To the same [To Hannah Winthrop]
Plymouth February 1775
The kind excuse my very worthy friend has made for a
late interval of silence is too flattering for me to suppose it has any
foundation but in that favourable medium, through which we behold
every thing relative to those for whom we have an affection. But I wave
every other subject to enquire what was in my last,
that looked like a
reproof;- sure I am there was none designed.
If any question of mine
with regard to Doctor Winthrops
absence from, Congress looked like a
suspicion that he was less attentive to the welfare of his country than
usual, I ask pardon for the inadvertance, and doubt not I shall
read
-ily recieve it both from him and yourself.
Doctor Winthrop is one of
the last persons, I shall ever suspect as justly reprehensible for any
part of his conduct, either in public or private life. The reason you
give for his declining a seat in that respectable body convened for the
preservation of a sinking country, gives me a higher idea of his
integrity and benevolence than an acceptance of the choice would have
done: for in my opinion it was not possible for any man however
qualified he may be for business of the first importance to fill two
different and very distinct departments, with honour and fidelity
ade-
-quate to the views of the professor, of mathematics at Cambridge -
To attend at the same time to the busy scenes of the politician:
and the active pursuits of the statesman without interrupting in
some measure those philosophic inquiries that have so long
distin
-guished our scientific friend in the literary world, cannot be
expec
-ted from any one. Who that has a son in that seminary to which
he belongs or that has any regard for the improvement of the rising
generation could wish Doctor
Winthrop to withdraw his application
to the instruction of those youth, whom posterity must look to for
philosophers and statesman;- for philosophers to adorn and
for statesmen to direct the rising Commonwealth of America
or the dawning empire of the western world.
I think we need
not yet be discouraged though embarrassed and perplexed: the right-
-eous cause in which the undaunted patriots of America have
struggled for many years will finally succeed: it is true some may
tremble at a speech from the throne, and others be appalled by the echo
of a venal parliament; but we have much to hope from a meeting
of the Delegates from all the Colonies. Who knows but that these modern
as were the ancients convened from the states of Greece? - But we must leave to the great
arbiter of the universe the decision of events on which hangs the fate of both
Great Britain and America.
I have seen the pamphlet referred to in your
last and admire it. I should also be glad to share with you the agreeable
in-
-terview you are about to have with his Russian Majesty's secretary of
state,
but fear I shall not have an opportunity of listning to the anecdotes of
that court, as I presume the Baron
Bellfield, will not soon travel this
way.
I consider myself under great obligations for your care of the first friend
of
my heart. The regrets of absence, are much lessened whenever I recollect
that his leasure from the arduous cares of state are
spent in your agreeable
family.- Could it have been done consistent with prudence and duty
at this season of the year, I should have accompanied him and have made
me at your social fireside in some part of this dreary quarter of the year: and
there have listened, to the refined and delightful accents of rational and
unfeign-
-ed friendship, instead of the boisterous noise of winter, and the wants
of
the indigent, in this stormy and inclement period. But the first duties of a
woman and a mother are beneath her own domestic roof.
With my respectful
compliments to Doctor Winthrop, tell
him I am obliged by his candour
and that he is welcome to make what use he pleases of the manuscript
in his hands, though I do not wish to be named as the author so long as
the spirit of party was so high.
With every sentiment of regard to him
and yourself I am my dear madam most affectionately yours,