Papers of John Adams, volume 12
1781-10-24
Yours of September the 8th. I have but just received, it went a long Circuit to come to me. I am very Sorry for your misfortune, in being captured, and wish you Liberty as soon as possible, but rec-45ommend to you Patience, the only Remedy under Evils which cannot be avoided. Sufferings in so good and great a Cause, as that of our Country, are the easiest to bear, because they are honourable.
I have no public Money, at my disposal, and my own Resources, in this difficult Situation, and these hard times, are too confined to enable me to lend you from myself any considerable Sum, but I have taken Measures to furnish you with Ten Guineas, in all, that is two Guineas each, which I hope will be of Some Service to you. I am, Gentlemen, your affectionate Friend and Neighbour.
1781-10-24
I have never answered your favor of August 22d.
As to the Letters inclosed, I can say nothing.1 I cannot advise your Friend to take much Trouble about the Affair, because I think Congress will not be able to attend much to such things until the War is over. It is wholly out of my department, and I can do nothing in it, unless it be to inclose these or any other proposals to my Constituents. I rather think however that Congress would not enter into any Treaty of such a Nature with a British Subject. They are for cutting off every Fibre that ever did or ever can serve as a Ligament between the two Countries, until the English shall come to their Senses, which will not be before the day of Judgment.
Inclosed is a Bill for ten Guineas, two of which are intended for each of the Persons to whom the Letter is addressed2 who are Prisoners in Mill Prison, Job Field, Briant Newcomb, Samuel Curtis, Jeriah Bass, Ed Savil poor fellows! Your Care of the Letter and the Bill will much oblige, Sir, your humble Servt.
Pray is the Abby Reynal at Brussels?3
The enclosures, a 17 Aug. letter from Edward Bridgen to Jenings and Bridgen’s note of the same date, concerned a scheme to supply Congress with copper blanks from which coins could be minted; see vol 11:466.
The passage from this point through “Ed Savil” was interlined by JA and does not appear in the Letterbook.
In the Letterbook, immediately below this sentence, JA wrote “After writing the above I.”