Papers of John Adams, volume 3
The Bearers of this are two young Gentlemen from Maryland, of one of the best and first Families in that Province.1 One of them is a Lawyer, the other a Physician. Both have independent Fortunes. Such is their Zeal in the Cause of America, and Such their fellow Feeling for the People of our Province, that they are determined to Spend the Summer, in our Camp in order to gain Experience and perfect themselves in the Art military. They are soldiers already. Their name is Hall.
It will be of great Importance that these Gentlemen should be treated with the Utmost Delicacy, and Politeness. Their Letters to their Friends will have a great Influence on the Southern Colonies.
I Should take it as a favour if you would introduce these Gentlemen, to all our best Friends, and to the Knowledge of every Thing that can Serve the Cause.
I can not inform you of any Thing, passing here that is worth knowing. I hope We shall give Satisfaction. But it must be a work of Time. I am your Friend,
This is one of a series of four extant letters of introduction for Aquilla Hall and Josias Carvell Hall written between 26 and 29 May. See JA to AA, 26 May,
Adams Family Correspondence
, 1:206–207; JA to Joseph Palmer, 29 May (CSmH), not printed; JA to John Winthrop, 29 May (below). Aquilla was the lawyer, his brother, the physician. The latter served in the 9th Infantry, Maryland Line in 1776 (Henry J. Berkley, “Maryland Physicians at the Period of the Revolutionary War,”
Md. Hist. Mag.
, 24:8 [March 1929]). Besides introducing the two men, these letters show JA's concern to maintain good relations between the northern and southern colonies in the common effort against Great Britain.
The Bearers of this are two young Gentlemen from Maryland. Aquilla Hall and Josias Carvill Hall, both of one of the best Families in Maryland, and both of independent Fortunes.
Their Errand to Cambridge, is to join our Army as Volunteers, against the Enemies of their Country in order to gain Experience, in the Art of War, in which they have already made good Proficiency.
As it is of importance that they should be treated with Politeness and Respect, I have taken the Freedom to give them this Letter, and to beg the favour of you to shew them, Harvard Colledge.
13The Congress, Sir, have great Objects before them indeed. All is Secret but what you will see in the News Papers. If the Ministry, upon receiving Intelligence of the Battle of Lexington, dont receed all Ceremony will be over. At present We shall be fully United, and I hope shall do well.
My respectfull Compliments to all Friends. News of every Kind will be told you by the Bearers. Yr huml sert,
We Suffer, excessively for Want of Letters and Intelligence from Cambridge. I must beg you would do me the Honour to write me, and desire all our Friends to do the same.