Resolvd, That it be and hereby is recommended to the legislative or executive Authority of each of the said States, to appoint Wednesday the 30th day of December next to be observd as a Day of publick Thanksgiving and Praise.  That all the People may with united Hearts on that Day express a just Sense of His unmerited Favors:—­Particularly in that it hath pleased Him, by His over ruling Providence to support us in a just and necessary War for the Defence of our Rights and Liberties;—­By affording us seasonable Supplys for our Armies—­by disposing the Heart of a powerful Monarch to enter into Alliance with us and aid our Cause—­by defeating the Councils and evil Designs of our Enemies, and giving us Victory over their Troops—­and by the Continuance of that Union among these States, which by his Blessing, will be their future Strength & Glory.

And it is further recommended, that together with devout Thanksgivings may be joined a penitent Confession of our Sins, and humble Supplication for Pardon through the Merits of our Savior.  So that under the Smiles of Heaven, our publick Councils may be directed—­our Arms by Land and Sea prosperd—­our Liberty and Independence secur’d—­our Schools & Seminaries of Learning flourish—­our Trade be revivd—­our Husbandry and Manufactures increasd, and the Hearts of all impressd with undissembled Piety, with Benevolence, and Zeal for the publick Good.

And it is also recommended that Recreations unsuitable to the Purpose of such a Solemnity may be on that Day—­

TO SAMUEL PHILLIPS SAVAGE.

[Ms., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]

PHILAD Novr 10th 1778

MY GOOD OLD FRIEND

I am at present in great Haste; but as a Supplement to my last I will ask you, Who among the Sons of America ought to enforce the Example of the illustrious young Foreigner?  Who is substituting other Means of Dissipation in my native Town in Lieu of Theatrical Entertainments &c &c?  Who has mixed the Grave and the Vain, the Whigs and the Tories in Scenes of Amusement totally incompatible with the present serious Times?  Who among the Grave and Who among the Whigs, I mean such Whigs as have a feeling for their distressd Country and the Multitudes of distressd Individuals in it, are present at such Entertainmts?  Is there a Man among them to whom our Country has entrusted her Independence, her Virtue, her Liberty?  What can be the Views and Designs of such a Man, but to establish a Popularity by forming a Coalition of Parties and confounding the Distinction between Whigs and Tories, Virtue & Vice?  When I was last in Boston, I seizd an Opportunity to advise my Fellow Citizens to beware of their popular Men—­to penetrate their Views and Designs.  There was comparatively no great Danger from a great Man set over them by the British Tyrant.  When the People set up a Great Man of their own, their Jealousy is asleep, & they are in Danger of a Master.  I have no personal Prejudices or Attachments.  Many things I have to say to you if I had Leisure.