I forbore asking You any Questions on your Return from Staten Island, as there were a Number of People about us; but would beg Leave to suggest the good Policy of making that Transaction publick, for the Sake of such People as yet long for Reconciliation.

I fear we have too strong a Proof of those People's Prevalence in our State, from the Manner in which the great Offices have been disposed of among us. The Governor, Chief Justice and second Justice of the Supreme Court were the great Opposers of Independence, and the Secretary one of those who would have been put to Death under the Laws of Sparta for taking neither Side of the Question; but driving with the Tide.1 I fear at the same Time the violent Men, as they are called, are not looked upon with the most favourable Eye by our new Legislature. That we may not be under the Temptation of murmuring or flinching, it might be very well to hold out to the World in the most publick Manner, that the Door to Reconciliation is shut by our Enemies, unless upon Terms, we can never think of. However Congress, I dare say, will consider this.

I might, I believe, return to Congress; but must starve my Family, if I did, as our people will allow Nothing more than the bare Expence of eating and drinking to their Delegates. Twenty pounds was all I received for near Four Month's Attendance. This Service must therefore devolve upon Men of long Purses, who can leave their Business and support their Families upon their Estates.

I wish to be serviceable; but must attempt it in a private Capacity; unless I could descend to sollicit Trust and Employ-25ment, which practice I really esteem incompatible with a free and pure Commonwealth.

In our Legislature I believe I may say there is not one Man capable of draughting a Bill in the lower House and in the upper they are little better off. It is impossible to convince some of our principal Senators (such is their Information) that we have not from an hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand Men in New York and some of the Members of the late Convention are highly blamed for worrying the Militia by calling for so many of them.

Learning is too much despised among us, or rather it is deemed almost wholly inconsistent with common Honesty. Plain Farmers are almost the only Men trusted; Lawyers, above all others, are marked as unworthy of Confidence, such especially as have any pretensions to Eminence.2 I expect one Day to claim your and Mr. S. Adams's Promise of procuring me a Settlement at Boston and am Yr. most obedient hble Servt.

I very gratefully acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter dated the of August.1 I should have written to you from this place before, but I have not had Leisure. My Time is divided between Boston and Watertown, and though we are not engagd in Matters of such Magnitude as now employ your Mind, there are a thousand things which call the Attention of every Man who is concernd for his Country. Our Assembly have appointed a Committee to prepare a Form of Government. They have not yet reported. I beleive they will agree in two legislative Branches. Their great Difficulty seems to be to determine upon a free and adequate Representative. They are at present an unweildy Body. I will inform you more of this when I shall have the Materials. The Defence of this Town you know has lain much upon 26our Minds. Fortifications are erected upon several of the Islands, which I am told require at least 8000 Men. You shall have a particular Account when I am at Leisure. By my Manner of writing you may conclude that I am now in haste. I have receivd no Letters from Philadelphia or N York since I was favord with yours, nor can I find that any other Person has. It might be of Advantage to the common Cause for us to know what is doing at both those important places. We have a Report that a Committee is appointed (as the Expression is) “to meet the Howes” and that you are one. This, without Flattery gave me pleasure. I am indeed at a Loss to conceive how such a Movement could be made consistent with the Honor of the Congress, but I have such an Opinion of the Wisdom of that Body, that I must not doubt of the Rectitude of the Measure. I hope they will be vigilant and firm, for I am told that Lord Howe is, though not a great Man, an artful Courtier. May God give us Wisdom Fortitude Perseverance and every other Virtue necessary for us to maintain that Independence which we have asserted. It would be ridiculous indeed if we were to return to a State of Slavery in a few Weeks after we had thrown off the Yoke and asserted our Independence. The Body of the people of America, I am perswaded, would resent it. But why do I write in this Stile. I rely upon the Congress and the Committee. I wish however to know a little about this Matter, for I confess I cannot account for it to my own mind.2 I will write to you soon. In the mean time Adieu

What has been the Issue of the Debates upon a Weighty Subject when I left you,3 and another Matter (you know what I mean) of great Importance. Is it not high time they were finishd?