MY DEAR SIR
I send you the inclosd Speech for your Amusement. One or two Remarks you will observe are made upon it. There is Room for many more. I wish some ingenious Pen might be employd. The Contest with America, it seems, is now confessd by the British Monarch to be "arduous." I think he greatly deceives himself, if he does not expect it will be more so. Indeed he sees it; for we must, says he, "AT ALL EVENTS prepare for another Campaign." "If their Treason is sufferd to take Root, much Mischief will grow out of it—to the present System of ALL Europe." Here we have the Authority of a King's (not a very wise one I confess) to affirm, that the War between Britain and the united States of America will affect the Ballance of Power in Europe. Will not the different Powers take different Sides to adjust the Ballance to their different Interests? "I am using my UTMOST Endeavors to conciliate the unhappy Differences between two Neighboring Powers." If he is still USING his Endeavors, it seems, the Differences are not yet made up.—"I continue to receive ASSURANCES of Amity from the several Courts in Europe"—But he adds "It is expedient we should be in a respectable State of DEFENCE at home." If he has such Assurances of the Continuance of Amity in Europe, why is it so expedient at this time to be in a respectable State of Defence at home? Surely he cannot think the AMERICAN Navy yet so formidable, as to demand this Caution. Or is he at length become wise enough to attend to a good old Maxim, IN PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR.—By his prefixing a "NOTWITHSTANDING" to his "fair Prospect," and his being manifestly hard pressd with "the present Scituation of Affairs" in America, I am led to conclude, that he looks upon his "Assurances of AMITY" as the mere Compliments of a Court; and that he strongly apprehends, the Quarrel he has plungd himself into with America hath excited a Curiosity and a Watchfulness in some of the Powers of Europe, which will produce a contrary Effect. I am with very great Esteem,
Your assured Friend and humble Servant,
TO JAMES WARREN.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BALTIMORE Feb 10, 1777
MY DEAR SIR
I beg Leave to inclose my Account of Expences from the 26th of
April 1775 to the 27 of Augt 1776 amounting to . . . .
I intended to have laid it before the House of Representatives when I was last in New England, but the sudden Adjournment of the General Assembly in September last, and my Hurry in preparing for my Journey hither after its sitting again in October prevented my doing it.
When I sat off from Lexington after the memorable Battle there, I had with me only the Cloaths on my back, which were very much worn, those which I had provided for my self being then in Boston, and it was out of my Power at that time to recover them. I was therefore under a Necessity, of being at an extraordinary Expense, to appear with any kind of Decency for Cloathing & Linnen after my Arrival in this City, which I think makes a reasonable Charge of Barrils Leonards and Stilles Bills in my Accot.