him I shall never think him too old to hearken to the Advice of his Father.  Indeed I never had Reason to complain of him on that Account.  He has hitherto made me a glad Father.  This implys that I esteem him a wise Son.  I have been the more sparing of Advice to him because I have thought he did not need it; but in these critical Times when Principles & Manners as well as the Liberties of his Country are in Danger he has need to be on his Guard.  My Children cannot imagine how much Comfort I have in believing they are virtuous.  I am not willing to admit of a Fear that they will ever deprive me of this Comfort.  My warm Affections are due to my Family and Friends.  Adieu my dear Betsy.

Your affectionate,

“An american” To the Earl of Carlisle and others.

[W.  V. Wells,1 Life of Samuel Adams, vol. iii., pp. 18-26; printed in the Massachusetts Spy, July 16, 1778.]

To the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Viscount Howe, Sir William Howe (or, in his absence, Sir Henry Clinton), William Eden, and George Johnstone.

Trusty and well-beloved servants of your sacred master, in whom he is well pleased.

As you are sent to America for the express purpose of treating with anybody and anything, you will pardon an address from one who disdains to flatter those whom he loves.  Should you therefore deign to read this address, your chaste ears will not be offended with the language of adulation,—­a language you despise.

I have seen your most elegant and most excellent letter “to his Excellency, Henry Laurens, the President, and other members of the Congress.”  As that body have thought your propositions unworthy their particular regard, it may be some satisfaction to your curiosity, and tend to appease the offended spirit of negotiation, if one out of the many individuals on this great continent should speak to you the sentiments of America,—­sentiments which your own good sense hath doubtless suggested, and which are repeated only to convince you that, notwithstanding the narrow ground of private information on which we stand in this distant region, still a knowledge of our own rights, and attention to our own interests and a sacred respect for the dignity of human nature, have given us to understand the true principles which ought, and which therefore shall, sway our conduct.

You begin with the amiable expressions of humanity, the earnest desire of tranquillity and peace.  A better introduction to Americans could not be devised.  For the sake of the latter, we once laid our liberties at the feet of your Prince, and even your armies have not eradicated the former from our bosoms.

You tell us you have powers unprecedented in the annals of your history.  And England, unhappy England, will remember with deep contrition that these powers have been rendered of no avail by a conduct unprecedented in the annals of mankind.  Had your royal master condescended to listen to the prayer of millions, he had not thus have sent you.  Had moderation swayed what we were proud to call “mother country” her full-blown dignity would not have broken down under her.