I find by the Letters I receive from Mr Lovell who is kind enough to write to me often, that Congress is reduced to a small Number present.  This has not been unusual in the Winter Season.  But you have a great Deal of Business and that of the arduous Kind.  It would be a strong Inducement to me to leave domestick Enjoymt, that I might take as great a Share of the Burthen with you as my Shoulders would bear.  It is no Satisfaction to me, you may rely upon it, to be able to plead the Want of Health sufficient to go through so long a Journey at this rigorous Season.  My Brother Gerry can recollect with how much pleasure the few who were at Baltimore passed through the Fatigues of Business the last Winter, when our Affairs wore a more gloomy Aspect than they have ever yet done.  We did it with Alacrity, because there was a Spirit of Union which leads to wise & happy Decisions.  I hope the same Spirit now prevails and that Measures are taking to collect & support an Army and to introduce (Economy & Discipline among officers of Rank as well as private Soldiers, so as by Gods Blessing to insure us a successful Campaign.  Your Resolution respecting Burgoyne I think must have nettled him.  I have long with Pain suspected a perfidious Design.  This Resolution must have crossd it.  It will cause much Speculation in Europe.  No Matter.  The Powers there seem more inclind to speculate than to espouse the Rights of Man.  Let them speculate.  Our Business is to secure America against the Arts & the Arms of a treacherous Enemy.  The former we have more to apprehend from than the latter.

Please to pay my due Regard to your Sisters & Family in which Mrs A desires to be joynd & be assured that I am

Yr unfeigned friend

1 Cf., Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography.

TO ARTHUR LEE.

[Ms., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]

Boston March 12th 1778

MY DEAR FRIEND

This Letter will be deliverd to you by Captn Romanet a young French Gentleman Nephew to General Grobouval Commander of the french Artillery.  He is a modest well behaved youth, and is one of Monsr du Coudrays Corps many of whom I suppose are returnd to France dissatisfied with the Determination of Congress against ratifying Mr Dean’s Compact.  The Necessity of doing this was disagreable to the Members, but it could not have been otherwise, without causing a great Uneasiness in our Army at a very critical Juncture.  I hope no ill Consequences will result to our Country and Cause from the Complaints of these Gentlemen.  Mr Romanet ingenuously acknowledges to me that Mr Du Coudrays Disappointment appears to him to have been necessary, and possibly his Connections in France may give Weight to his opinion.

I have been favord with your acceptable Letter of the 31 July from Paris.  From your not having noticed several Letters which I have written to you, I suspect they have miscarried.  I know not that they would have servd any other good Purpose, than to have shown how desirous I was of reviving a Correspondence which heretofore.....