Diary of John Adams, volume 2

[February? 1776.] JA

1776-02

[February? 1776.] Adams, John
February? 1776.

3. Jer. 12. Go proclaim these Words towards the North. Return thou 234backsliding Israel and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful and will not be angry forever.1

1.

On 17 Feb. Congress “Resolved, That a committee of three be chosen to prepare instructions for the committee appointed to go to Canada”; and the members chosen were JA, Wythe, and Sherman ( JCC , 4:159). They reported a draft on 9 March, which after amendments and additions was finally adopted and spread on the Journal on 20 March (same, p. 193, 215–219). Doubtless JA recorded this appropriate Scriptural passage while engaged in this assignment, which he considered to be of the utmost importance; see his Autobiography under 17 Feb., 20 March 1776.