clear simple concise and nervous style. His sentiments of the abilities of America and of the difficulty of the reconciliation of the Great Britain are generally approved but his notions and plan of continental government are not much applauded. Indeed this writer has a better hand at pulling down than building it has been very generally propagated through the continent that I wrote this pamphlet. But I know I could not have written anything and so manly and striking a style I flatter myself I should have made a more respectable figure as an architect if I had undertaken such a work. This writer seems to have a very inadequate ideas of what is proper and necessary to be done

in order to form constitutions for single colonies as well as a great model of union for the whole. Your distresses what you have painted in such lively colors. I feel in every line as I read I dare not write all that I think upon this occasion. I wish our people had taken possession of no kill at the same time when they got the other heights and before the militia were dismissed. God bless you my dear and all about you to whom be pleased to remember my most tender affection Braintree. March 16th 1776. I last evening received yours of March 8. I must confess myself in fault that I did not write sooner to you but I was in continual expectation that some important event would take place to give me a subject worth writing upon. Before this reaches you I imagine you will have received two letters from me the last I close this day week. Since that time there has been some movement amongst the ministerial troops as if they meant to evacuate

the town of Boston. Between 70 and 80 vessels of various sizes are gone down and lay in a row in fair sight of this place all of which appear to be loaded by what can be collected from our own observations and from Desert years. They have been plundering the town. I've been very faceless with regard to their quitting Boston. I know not how to account for it nor am I yet satisfied that they will leave it though it seems to be the prevailing opinion of most people. We're obliged to place the militia upon guard every night upon the shores through fear of an invasion. There has been no firing since last Tuesday till about 12 o'clock last night but I was wait out of my sleep with a smart cannonade which continued to 9:00 this morning and prevented any further repose for me. The occasion I have not yet heard but before I close this letter I may be able to give you some account of it. By the accounts in the public papers the plot thickens and some very important crisis seems near at hand.

Perhaps Providence sees it necessary in order to answer important and and designs that the seat of the war should be changed from this to the southern colonies that each may have a proper sympathy for the other and unite in a separation. The refuge of the believer amidst all the afflicted dispensations of Providence is that the Lord readiness and that he can restrain the arm of man. Orders are given to our army to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning. I'll meet you with Philip I said the ghost of Caesar to Brutus. Sunday noon being quite sick with a violent cold I've tarried at home today. I find the firing was occasioned by our people taking possession of Knockhill which they kept in spite of the cannonade and which is really obliged our enemy to camp this morning on board the transports that I hear by a message just come from headquarters. Some of the selectmen have been to the lines and informed that they

have carried off everything they could possibly take and what they could not. They have burnt broke or hauled into the water. This is I believe fact many articles of good household furniture having in the course of the week come onshore at great hill both upon this and Weymouth side lids of desks mahogany chairs tables etc.. Our people here will have liberty to enter Boston. Those who have had the smallpox. The enemy have not yet come under sail. I cannot help suspecting some design which we do not yet comprehend to a quarter of the world they're bound as wholly unknown but is generally thought to New York. Many people are elated with their quitting Boston. I confess I do not view so it is only lifting the burden from one shoulder to the other which perhaps is less able or less willing to support it. To what I can tell to

both situation are the troops of Britain reduced. I feel glad however that Boston is not destroyed. I hope it will be so secured and guarded as to battle all future attempts against it. I hear that General Howe said upon going up upon some eminence in town to view our troops who had taken Dorchester Hill unperceived by them till sunrise. My God. These fellows have done more work in one night that I could make my army do in three months. And he might well say so. For in one night to forts and long breastworks were sprung up beside several barracks three hundred and seventy teams were employed most of which went three load in the night besides four thousand men who worked with good hearts. From Penn seal We have a view of the largest fleet ever seen in America. You may count upwards of one hundred and seventy sail. They look like a forest. I was very lucky for us that we got possession of no kill.

They place their cannon so as to fire upon the top of the hill where they had observed our people marking out the ground but was only to elude them for they began to lower upon the hill and nearer the town. It was a very foggy dark evening and they had possession of the hill six hours before a gun was fired and when they did fire they overshot our people saw that they were covered before morning and not one man lost which the enemy no sooner discovered than Bunker Hill was abandoned. And every man to camp to soon as he could but they found they should not be able to get away if we want to get our cannon mounted. Our general may say with Caesar then a VB a beachy. What effect does the expectation of commissioners have with you. Are they held in disdain as they are here. It's come to that pass now that the longest sword must decide the contest and the sword is less dreaded here than the commissioners you mention threats upon Braintree. I know of none nor ever heard of any till you mention them. The Tories look a little crestfallen. As for cleverly he looks like the knight of the

woeful countenance. I hear all the mongrel breed are left in Boston and our people who are prisoners are put into irons and carried off. I think I do not admire the speech from the rostrum to the heavy and elegant for both performance and did not strike my fancy at all. I'm very saucy suppose you will say to the liberty I take with you indulgence is apt to spoil one of yours most sincerely. Portia March 29 1776. I give you joy of Boston and Charlestown once more the habitations of Americans and waiting with great impatience for letters from you which I know will contain many particulars. We are taking precautions to defend every place that is in danger. The Carolinas Virginia New York Canada. I can think of nothing but what a fine Boston Harbor. I want more can and then are to be had. I want a fortification upon point Alderton one upon Lovell's island one upon Georges

Island several up on Long Island one upon the moon one upon scrotum. I want to hear of half a dozen fire ships and two or three hundred fire rafts prepared. I want to hear a row gallies floating batteries built and booms laid across the Channel in the narrows and there so different is sunk in it. I wish to hear that you are translating Braintree Commons into the channel. No efforts no expense are too extravagant for me to wish for to fortify that harbor so as to make it impregnable. I hope everybody will join and work until it is done. You know when that read it was your. Prospect of a union is produced and written by Elizabeth Spiro for WFC are the four

college radio station of Amherst Smith and Mount Holyoke colleges and the University of Massachusetts from whose faculties the cast of prospect of the Union was drawn. STEPHEN CONROY was hurt as John Adams and Beverly Mae as Abigail Marjorie Kaufman was the narrator. The letters of John and Abigail Adams were taken from the Adams Family correspondence published by the Harvard University Press. The song Free American Day was written by Dr. Joseph Warren and was recorded by Sawyer as Minute Man from the collection of early American songs of John and Lucy Allison. This program was distributed by national educational radio. This is the national educational radio network.