MHS Collections Online

I must acknowledge my disappointment in not hearing from my Friend
Mrs Warren when my young inmate Mr Charles returnd, however prone
persons in adverse life may be to Construe many incidents into neglect
Consequent upon a reverse of Fortune, far be it from an heart deeply
impressd with sentiments of gratitude, thro a series of Friendship & benifi
cence to entertain so unworthy a thought. I ever endeavor to put the kindest
construction, & therefore Claim from you that Candor for my defects which
you are ever ready to allow, & pray you to retract Something, like an
imputation, of too Ceremonious an exaction of prompt pay for Value
receivd. If I should offer in excuse for my neglect, dejection, low
spirits, Solitude &c. perhaps it would not be admitted, if I were to repent
the painful Ideas that are ever occupying the disjointed soul of your
unhappy!— it might give you painful [Ideations?] sensations. allow me
to say my dear Friend, that however the tedious hours of the year
past might appear like a dream when revolving, yet I am now awake
and daily Calld to feel the reality of the mournful truth, of joys for
ever gone! & now am treading the darksome maze of Widowd life!

Ah! the tender ties close twisted with the Fibres of the heart;
which broken, break them, & drain of the soul of human joy;
and make it pain to live; A kind Visit from your best friend
revivd my spirits & gave me a prospect of a pleasanter day with
the company of your Two Sons. The Vacation has been very
melancholy. upon the return of the youth, Cambridge might have
a more lively Aspect, if a very dexterous manuvre had not taken
place, which exhibits a spirit in the rising generation which the
Patriots in the American Revolution cannot blame with
any Seriousness. They may Console themselves with the thought
that if they leave the important point of established Independence
unfinishd, instead of the Fathers will rise up their Children. Veryly
this is a surprising day for overturning Empires & dethroning
rulers! I can truly Sympathise with the Lady in being deposd
from an agreable living, though in my reverse, I have only to
look to that Great Being that Cannot Err. The University
in a Few years is putting on very different aspects. I should
think this revolution would make the ambitious less fond of
Pinnacles of glory.

Mrs Warren

I was much surprisd at the Paragraph in the Advertiser, not surprisd
that the Lady of M General Warren intended to favor the world
with the History of America, for I have often heard it was the expectation
of those Friends who knew Her abilities, & were wishing for such an entertainment
from the fair hand of so good a penwoman. As for the History of a
particular state from the other Lady, I do not know wether such an
expectation is to be wonderd at when it is considerd the near Connection
she had with a Person so justly Celebrated for His great abilities, which
and to Her mortification, she has not made those improvements
from, which she might have done and is now regretting, It is beyond
doubt that her acquirements are not equal, to afford any amusement
on such Points. I think she might expect were she to attempt it the Fate of a Certain Active
Dabbling Doctor in Politics, which He has often met, even the good wishes of his
Cotemporaries that He would mind his own business & keep with in
His own humble sphere, However, if that Ladys name, has been made
use of in announcing to the public only as an humble attendant on the
other Lady, who I sincerely wish, would oblidge the world, for the
Honor of America, with Her arrangement of facts, which will, certainly make
as Conspicuous a Figure as any Else Era in the History of the World.

She, will feel herself happy, in the applause her dear Friend will
justly, gain from an impartial world. Pray inform me from whom
you Conjecture this peice of intelligence Came. altho my modesty
may be somewhat Piqued at being mentioned as an Authoress
Yet it will never induce me to relax a Correspondence from
which I recieve such profit & pleasure. I hope very soon to have
the pleasure of seeing You when we may innocently chit chat
without the suspicion of being interested in the rise or fall
of Empire. we may soon unenving, see the ambitions gratified in
ascending the height of Human glory,

Cambridge Sept lst 1780.

[Endorsement]

[Endorsement]