I have not been favord, with any from you for sometime.1 As to News of any consequence this way, we have None. The most important is your way, trusting on the divine beaing for a blessing on Our Arms. Hope in the end we shall be crownd with success—though the present prospect Appears gloomy.

I have been Appointed by the General Court last Year to take care of the poor belonging to the Almshouse &c. of Boston that was sent here last Year.2 The chief care devolveing on me and suppose I shall have my labor for my pains, but purpose soon to remove home when I shall have but little to do. Iff there should be an Opening for anything to be done here that would be worth Accepting of—(whether a person who has suffer'd, very greatly in the present times by loss in trade being robbed of his Interest and has given a helping hand to the support of the cause, should not be imployed as well as some who have met with no losses and done Nothing,) iff anything of this kind should happen whether itt would not be in your power to have a reserve should you come away for such an Appointment.3

You wrote Mr. Adams sometime Ago which I but lately saw. Whether trade was carried on this way &c. As to trade there is but very little what there is is chiefly in the West India way, but that is very much Obstructed by the Milford and Liverpool and Viper4 who seem to be stationed this way and take more or less every week. We were in hopes the Continental ships would have been att sea before this but dont see any prospect of there being likely to get to sea: A Month to come.5 The complaint is for want of Guns. There is here and the Towns round About a doz. privateers Out, a small One took a brigantine from Ireland bound to Halifax with beef butter &c. For the Army is in att the Eastward and expected up here. Two Vessells from Antigua with Rum for Halifax was carried into Plymouth last week. One taken by this state brigantine Capt. Sampson. We have here Another brigantine belonging to this State now sailing Capt. Souther,6 but these Vessells are not sufficient to keep the Coast cleer. I am Affraid the Town of Boston will be greatly distrest for want of Wood, this Winter. As there are many Coasters taken which discorages there coming up. Not recollecting any thing more at present am Y hL &c.

I forbore asking You any Questions on your Return from Staten Island, as there were a Number of People about us; but would beg Leave to suggest the good Policy of making that Transaction publick, for the Sake of such People as yet long for Reconciliation.

I fear we have too strong a Proof of those People's Prevalence in our State, from the Manner in which the great Offices have been disposed of among us. The Governor, Chief Justice and second Justice of the Supreme Court were the great Opposers of Independence, and the Secretary one of those who would have been put to Death under the Laws of Sparta for taking neither Side of the Question; but driving with the Tide.1 I fear at the same Time the violent Men, as they are called, are not looked upon with the most favourable Eye by our new Legislature. That we may not be under the Temptation of murmuring or flinching, it might be very well to hold out to the World in the most publick Manner, that the Door to Reconciliation is shut by our Enemies, unless upon Terms, we can never think of. However Congress, I dare say, will consider this.

I might, I believe, return to Congress; but must starve my Family, if I did, as our people will allow Nothing more than the bare Expence of eating and drinking to their Delegates. Twenty pounds was all I received for near Four Month's Attendance. This Service must therefore devolve upon Men of long Purses, who can leave their Business and support their Families upon their Estates.

I wish to be serviceable; but must attempt it in a private Capacity; unless I could descend to sollicit Trust and Employ-25ment, which practice I really esteem incompatible with a free and pure Commonwealth.

In our Legislature I believe I may say there is not one Man capable of draughting a Bill in the lower House and in the upper they are little better off. It is impossible to convince some of our principal Senators (such is their Information) that we have not from an hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand Men in New York and some of the Members of the late Convention are highly blamed for worrying the Militia by calling for so many of them.

Learning is too much despised among us, or rather it is deemed almost wholly inconsistent with common Honesty. Plain Farmers are almost the only Men trusted; Lawyers, above all others, are marked as unworthy of Confidence, such especially as have any pretensions to Eminence.2 I expect one Day to claim your and Mr. S. Adams's Promise of procuring me a Settlement at Boston and am Yr. most obedient hble Servt.