Armstrong, John (1758-1843) to James Searle
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01221.01 Author/Creator: Armstrong, John (1758-1843) Place Written: Carlisle, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 February 1783 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 21 x 17 cm. Order a Copy
Writes to Searle, a fellow Pennsylvania politician, to relate personal news. Complains about political infighting and expresses his hopes for treaty negotiations in Europe and the possibility of peace. Address leaf separated.
Carlisle 12th Feby. 1783
Dear Sir
Your Favour from BordenTown of the 20th. December being just come to hand - me,
my worthy Old friend and that at the worst of times, that a line from your hand, after your
late Vississitudes of fortune, safe passage at a perilous hour, and farther intercourse with
the Old World, gives me Secret & peculiar pleasure - the great first Cause is indeed the God
of our lives & the length of our days! Altho' you have not by letter heard from me Since
your arrival, (for which defect, mere accident & failure of memory was the cause) I have
assuredly, and repeatedly mentioned my regards for you in Sunday letters to friends, asking
to know how & where you were - And when the publick papers announced the deceased of your
Virtuous spouse & my amiable Countrymen, I wrote Mr. John Mease, that if death should overtake either you or I, before yr. arrival here, that he would please to keep my letter as testimony of my Obligation to you, mentioning the affair explicitly as it was. but hearing nothing
from Mr. Mease, has led me to doubt, a miscarriage of the letter.
In a short letter of friendship, it would be vain to enter upon our political affairs
in their present Licentious & complicated State, farther than to Say that the debates respecting
matters of this Government, are in my Opinion carried much too far - I wish those animosities
& high mutual jealousies to Subside; but whatever party has been the aggressor in Stiring
them up, is most to blame at present. I am apprehensive that each party looks for an high
Superiority, if not an exclusive Sway - This is all wrong - [2] I hope Peace is not far distant & assure you we want it much, if on fair solid ground. By this Conveyance I shall write to two Gentn. lest One Should fail to proncure [sic] a piece of the fine Linnen for your use, and in Lieu of that you so Obligingly lent to me. I hope it will be good altho' it may not be Irish Manufacture, and shall be impatient until I know that it is deposited in the hands of Mr. Mease; which I trust you may reasonably expect in the space of three Weeks - I say three Weeks, because One may pass over before I get a conveyance for these letters. - my wishes for your Welfare Oblige me to Ask what part of Europe you design to Settle in? and that you will favour me with another letter before you Sail. In your temporal affairs & mine, there is but too great a Similarity, and we have known the world too long to expect that an adequate reward will always follow a faithful discharged of duty - this is not the man[n]er of Man - but the virtuous reflection to which you properly have recourse, must in the present case probably Suffice us both - In our breasts we shall carry the Consequence of our Own conduct - to God we Owe all we have, & to our country insubordination to his Will - In this Sense we are but unprofitable Servants - yet may humbly look to this Supreme doner, not for rewards of debt, but of Sovereign grace, thro' the perfect Obedience & Mediation of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am Dear sir, with Sentiments of real
Regard & Esteem
Your Affectionate friend
John Armstrong
Mr. Searle
[address leaf:]
James Searle Esquire
at
Bordenton
To be forwarded by
favour of Mr.
John Mease
[docket:]
Genl. A[r]mstong
12 Feb. 1783
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