of what our People called English Liberties, by the same Means.  We shall never subdue them, said Bernard, but by eradicating their Manners & the Principles of their Education.  Will the judicious Citizens of Boston be now caught in the Snare, which their artful, insidious Enemies, a few years ago laid for them in vain?  Shall we ruin ourselves by the very means, which they pointed out in their Confidential Letters, tho even they did not dare openly to avow them?  Pownal, who was indeed a mere Fribble, venturd to have his Riots & Routs at his own house, to please a few Boys & Girls.  Sober People were disgusted at it, & his privy Councellors never thought it prudent to venture so far as expensive Balls.  Our Bradfords, Winslows & Winthrops would have revolted at the Idea of opening Scenes of Dissipation & Folly; knowing them to be inconsistent with their great Design, in transplanting themselves into what they called this “Outside of the World.”  But I fear I shall say too much.  I love the People of Boston.  I once thought, that City would be the Christian Sparta.  But Alas!  Will men never be free!  They will be free no longer than while they remain virtuous.  Sidney tells us, there are times when People are not worth saving.  Meaning, when they have lost their Virtue.  I pray God, this may never be truly said of my beloved Town.  Adieu.  My Respects to Mrs Scollay & Family & believe me to be sincerely

Your Friend

If Mr B A 1 thinks a Question from me worth his answering, ask him whether he has lost some value-able Books which I have seen in his Library, the Works of our illustrious Forefathers.

1 Benjamin Austin.

1781

TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.

[Ms., Lee Papers, American Philosophical Society.]

Philade Jany 15th 1781

MY DEAR SIR

Your second Letter came to hand in due Season.  My much Esteemed Friend Mr Arthur Lee will take the Charge of this.  I will say to you as I have said to my Boston Friends, who are sollicitous to know what Treatment he meets with here.  The more I have conversd with him, the more I have been confirmd in a good opinion of him, and lamented the Mistakes and Prejudices of some Men & the Wickedness of others.  His Enemies, I think, dare not openly attack his Reputation or Conduct.  But the Whispers of Envy & Malice, have sometimes Influence enough to prevent the Justice due to the virtuous Citizen.  When this is the Case, it affords a Symptom of the Decay of publick Spirit, more threatning to the Liberties of a Common Wealth than Hosts of foreign Enemies.  Monarchs have their Favorites who serve as Pimps on their honest Subjects.  But Republicks should examine the Conduct of their Servants with an impartial Eye; and it discovers the Want of pub-lick Virtue, as much, to withhold their Smiles from the wise and good as to bestow them