Letters of John Adams, Addressed to His Wife (Volume 1)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1841. Excerpt: ... LETTER XXVI. Philadelphia, 7 July, 1775. MI DEAR, I Have received your very agreeable favorsl of June 22 and 25. They contain more particulars than any letters I had before received from anybody. It is not at all surprising to me, that the wanton, cruel, and infamous conflagration of Charlestown, the place of your father's nativity, should afflict him. Let him know that I sincerely condole with him on that melancholy event. It is a method of conducting war long since become disreputable among civilized nations. But every year brings us fresh evidence that we have nothing to hope for, from our loving mother country, but cruelties more abominable than those which are practised by the savage Indians. The account you give me of the numbers slain on the side of our enemies, is afflicting to humanity, although it is a glorious proof of the bravery of our worthy countrymen. Considering all the disadvantages under which they fought, they really exhibited prodigies of valor. Your description of the distresses of the worthy inhabitants of Boston and the other seaport towns, is enough to melt a heart of stone. Our consolation must be this, my dear, that cities These will be found among the letters of Mrs. Adams, Vol. I. pp. 41 and 43. VOL. III. 4 may be rebuilt, and a people, reduced to poverty, may acquire fresh property. But a constitution of government, once changed from freedom, can never be restored. Liberty once lost, is lost forever. When the people once surrender their share in the Legislature, and their right of defending the limitations upon the Government, and of resisting every encroachment upon them, they can never regain it. The loss of Mr. Mather's library, which was a collection of books and manuscripts made by himself, his father, his grandfather, ...