Adams Family Correspondence, volume 7
Mr Murray, whom I am glad to see out again will carry to Bath this Memorandum that We are all very well. He will arrive for what I know before Mr Bridgen. The Weath's is very cold, but by a good fire and a good Walk I have not yet been obliged to recur to my Expedient of an immaculate Virgin Bottle of hot Water. I sent Yesterday—Packetts to Coll Smith from Paris.1
The News from Boston is very well. The Court has set at Cambridge in great Pomp guarded by three thousand Men and a train of Artillery. The General Court have passed an Amnesty, with some Exceptions, to all who will take the oath of allegiance, in a certain Time. The Governor reviewed the Troops and made them a Speech. In short government appears now in its Majesty supported by those in whom all Majesty originally resides, the People. I have not seen the Papers but Coll Trumbul gives me this Account,2 Coll Smiths Toast “common sense to the Common People” is already verified.
Make your observations, keep your Journal, and make Nabby Smith do so too, and let me see all when you return.
Presumably Thomas Jefferson to WSS, 20 Dec., including a twelve-sheet map of South America and possibly a lost letter to AA2 (Jefferson, Papers
, 10:620).
Not found. For the opening of the Middlesex County court in Cambridge on 1 Nov., see JQA, Diary
, 2:120–121. The General Court's amnesty, “An Act Granting Indemnity to Sundry Offenders, on Certain Conditions, and Providing for the Trial of Such, Who Shall Neglect or Refuse to Comply with Said Conditions, and of Those Who Shall Be Guilty of Like Offences in Future,” was approved on 15 Nov. (Mass., Acts and Laws
, Acts of 1786, Sept. sess., ch. 44).