Your kind Letter of Aug. 29, gave me much pleasure.

There is more Confinement, in my present Situation than in any, that I have been in these thirty Years: and another Evil is come upon me, under which I suffered formerly, but from which I have been wholly relieved during my Absence from America.— Publick Speaking ever gave me a Pain in my Breast, which was not only troublesome for the time, but dangerous for the future. My present Office not only obliges me to a constant and close Attention of Mind, but to continual Reading and Speaking, which has again affected, La Poitrine, as it used to do, and raises many doubts how long I shall be able to go on.

Your Account of the Prophecy is humorous enough: but you must be mistaken in the Point of time. I left Congress on the 11th. of Nov. 1777 (that Year which the Tories Said had three Gallows’s in it meaning the three sevens 777) just as Congress had gone through the Confederation, but before it was Signed. My Name is not to that Confederation. So that the Prediction must have been uttered either at York Town, a day or two before I left it, or before, at Philadelphia. I recollect Some Expressions of that Sort, on the Floor of Congress in Philadelphia, immediately after the Determination that the Votes Should be by States, and not by Numbers a Point which Wilson and I laboured with great Zeal. After that determination and some others, 157 I own, I gave up that Confederation in despair of its Efficacy or long Utility.

Congress have passed a Law, as you Solicited but a Clause has been introduced relative to Rum &c which perhaps your People may not relish so well.1 It is now the Universal Expectation that your State will come in before Winter.— but if the Public should be disappointed, some thing very unpleasant will undoubtedly be the Consequence.— It would not be difficult for Congress to make the Unsocial Rhode Islanders, See, and feel, that the Union is of Some importance to their Interest and Happiness.— Winning however by Mildness and Condescension is much more agreable.

My oldest Son, arrived here Yesterday, very full of Gratitude for the Kindness and Attention of your Family to him at Newport.

Deacon Sayward of York, who was a timid Tory, Said to me at Dinner with the Judges on the Eastern Circuit in June 1774 “Mr Adams, you are chosen to go to Philadelphia as a Member of Congress. it is a weighty Trust, and I beg leave to recommend to you as a rule of your Conduct, the Doctrine of our former Minister Mr Moody. at the Declaration of the War of 1745, he preached a Sermon from those Words, And they know not what to 2 do.— His Doctrine from the Words was, that in times of private or publick Calamity Distress or Danger it was the Duty of a Person or a People to be very careful that they do not do, they know not what.”3

This Doctrine of Mr Moody I would very humbly and earnestly recommend to the Faith And Practice of every Member of the Rhode Island Legislature and Convention. and if you please you may give them this Advice of Deacon Sayward to a Member of Congress, without mentioning my Name in the Newspapers. I am / sir affectionately yours

In your letter of the 18th of August, you ask why we may not have as much paper in circulation in proportion to our circulating silver and gold, as Great Britain has in proportion to hers?1 Give me leave to answer you without hesitation. We may as soon as we shall have any credit.— We have none. No man of common sense will trust us. As soon as an unlimited democracy tyrannized over the rich, no man of property was safe. If ever an unlimited Aristocracy shall tyrannize over the poor, and the moderately rich at once, the greater portion of society will not dare to trust the less. But if a government well ordered mixed and counterpoised should take place, and in consequence of it the commandment Thou shalt not steal, be observed, then and not till then you may circulate what paper you may find necessary— But I doubt very much whether our circumstances will require any paper at all. The cash paid in imposts, will immediately be paid to creditors and by them circulated in society

I am sir &

I am honored with your letter of 31 of August. Your complaint against our laws was well founded but we have passed a law which I hope will give satisfaction. This was done in full confidence, that you will adopt the constitution and send us senators and Representatives before next session. If we should be disappointed I presume that serious measures will be suggested, to let your Anti’s know that their interests are connected with ours, and that a desperate 159 conspiracy of unjust men are not able to do so much mischief as they fattered themselves they had the power to do. Dr Sender and Mr Bourne did not give me an opportunity of shewing them the civilities which your recommendation entitled them to, and my own inclination prompted. The turbulent State of Europe ought to be a motive with us to get into order as soon as possible, and Rhode Island especially ought to feel the impropriety of her conduct in embarrassing themselves and their neighbors as they have done. out of the union there is no hope for your people but misery to themseves and mischief to others.

I have been happy in the company of my old friend Mr. Marchant of NPort whose success in his negotiation I hope will recommend him to the favorable attention of his Country. I have known him these five and thirty years the same honest candid and sensible man

With esteem & & &