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Lovell, James (1737-1814) to Samuel Holten

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.020.16 Author/Creator: Lovell, James (1737-1814) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 May 1781 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 20.5 x 33 cm. Order a Copy

Signed with initials. Recipient inferred from context and by comparing the docket to others in the 1450.020 collection. Wants to relay intelligence from Europe but he is concerned about doing so because of an obligation to secrecy. Remarks that the burden will fall on the inattentive and negligent states that are not in the middle of the war effort instead of on the discouraged states actively involved: "The Execrations of portenty will fall more justly perhaps on the Inattention and Negligence of the States distant from the immediate Carnage of the War than upon the Despondency and Cowardice of those in which it centers." Postscript mentions stagnant air of Philadelphia and informs that John Adams is well at home.

Lovell and Holten were Continental Congressmen from Massachusetts.

May 29. 81
Dr. Sir
I have yr. Favor of the 17th doubly and trebly agreable as it proved your own Health, Mr. Gerry's and his success. I had really fixed him to a sick Bed.
You will be anxious about our Intelligence from Europe. We have much
but I am too greatly overcome by the Heat, to sweat over the Consideration of what I ought to communicate to be consistent with an Obligation to Secresy imposed at this Time with a Propriety not always connected [2] with that Injunction in our continental Assembly. However, I may tell you that your own Printers have given you quite enough to show you that the Wheel of Time will not afford you another such six months as the Coming. Political Glory or Infamy of a lasting Kind is most assuredly depending on them, more especially on the two first of them, in which there must be an almost universal Change of Manners. Every Requis[3]ition already made must be fully complied with, and even more must be in forwardness. Let not the former Calls of once for all make us callous on this Occasion. The Execrations of Posterity will fall more justly perhaps on the Inattention & Negligence of the States distant from the immediate Carnage of the War than upon the Despondency and Cowardice of those [4] in which it centers should we finally be disgraced by a Combination of all those Circumstances.
yr anxious frd.
JL
Oh this stagnated Air of Philada. I cannot write to Mr. Adams am happy to hear he is well at home.

Lovell, James, 1737-1814
Holten, Samuel, 1738-1816
Adams, John, 1735-1826

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