TO JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

[Ms., Massachusetts Archives; a text is in W. V. Wells, Life of Samuel Adams, vol. iii., pp. 7, 8,]

State of Massachusetts Bay Boston Mar 19 1778

Sir/

I am to acquaint your Excellency in the Name & by order of the Council of this State, that your Letter of the 16th Instant directed to the President, relative to the Defence of Hudsons River has been receivd & read at that Board.  The General Assembly is now under a short Adjournment, and the Council are not authorizd in their Executive Capacity & seperate from the House of Repts to order any Part of the Militia of this State beyond its Limits.  The Assembly will meet on the first Day of the next Month.  Your Excellencys Letter, together with another receivd this Day from Govr Clinton upon the same Subject, will then be laid before that Body; and altho the Government of this State are now under the Necessity of keeping up more than fifteen hundred of the Militia to guard the Troops of Convention & for other extraordinary Service in and about the Town of Boston, yet there can be no Doubt but a due Attention will be given to so interesting & important a Concern as the Defence of Hudsons river.

I have the Honor to be with the most cordial Esteem

Yr Excys most Humble Servt

TO JAMES LOVELL.

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

Boston March 27 1778

MY DEAR SIR

You cannot imagine how much I feel my self obligd to you for writing to me frequently.  Your Letters however do not come to me in regular Order.  How is it that I did not receive those of the 10th & 16th of Feby by the Post till yesterday?  I am affraid there is some Deficiency in the Post office Department; but as I would fain hope our Friend Mr Hastings is not in Fault, I will beg you in his Behalf, to move to the Post Master General for an Addition to his Salary, for he assures me he cannot live upon what he now receives.

I am very sorry your Letter of the 10th did not come in Season, for I should have gladly interrested my self for so valueable a Citizen as Mr Leach at the late annual Meeting.  I have long wishd that for the Reputation as well as substantial Advantage of this Town a military Academy was instituted.  When I was in Philadelphia more than two years ago I mentiond the Importance I conceivd it to be of, in Letters to my Friends here.  At least we might set up a publick School for military Mathematicks, and I know of no one better qualified for an Instructor than Mr Leach.  I wish he had mentiond it to me.  Perhaps he may have had Promises of Attention to him from some other Person upon whom he relies.  I will consult with such Men of Influence in the Town as I am acquainted with, and will not be wanting in Endeavors to improve your Hints for the mutual Benefit of the Publick & Mr Leach.