My due Regards to your Lady, to Mr S and his Family.

Adieu,

P. S.—­I am not inattentive to what you said in my last relating to my Friend Mrs M. I will endeavor to serve her in the Instance she mentions, but she must not depend upon Success.

TO JEREMIAH POWELL.1

[Ms., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library; a text is in Historical Magasine, 1st ser., vol ii., pp. 196, 197.]

Philadelphia Decr 1, 1778

Sir/

I did myself the Honor a few Days ago, of Joyning with my Colleagues in an Answer to your Letter to us of the fifth of November last, so far as it related to the Distribution of a Quantity of Flour purchasd on Account of the State of Massachusetts Bay.  I beg Leave to refer you to our Letter, which will be forwarded by this opportunity.  The five hundred Dollars therein mentiond as receivd by me, were carried to the Credit of the State in my Account settled the last Winter.  Since my Arrival here in July, I have availd my self of the Practice of the Delegates of every State, by applying to Congress for a Warrant on their Treasury for a Sum of Money to pay the extravagant, though necessary Expence of living.  I purpose to repeat this Application, as there may be occasion for it, until I shall be directed differently or to the Contrary; and shall credit the Sums so receivd in my next Account.

I am informd that the General Assembly have been pleased to appoint me one of their Delegates in Congress for the year 1779.  This repeated Mark of Confidence in me is indeed flattering.  The Duties of the Department are arduous and pressing.  I will never decline the Service of our Country; but my Health requires Relaxation, and at this Period of my Life my Inclination would lead me to wish to be employd in a more limitted Sphere.  I will nevertheless continue to act in Congress to the utmost of my Ability in Pursuance of the Powers and Instructions with which I am honord, in hopes, that as the Month of April will complete another full Year of my Residence here, I shall then be relievd by one of my absent Colleagues or some other Gentleman, and permitted to return to my Family.

I am with every Sentiment of Duty & Regard to the General Assembly,

Sir

Your Honors

most obedient

& very humble servant,

1 President of the Council of Massachusetts.

TO MRS. ADAMS.

[Ms., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library; a portion of the text is in W. V. Wells, Life of Samuel Adams, vol. iii., pp. 57, 58.]

Philadelphia Decr 13 1778

My dear Betsy,