I am pleasd to observe in your Letter of 28 Feby that Mr Burgoyne seems to be alterd in his Ideas of Congress.  The Gentleman to whom you request me to communicate the Contents of that Letter, I am not in the least acquainted with, but shall comply with your Request whenever I shall find an opportunity of doing it.

I fear from what you mention in your Letter of the 7th of March that the Expectations of the People with Regard to Ty. & Independence will be baulkd.  If they are, the Cause in my opinion will be injurd & the Confidence of the People in those who have the Mannagement of our Affairs civil & military lessend, which I should be very sorry to see.  In the same Letter you tell me that Lt Colo Anstruthers Request to seek his own Release on Condition of his getting Colo Allens is granted.  I now inclose a Letter which I had mislayed & omitted to send, relating to Lt Colo Campbells who I wish might be exchanged for Friend Ethan.1

I do not wonder that you have been mortified upon the Delay of a certain Affair to which you refer in your Letter of the 10th Instant.  I wrote you the Opinion of this Town respecting that Affair above a Month ago.  I shall only observe that in my opinion, every one who is intrusted with the Affairs of the Publick does not feel so sensibly for its Reputation as I think you do.  I have inclosd the Instructions of the General Assembly to their Delegates in Congress upon the Confederation, and when I shall have the pleasure of seeing you I may perhaps give you the Causes why that important Matter was not determind sooner.  I immediately after reading your last mentiond Letter communicated to the Council that part of it which relates to the Propriety & Necessity of making regular Returns of what is done here in Consequence of the Recommendations of Congress; and a Committee of that Board is now looking over the Journals & Papers for that Purpose.  In the same Letter you mention your having receivd a Letter from Mr John Amory, with his Request that you wd put a memorial into Congress for him.  In what Manner could Congress interpose for him if you should comply with his Request?  His Residence in this State was deemd by the Gen1 Assembly to be dangerous to the State.  Will Congress order or recommend that He should reside in it notwithstanding?  “He was surprizd into an Oath of Allegiance!” He said upon his Examination here that he was not compelled to take the Oath.  He did not recollect the Form or Tenor of the Oath he had taken—­but desired to live peaceably in his Native town but could not in Conscience take up Arms against the British King.  I will desire Mr Appleton to write to you on the Subject.

1 Allen.  Cf. page 9.

TO FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE.

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

[Boston, ——­, 1778.]

MY DEAR SIR