pendence or slavery . . . One of our moderate, prudent Whigs would be startled at what I now write . . . they would continue the conflict a century. There are such moderate men here, but their principles are daily growing out of fashion. The child Independence is now struggling for birth. I trust that in a short time it will be brought forth, and in spite of Pharaoh, all America will hail the dignified stranger."

On the last day of April, he writes-again to Cooper: "[SA] I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favor of the 18th Instant by the Post-The Ideas of Independence spread far and wide among the Colonies- Many of the leading Men see the absurdity of supposing that Allegiance is due to a Sovereign who has already thrown. us out of his Protection-South Carolina has lately assumd a new Government-The Convention of North Carolina have unanimously agreed to do the same. . . Virginia whose Convention is to meet on the third of next month will follow the lead-The Body of the People of Maryland are firm-Some of the principal Members of their Convention, I am inclind to believe, are timid and lukewarm. . . The lower Counties in Delaware are a small People but well affected to the Common Cause-In this populous and wealthy Colony [Pennsylvania] political Parties run high-The News papers are full of the Matter but I think I may assure you that Common Sense, prevails among the people. The Jerseys are agitating the great Question-It is with them rather a Matter of Prudence whether to determine till some others have done it before them... their Sentiments & Manners are I believe similar to those of N

Engiand-I forbear to say anything of New York, for I confess I am not able to form any opinion of them... I think they are at least as unenlightned in the Nature and Importance of our political Disputes as any one of the united Colonies-I have not mentiond our little Sister Georgia; but I believe she is as warmly engagd in the Cause as any of us, & will do as much as can be reasonably expected of her I was very sollicitous the last Fall to have Governments set up by the people in every Colony . . . When this is done, and I am inclind to think it will be soon, the Colonies will feel their Independence . . . I am disappointed, but I bear it tollerably well . . . There has been much to do to confirm. doubting Friends & fortify the Timid The Boston Port bill suddenly wrought a Union of the Colonies which could not be brot about by the Industry of years in reasoning on the Necessity of it for the Common Safety The burning of Norfolk & the Hostilities committed in North Carolina have kindled the Resentment of our Southern Brethren who once thought their Eastern Friends hot headed & rash . . . There is a Reason that wd induce one even to wish for the speedy Arrival of the British Troops that are expected at the Southward-I think our friends are well prepared for them & one Battle would do more towards a Declaration of Independency than a long chain of conclusive Arguments in a provincial Convention or the Continental Congress

The sentiments meanwhile of some of the constituents themselves, in the Commonwealth, and the result (evidently) of Gerry's letter of March 26th to Warren also have come down to us:

On the 18th and 20th of February, Hawley thus declares to Gerry 16: "I have read the pamphlet, entitled, 'Common Sense, addressed to the Inhabitants of America,' and every sentiment has sunk into my well-prepared heart..." ". . . if we resolve on independence, what will hinder but that we may instantly commence a trade not only with Holland, France, and Spain, but with all the world? . . . Pray consider this matter with regard to Canada and the Dutch of New-York. Will they ever join with us heartily, who, in order to do it, must sacrifice their trade. . . Whereas, the moment that we resolve on independence, trade will be free for them—for the one to France and the other to Holland . . . Independence, in short, is the only way to union and harmony, to vigour and despatch in business; our eye will be single, and our whole body full of light; anything short of it will, as appears to me, be our destruction, infallible destruction, and that speedily."

On March 26th, Edmund Quincy writes to his daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Hancock: "17 May we deserve a Continuance of the Protection of Heaven & may there be soon an Accomodation or Seperation of y Younger from y Older States; the Last I expect will be the necessary Effect of y° unnatural Treatment we have received

The voice of the people in these N° Colonies seems almost universally in favor of independency as far as I can perceive .. It is my real Opinion y set time is come wherein Providence has appointed the Flourishing States to withdraw themselves from ye Controul of all other.

"

On the 1st of the next month, Hawley, at Watertown,

urges Samuel Adams as he had previously urged Gerry: "[SA] Give me leave to tell you that an imediate explicit and y firmest Confederation and Proclamation of Independance may be more necessary than you are awareunless it shall be done and declared very soon — Infinite jealousies will arise in the breasts of the People and when they begin to spring up they will increase amazingly. . . All will be in confusion if independance is not declared immediately [.]"

On the 28th of April, John Adams writes to his wife: "You tell me our jurors refuse to serve, because the writs are issued in the King's name "; and, on the 29th, a letter from Boston says: "Common Sense, like a ray of revelation, has come in seasonably to clear our doubts, and to fix our choice."

Another letter of the same month 18, to John Adams, from J. Winthrop, at Watertown, says: "[Qy] I hope Common Sense is in as high estimation at the Southward as with us. Tis universally admired here. If the Congress should adopt the Sentiments of it, it would give the greatest satisfaction to our people."

On May 1st, Hawley writes to Gerry: "The Tories dread a declaration of Independence, and a course of conduct on that plan, more than death. They console themselves with a belief that the Southern Colonies will not accede to it. My hand and heart are full of it. There will be no abiding union without it."

On the 13th, Cooper replies, from Boston, to the second letter of Samuel Adams to him: "[SA] I am much oblig'd to you for your Favor 30th Apr. which I receiv'd by the Post the Evening before last, and am

glad to find Affairs are in so good a Train in the Southern Colonies; In N. England the Voice is almost universal for Independance Our General Court is dissolved [?] Before this took place, the House pass'd a Vote to consult their Constituents, whether they would instruct their future Representatives to move the Continental Congress for Independance-I can only assure you of the Substance of the Vote; the Form of it was not clearly related to me. The House sent up this Vote to the Council for their Concurrence- The Propriety of this was doubted by some, who did not think the Council could properly act on such an affair. It was however done, and the Council negativ'd the Vote. Mr Cushing among others was against it. He said that it would embarrass the Congress that we ought to wait till they mov'd the Question to us- that it would prejudice the other Colonies against us- and that you had wrote to some Body here, that things with you were going on slowly and surely, and any Kind of Eagerness in us upon this Question would do Hurt. Others said that the Congress might not choose to move such a Point to their Constituents tho they might be very glad to know their minds upon it that it was beginning at the right End for the Constituents to instruct their Delegates at Congress, & not wait for their asking Instructions from their Constituents that the Question had been long thought of & agitated thro the Colonies, & it was now high Time to come to some Determination upon it; otherwise our artful Enemies might sew the Seeds of Dissention among us to the great Prejudice if not Ruin of the common Cause. The House, tho they would have been glad of