John Adams to Abigail Adams
Letter 1
Philadelphia, July 3. 1776
Your Favour of June 17 dated at Plymouth, was handed me, by Yesterdays Post. I was much pleased to find that you had taken a Journey to Plymouth, to see your Friends in the long Absence of one whom you may wish to see. The Excursion will be an Amusement, and will serve your Health. How happy would it have made me to have taken this Journey with you?
I was informed, a day or two before the Receipt of your Letter, that you was gone to Plymouth, by Mrs. Polly Palmer, who was obliging enough in your Absence, to inform me, of the Particulars of the Expedition to the lower Harbour against the Men of War. Her Narration is executed, with a Precision and Perspicuity, which would have become the Pen of an accomplished Historian.
I am very glad you had so good an opportunity of seeing one of our little American Men of War. Many Ideas, new to you, must have presented themselves in such a Scene; and you will in future, better understand the Relations of Sea Engagements.
I rejoice extreamly at Dr. Bulfinches Petition to open an Hospital. But I hope, the Business will be done upon a larger Scale. I hope, that one Hospital will be licensed in every County, if not in every TownAdams appears to be of the opinion that hospitals should be opened much more broadly.. I am happy to find you resolved, to be with the Children, in the first Class. Mr. Whitney and Mrs. Katy Quincy are cleverly through Innoculation, in this City.
I have one favour to ask, and that is, that in your future Letters, you would acknowledge the Receipt of all those you may receive from me, and mention their Dates. By this Means I shall know if any of mine miscarry.
The Information you give me of our Friends refusing his Appointment, has given me much Pain, Grief and Anxiety. I believe I shall be obliged to follow his Example. I have not Fortune enough to support my Family, and what is of more Importance, to support the Dignity of that exalted Station. It is too high and lifted up, for me; who delight in nothing so much as Retreat, Solitude, Silence, and Obscurity. In private Life, no one has a Right to censure me for following my own Inclinations, in Retirement, Simplicity, and Frugality: in public Life, every man has a Right to remark as he pleases, at least he thinks so.
Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among MenClearly, Adams believes that the matter of American independence is one of historic importance.. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony "that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States may rightfully do." You will see in a few days a Declaration setting forth the Causes, which have impell'd Us to this mighty Revolution, and the Reasons which will justify it, in the Sight of God and Man. A Plan of Confederation will be taken up in a few days.
When I look back to the Year 1761, and recollect the Argument concerning Writs of Assistance, in the Superiour Court, which I have hitherto considered as the Commencement of the Controversy, between Great Britain and America, and run through the whole Period from that Time to this, and recollect the series of political Events, the Chain of Causes and Effects, I am surprised at the Suddenness, as well as Greatness of this Revolution. Britain has been fill'd with Folly, and America with Wisdom, at least this is my JudgmentHere, Adams expresses his opinion that Britain has been filled with folly while America has been wise. What does he mean here? His use of the word "folly" suggests foolish thoughtlessness or recklessness. In what ways did Britain behave thoughtlessly or recklessly toward the colonies? And how was America wise?. Time must determine. It is the Will of Heaven, that the two Countries should be sundered foreverAdams clearly believes that it is God's will that America and Britain should split.. It may be the Will of Heaven that America shall suffer Calamities still more wasting and Distresses yet more dreadful If this is to be the Case, it will have this good Effect, at least: it will inspire Us with many Virtues, which We have not, and correct many Errors, Follies, and Vices, which threaten to disturb, dishonour, and destroy Us. The Furnace of Affliction produces Refinement, in States as well as IndividualsAdams points out that just as it may be God's will for the colonies to separate from Britain, it may also be God's will for America to undergo series "calamites" and "distresses." What might these be? Adams believes that if this is the case, then going through those difficult times will inspire Americans to greater virtue and the opportunity to correct their flaws as a people. Do you agree with Adams' opinion that "the furnace of affliction produces refinement, in states as well as individuals"?. And the new Governments we are assuming, in every Part, will require a Purification from our Vices, and an Augmentation of our Virtues or they will be no Blessings. The People will have unbounded Power. And the People are extreamly addicted to Corruption and Venality, as well as the Great. I am not without Apprehensions from this QuarterAdams suggests that the new government will demand a higher standard of virtue from its citizens because "the people will have unbounded power." He expresses the opinion that people are addicted to corruption and notes that he is "not without apprehensions" about this particular issue. Why would the new form of government mean that people would need to be more virtuous? What vices would be of particular concern? Is Adams right that people are addicted to corruption? Was he right to be concerned about the virtue of the American people as they launched their new nation?. But I must submit all my Hopes and Fears, to an overruling Providence, in which, unfashionable as the Faith may be, I firmly believe.
