April 12. 1776
I wish you Joy, Sir, of your new Abode.
I hope you found, the Houses, Wharves &c. &c., in the
Town of
Boston which are hereafter to contribute to
your Satisfaction in Life, in good order.
I Should be very happy to learn the Condition in which
the Town appeared, the Condi situation of the Buildings
and the State and History of the Inhabitants, during the
Siege, what Tories are left, and what is to be done
with them. -- Very few Particulars have reached
Philadelphia - I suppose my Friends have been so busily
employed, that they could not Spare the Time to write.
I commend them for devoting their whole Time to the
Care of the Town and the Fortifications of the
Harbour. -- But as Soon as they can snatch
a little Leisure, I hope they will write to me. --
You talk about Com[m] sense [Common
Sense] , and Say it has been
attributed to me. -- But I am as innocent of it as a
Babe. --
The most atrocious literary sins, have been inputed to me
these twelve Years
"Poor harmless I! and can I choose but Smile
"When every Coxcomb knows me by my style. --
I could not reach the Strength and Brevity of his style, nor
his elegant Simplicity, nor his piercing Pathos -- But I really
think in other Respects, the Pamphlet would do no Honour
even to me. - The old Testament Reasoning against Monarchy
would have never come from me --The Attempt to frame a
Continental Constitution, is feeble indeed. -- It is poor, and
despicable. -- Yet this is a very meritorious Production. --
In Point of Argument there is nothing new. -- I believe every one
that is in it, had been hackneyed in every
Conversation
public and private, before that Pamphlet was written,.
You desire me to find you an oration, but I wont -- I have
too much Contempt and Indignation, at that insolent Performance
to meddle with it.--
The Ports are open you see, and Privateering is allowed -- Is this
Independency?
I wish you would let me know whether the Courts
sit, and whether Business is done --
I am Sure it is Time that a certain Name & Style
was discarded. -- Commissions, Writs, & Indictments
should run in another Form.
The Colony of &c. to the Sheriff.
The Colony of to A.B.
against the Peace of the Colony of &c.
This must be the Style --
[Endorsement]