Benjamin Wadsworth to James Lovell congratulating him on being reelected to his seat in Congress and praising his work - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

Keyboard Shortcuts

The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk

Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC01450.020.03
From Archive Folder	Collection of 20 letters pertaining to James Lovell and Samuel Holten
Title	Benjamin Wadsworth to James Lovell congratulating him on being reelected to his seat in Congress and praising his work
Date	10 December 1779
Author	Wadsworth, Benjamin (1750-1826)
Recipient	Lovell, James
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Recipient inferred from content and because the collection is described as letters to or from Lovell, a Continental Congressman from Massachusetts. Wadsworth, pastor of the First Church at Danvers, thanks Lovell for his last letter. Congratulates him on being reelected to his seat in Congress and praises his work. Speaks of two young gentlemen who have been assigned to parishes. Mentions the difficulty of regulating the price of materials. States he was sad to hear of the American defeat at Savannah (3 September - 28 October 1779) but realizes that disappointments must be expected in war. The British have completed another campaign but he believes they have not taken steps toward accomplishing their purpose. States that most of Europe is for American independence but only an act of God will get the British to consider peace. Mentions that he is pleased that the last circular letter has calmed the minds of people. Includes a draft of a letter to David Hopkins from Lovell dated 7 March 1780 contained on verso.
Subjects	Religion Election Continental Congress Congress Revolutionary War Finance Economics Battle Military History Global History and Civics
People	Wadsworth, Benjamin (1750-1826) Lovell, James (1737-1814)
Place written	Danvers, Massachusetts
Theme	Education; The American Revolution; Health & Medicine
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide …Agreable to your expectations, experience has taught us the impracticability of regulating the prices of articles for any considerable time. As that plan is universally given up among us for the present, it is hoped the difficulties that have arisen in any towns on that account will speedily subside. - Our Ally's defeat before Savannah gives us sensible pain. But we know the fate of war is very uncertain, & we can't but expect disappointment sometimes. From our moral character as a people, it is rather to be wondered that we meet with no more, than that we meet with so many. - Our enemies have concluded…another campaign, but without effecting their purpose. Like rogues & villains yy [they] have plundered & burnt several defenceless towns, but made no considerable acquisitions or gained any singular advantages over us. As they can't but know that American Independance is favoured by the European [illegible]ers in general, it seems nothing but, a judicial Infatuation from heaven can prevent their serious attention to the subject of a reasonable peace. Tho' they please themselves with ridiculing the state of our currency; they will still find that as its depreciation never has, so it never will either support their armies or present our's from playing the valiant soldier.

Previous Item Next Item