Adams Family Correspondence, volume 1

Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 27 February 1774 Warren, Mercy Otis AA

1774-02-27

Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 27 February 1774 Warren, Mercy Otis Adams, Abigail

Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams

Plimouth February 27 1774

The Confidence I have in the Candour and Friendship of Both Mr. and Mrs. Adams, together with her request in her last agreable Favour for the Communication of something in the poetical way: Emboldens me to put into their Hands a piece form'd (as nearly as the Writer Could understand it) upon the short sketch of somthing of this kind by Mr. Adams in a Letter to Mr. Warren somtime ago.1

Should have sent it before but was in hopes he Would have Condescended to have given some further hints with regard to several Characters among his titular Deities. Must insist that this falls under the observation of none Else till I hear how it stands the inspection of Mr. Adamss judicious Eye. For I will not trust the partiallity of My own sex so much as to rely on Mrs. Adams judgment though I know her to be a Lady of taste and Discernment. If Mr. Adams thinks it deserving of any further Notice and he will point out the faults, which doubtless are many, they may perhaps be Corrected, when it shall be at his service. If he is silent I shall Consider it as a certain Mark of disapprobation, and in despair will for the future, lay asside the pen of the poet (which ought perhaps to have been done sooner) Though not that of the Friend, which I look upon as much the most amiable and Distinguished Character. And while we unite in deploring the Miserable situation of a people Broken into Factions, where the seeds of Animosity are sown, and Every discordant passion is Gathering strength, may we not without being infected by the better bitter Contagion agree in sentiment with regard to the authors of the Wide 100spreading Evil, And rejoice to see the Enemies of our peace about to be deprived of the power of doing further Mischief.

When the public Attention is Engaged by the Calling to Account the Great Delinquents of the day, And the time of men of Abilities is Engross'd in searching for precedents to bring them to justice, will my Friends Excuse the Momentary Interuption of offring anything so unimportant and so little Entertaining as are the productions of Their Real Friend &c.,

M Warren

P.S. Mr. Warrens Compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Adams. He proposes writing if time permits. A line left with Mr. Otis2 may be soon Conveyed, to Plimouth.

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To Mrs. Adams Boston.” Enclosure printed herewith.

JA to James Warren, 22 Dec. 1773 (MHi: Warren-Adams Coll.; printed in JA, Works , 9:334–336). JA's letter was also printed in Papers of John Adams, 2:2.By comparing JA's proposed fable for a mock-heroic poem on the Boston Tea Party and the verses enclosed in the present letter, the reader may judge whether Mrs. Warren used JA's hints to the best possible advantage. JA's comments on the poem, which are perhaps more gallant than judicious, are in a letter to James Warren of 9 April 1774 (MHi: Warren-Adams Coll.; JA, Works , 9:336–337).

Presumably Mrs. Warren's brother, Samuel Allyne Otis (1740–1814), Harvard 1759, a merchant in Boston; he later married AA's cousin, Mary (Smith) Gray. See Adams Genealogy.

Enclosure: Poem on the Boston Tea Party, 27 February 1774 Warren, Mercy Otis AA

1774-02-27

Enclosure: Poem on the Boston Tea Party, 27 February 1774 Warren, Mercy Otis Adams, Abigail

Enclosure: Poem on the Boston Tea Party

Wrote at the Request of A Gentleman who described the Late Glorious Event of sacrificeing several Cargos of tea to the publick Welfare, as a squable among the Celestials of the sea Arising from a scarcity of Nectar and Ambrosia

