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I hope my dear madam to hear from you soon, I sincerely wish you a long day of tranquility and peace: and wherever I am, to hear of your welfare will always give pleasure to your unfeignedly— M Warren mwp1 1. Given the reference below to the Battle of Lexington, the letter must have been written several days after April 19. 2. The battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, were the first major battles of the Revolution. 3. Sarah’s husband, Jabez Bowen, was at the time a colonel in the First Regiment of Providence County (Rhode Island); he would later be elected lieutenant governor of the state. 18 to harriet shirley temple [Among mow’s Tory (or suspected Tory) correspondents was Harriet Shirley Temple (1724–1802), daughter of the colonial Massachusetts governor William Shirley and wife of Robert Temple (d. 1784). At the time of this letter, Robert was suspected of being a Tory and was therefore leaving Massachusetts for England; with the help of ja, he would later be allowed to return and eventually collect damages for the felling of trees on his estate by the Continental Army. The Temples, including their three daughters, relocated to Ireland in 1780.1 ] Plymouth June 2d 1775 My dear Mrs Temple I have lately felt so much for the painful anxiety and distress into which you and your agreeable family have been thrown by a concurance of unfortunate circumstances, that my sympathetic heart will not suffer me to be silent. If the voice of a real friend could afford any relief to your agitated mind, how readily should I endeavour to restore that tranquillity to your breast which sooner or later will be the portion of the virtuous. I cannot but weep that the political state of this unhappy country has raised such a tumult of passion in the minds of many, as to eradicate those to harriet temple, june 1775  49 ideas of general benevolence;—which every human creature owes to his fellow men. I am sensibly affected at the severe afflictions of a gentleman2 suffering as a delinquent, when no crime could be charged. Illtreated, abused and refused the common offices of hospitality, only because he had exercised the great duties of humanity towards the routed enemies of America.3 But while civil discord is brandishing her remorseless sword over this land, we must expect Charity will for a time veil her lovely face, and dark suspicion may perhaps ramble in the same breast which was once warmed with every social virtue. Yet I cannot but hope a few months may again restore us to such a peaceful state, that we shall no longer hear the din of arms; that the ambition of our youth may be to cherish the benevolent affections, instead of cultivating the arts of war. Be assured madam nothing has been wanting to soothe the mind of the first friend of your heart while detained here. I am sensible he needed no aggravations to heighten his regret on leaving his amiable family. I hope madam you are convinced notwithstanding the unworthy suggestions with regard to Mr T—— that his character never suffered the smallest diminuition , in the opinion of those who knew him. His open undisguised manner , has long indicated to them an honesty of heart seldom to be found in this vitiated age; they can forgive his equal enthusiasm for the wealfare of both Great Britain and America. I doubt not the severe scrutiny of private papers, and private sentiments, through which he has lately passed will evince to the world his integrity and uprightness of intentions. I think he has borne his peculiar trials in a manner that must enhance his reputation with every reasonable person. Yet I am sensible the mind was wounded by a cruel distrust of his regard, to his native country, and an unjust suspicion of that rectitude which I think has hitherto been the rule of Mr Temples conduct. He has just left us, I have taken a last look at the bark, that wafted by a favourable gale, conveys your friend from the hostile shores. I doubt not you will derive comfort in his absence, from your confidence in the only true source of enjoyment he requested me to beg you would support your spirits, and to tell you he went off with a much lighter heart than he came here. He has left you in the care of the Almighty...

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