Last Saturday afternoon we went into Boston the first time since
our removal from Concord, there I happily met a letter from my dear Friend.
I was sorry to find the date so many days back, especialy as it containd
a promise which gives me the highest satisfaction. I take the first opportunity
to tell you how agreable to Mr Winthrop & myself your company & your Sons
will be. Our Barrack or Wigwam, or whatever name you may please
to give it, when you see it unornamented with broken chairs & unleggd
tables with the shatterd Etcetteras, is intirely at your service. methinks I need
not repeat the pleasure I shall have in administering comfort to my Friends. Your
own benevolent heart can best inform you, I will only say to encourage you, we breath
as sweet an air as ever Cam, afforded, the peacefull shades & meandring
river conspire to give us delight. The Sons of Harvard who are collected
here seem to be as well Settled & as happy as if they had not known an
interruption, with zeal they are attending the Philosophic Lectures.
What an unexpected Blessing! the change from the din of arms &
the shrill Clarion of war. Come my Friend taste & see if your too much
dijected spirits will not revive in this Salubrious Soil. Had I known
the distress you were in, I should have heartily sympathisd with you
nor been wanting to express it, but I never heard of your dear Fathers
illness till last week. Your Sons illness, by his appearance the several
times I saw him, I did not apprehend would rise high, but I now rejoyce
in the prospect of their recovery. I think Mr Jemmys journey & residance
& seeing his Cotemporaries may have a happy effect. everything in my
power shall aid him. My Friend, have you never after you have
passd thro an Afflictive Scene felt the Evil of anticipating trouble?
I have been often told, I was the most ingenious at Creating misery
sometimes Perfuse the Sable. If we could but rest on that
Soul Supporting Principle, That Every Event is orderd in Infinite
Wisdom, how much anxiety might we be freed from? Anxiety,
that Shortner of human life & enemy to the enjoyments of it.
As to Political matters, Consonant to my natural
ingenuity they appear rather gloomy, but the Settlement of these
important points I hope an opportunity for, when you make me
happy & indulge me with Laying our Political heads together.
The reigning Subject is the Small Pox. Boston
has given up its Fears of an invasion & is busily employd in
communicating the Infection. Straw beds & cribs are daily
carted into the Town. That ever prevailing Passion of
following the Fashion is as Predominant at this time as ever.
Men Women & children eagerly Crouding to innoculate is I think
as modish, as running away from the Troops of a barbarous
George was the last Year.
But ah my Friend I have not mentioned
the Loss I have met with which lies near my heart the death of
my dear Friend the good Madam Hancock, A powerfull
attachment to this life broken off, you who knew her worth can
Lament with me her departure. Ah the incertainty of all Terristrial
happiness.
Mr Winthrop joyns me Sincere regards to Coll Warren
& you, he hopes we shall be favord with his company with you
& your son.
July the 8th 1775
Cambridge[Endorsement]
July 8th 1775