Bright Phebus Drove his Rapid Car amain, But Baits his steeds, beyond the Western plain, Behind a Golden skirte'd Cloud to rest, Er'e Ebon Night had spread her sable Vest, And drawn her Curtains or'e the fragrant Vale, Or Cinthias shadows drest the lonely dale. The Heroes of the Tuskeraro Tribe, Who scorn alike, A Fetter, or a Bribe, In order Range'd, and waiting Freedoms Nod, To make an off'ring, to the Watry God. Grey Neptunes Rising, from his sea green Bed, He Wave'd his Trident or'e his ouzy Head, Stretching from shore to shore, his Regal Wand, Bids all the River Deities Attend, But least Refusal from some distant Dame, Trytons Hoarse Clarion summon'd them by Name. In Counsel met, to Adjust affairs of state, Among their Godships, rose a warm debate, What luscious Draught, they next shou'd substitute, That might the palates, of Celestials suit, 101 As Nectars stream no more Meandering Rolls, And Rich Ambrosia, quaff'd in flowing Bowls, Profusely spent, nor Can Scamanders shore, Yeald the fair sea Nimphs, one short Banquet more. The Titans all with one accord Arouse'd, To travil or'e Columbias Coast, propose'd, To rob and plunder Ev'ry Neigh'bring Vine, Regardless of Nemesis sacred shrine, Nor leave untouch'd the peasants little store, Or think of Right, while demi Gods have pow'r. But they on No Alternative agreed, Nor En'e Great Neptune further Could proceed, Till Ev'ry Godess of the streams, and Lakes, And lesser Dieties, of Fens and Brakes, With all the Nymphs that swim around the Iles, Deign to give sanction, by approving smiles. For Females have their Influance over kings, Nor wives, nor Mistresses, were useless things, En'e to the Gods, of ancient Homers page. Nor when in weighty Matters they Engage, Could they Neglect the sexes sage advice, And least of all, in any point so nice, As to Forbid the Choice Ambrosial sip, And offer Bohea to the rosey Lip. Proud Amphitrite Rejects it in Disdain, Refuse'd the Gift, and quits the Wat'ry main, With servile Proteus laging by her side, To take Advantage of the shifting tide, To Catch a smile, or pick up Golden sands, Either from Plutus, or the Naked strands. Long practice'd, Easy he assumes the shape, Of Fox, of panther, Crokedile, or ape, If tis his Interest, his step dame He'll aid, One pebble more, and Amphitrites Betray'd. A Flaming Torch she took in Either Hand, And as fell Discord Reign'd throughout the Land, Was well appriz'd, the Centaurs would Conspire, Resolv'd to set the No'thern World on Fire, 102 By scatering the Weeds of Indian shores, Or Else to lodge them in Pigmalions stores, But if the Artifice shou'd not succeed, Then in Revenge Attempt some Bolder deed. For while old Oceans mighty Billows roar, Or Foaming surges lash the distant shore, Shall Godeses Regale like Woodland dames, First let Chinesean Herbage Feed the Flames. But all the Neriads Wisper'd Murmers Round, And Cragy Cliffs Re-echo Back the sound, Till fair Salacia perch'd upon the Rocks. The Rival Godess Waves her yellow Locks, Proclaims that Hyson shall asswage their Grief, With Choice Sochong, and the imperial Leaf. The Heroes of the Tuskurarine Race (Who Neither hold, nor Even wish for place, While Faction Reigns, and Tyrany presides, And Base oppression or'e the Virtues Rides, While Venal Measures dance in silken sails, And Avarice or'e Earth and sea prevails, And Luxery creates such mighty Feuds En'e in the Bosoms of the Demi Gods) Lent their strong arm, in pity to the Fair, To aid the Bright Salacias Gen'rous Care, Poure'd a profusion of Delicious teas, Which Wafte'd by a soft Favonian Breeze, Supplied the Wa'try Deities in spight, Of all the Rage, of jealous Amphitrite. The Fair Salacia Victory, Victry sings In spite of Heroes, demi Gods, And kings. She bids Defiance: to the servile train, The pimps, and sicophants, of Georges Reign. The Virtuous Daughters of the Neigh'bring Mead In Graceful smiles Approve the Glorious deed, And 'tho the Syrens left their Coral beds, Just or'e the surface, lifted up their Heads, And sung soft peans, to the Brave and Fair, Till almost Caught in the Delusive snare, 103 So sink securly in a Golden Dream, And taste the sweet, innebriateing stream, Which tho a Repast for the Watry Naiades, Is Baneful poisen to the Mountain Dryades, They saw delighted, from the Inland Rocks, Or'e the Broad deep pour'd out Pandoras Box, And join Salacias Victory to sing, Ocean Rebounds, and songs of triumph Ring, From Southern Lakes, Down to the Nothern Rills, And spreads Confusion round Neponsit Hills.1

The content of all or some notes that appeared on this page in the printed volume has been moved to the end of the preceding document

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To Mrs. Adams Boston.” Enclosure printed herewith.

Gov. Thomas Hutchinson's home was in Milton among what Mrs. Warren calls the “Neponsit Hills.”