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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875


Item 2 of 5
Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 25 March 1, 1788-December 31, 1789 --John Adams to Elbridge Gerry
Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 25 March 1, 1788-December 31, 1789 PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR

Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 25 March 1, 1788-December 31, 1789
John Adams to Elbridge Gerry

Dr Sir Phyladelphia Octr. 7. 1774.
I thank you for your kind Letter.(1) The wretched Vapouring of your Tories who are the worst Enemies of Mankind that ever disgraced the human Figure, Head and Heart, are ridiculous enough. They are laughed at by every Man of sense here. Gentn here know better the

Page 553

May 12, 1775

Link to date-related documents.



state of Britain and America. But I can tell them, for their Comfort, that Britain has neither Troops nor Money, to engage in a twenty Years War with all North America.
I am assured by several Gentlemen here perfectly acquaintd with the british Army, that the whole seventy Regiments now in being do not amount to 27,000 Men---;12,000 of these must remain in Ireland---;some are in the West Indies---;Some in Gibralter---;some in Minorca---;some in England and some in America. It is therefore certain they cannot with their present Army pretend to fight America at Land. To talk of Hanoverians and Hessians! Will the british Nation Stripped of the Commerce of the Colonies, raise her Millions by new Taxes to pay Germans? The poor deluded, abandoned Tories in Boston, knew not their Situation. They are pushing, with all their Malice for Measures that if pursued will cost them very dear.

RC (Mrs. Elsie O. and Mr. Philip D. Sang, River Forest, Ill., 1981). In Adams' hand, though not signed.
1 Not found.

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