Letter 2
Philadelphia, July 3d. 1776 Had a Declaration of Independency been made seven Months ago, it would have been attended with many great and glorious Effects....We might before this Hour, have formed Alliances with foreign States. — We should have mastered Quebec and been in Possession of Canada...Adams believes that if the declaration had been made several months earlier, America could have made alliances with foreign nations and may well have secured Quebec and Canada as part of the new nation. You will perhaps wonder, how such a Declaration would have influenced our Affairs, in Canada, but if I could write with Freedom I could easily convince you, that it would, and explain to you the manner how. — Many Gentlemen in high Stations and of great Influence have been duped, by the ministerial Bubble of Commissioners to treat... And in real, sincere Expectation of this effort Event, which they so fondly wished, they have been slow and languid, in promoting Measures for the Reduction of that Province. Others there are in the Colonies who really wished that our Enterprise in Canada would be defeated, that the Colonies might be brought into Danger and Distress between two Fires, and be thus induced to submit. Others really wished to defeat the Expedition to Canada, lest the Conquest of it, should elevate the Minds of the People too much to hearken to those Terms of Reconciliation which they believed would be offered Us. These jarring Views, Wishes and Designs, occasioned an opposition to many salutary Measures, which were proposed for the Support of that Expedition, and caused Obstructions, Embarrassments and studied Delays, which have finally, lost Us the ProvinceHere Adams provides his view of how "our enterprise in Canada" failed. There's not enough information here to carefully evaluate whether Adams is right about the causes of the invasion's failure, but one can get a sense of some of the major issues as Adams saw them — "obstructions, embarrassments, and studied delays" caused by a variety of people who wished for the expedition to fail. Further research might reveal more detail about who those people were and why they did not support the military's expedition in Canada..
All these Causes however in Conjunction would not have disappointed Us, if it had not been for a Misfortune, which could not be foreseen, and perhaps could not have been prevented, I mean the Prevalence of the small Pox among our Troops... This fatal Pestilence compleated our Destruction Adams suggests that smallpox was the fatal blow to the efforts of the Continental Army in Canada.. — It is a Frown of Providence upon Us, which We ought to lay to heart.
But on the other Hand, the Delay of this Declaration to this Time, has many great Advantages attending itAdams sees some advantages to the timing of the Declaration. By July 1776, reconciliation with Britain no longer seemed possible or attractive to most of the colonists. The people had been able to carefully consider the question of independence and were therefore no longer fearful. The matter had been raised in town meetings, publications, and private conversations.. — The Hopes of Reconciliation, which were fondly entertained by Multitudes of honest and well meaning tho weak and mistaken People, have been gradually and at last totally extinguished. — Time has been given for the whole People, maturely to consider the great Question of Independence and to ripen their judgments, dissipate their Fears, and allure their Hopes, by discussing it in News Papers and Pamphletts, by debating it, in Assemblies, Conventions, Committees of Safety and Inspection, in Town and County Meetings, as well as in private Conversations, so that the whole People in every Colony of the 13, have now adopted it, as their own Act. — This will cement the Union, and avoid those Heats and perhaps Convulsions which might have been occasioned, by such a Declaration Six Months agoAdams feels that because the people have had more time to consider the matter of independence, they will take the Declaration as their own, which, in turn, will make the Union stronger. Do you think that people would have reacted to a declaration of independence differently if they hadn't had time to think about the matter? Do you think that consensus on the issue of independence was essential to the beginnings of a new nation?.
But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of AmericaAdams believes that July 2 will be remembered as a critical day in American history..
I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever moreHere, Adams describes the way that he foresees people celebrating the anniversary of American independence. (How does Adams' expectation compare to the way we celebrate Independence Day now?).
You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. — I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. — Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall notAdams shares his opinion that it will be difficult and costly to secure American indepedence, but that the resulting new nation will be worth the sacrifices..