Mercy Otis Warren: Selected Letters

3. To James Warren Jr., [September? 1772]

well as social ties, they divided increasingly over politics. Mary “Polly” Winslow (i.e., “miss P Winslow”), the daughter of Tory Pelham Winslow, a cousin to Edward Winslow, later married mow’s son Henry. Barnstable is the Otis stronghold; a visit there meant seeing Henry’s grandfather James Otis and extended family. 3 to james warren jr. [Although jw had graduated from Harvard (as his father had before him), only one of his and mow’s five sons had that distinction: the oldest, James (1757–1821). This is the first known of many advice letters that mow will send to her sons during the next two decades.] [Plymouth, September? 1772] To a youth just entered Colledge If my dear son was sensible her affection runs so great she never could forget him while she remembered any thing, he might be apt to suspect it from the late unusual silence of his mother; but a variety of cares united with an indifferent state of health since you last left me has prevented by renewed precepts to endeavour to fortify the mind of a youth who I flatter myself is well disposed against the snares of vice and the contagion of bad example, which like an army of scorpions lie in wait to destroy.1 I do not much fear that I shall ever be subjected to much disappointment or pain for any deviation in a son like yourself. Yet when I consider how easily the generallity of youth are misled, either by novel opinions or unprincipled companions and how easily they often glide into the path of folly and how imperceptibly led into the mazes of error; I tremble for my children. Happy beyond expression will you be my son, if amidst the laudable pursuits of youth and its innocent amusement you ever keep that important period in view which must wind up this fleeting existence, and land as on that boundless shore, when the profligate can no longer sooth himself in the silken dream of pleasure, or the infidel entertain any farther doubts of the immortality of his deathless soul. May the Great Gaurdian of Virtue, the source, the fountain of everlasting truth watch over and ever preserve you from the baleful walks of vice, and the devious and not less baneful track of the bewildered sceptic. What vigilance is necessary, when the solicitations of to james warren jr., september 1772
7 thoughtless companions on the one side, and the clamour of youthful passions on the other, plead for deviations and ever stand ready to excuse the highest instances of indulgence to depraved appetite. If you escape uncontaminated it must be in some measure by learning early to discriminate between the unoffending mirth of the generous and open hearted and the designed flighty vagaries of the virulent and narrow minded man. My regards to your fellow student; tell him I feel interested in his welfare , not only as your companion, but from some partiallity towards him. May you assist each other in your resolutions to repel every temptation to folly and while you are mutually aiding each other in your researches into the several branches of useful knowledge may you form a friendship founded on the most durable basis, a similitude of sentiment in your invariable adherence to every moral and religious obligation. You will take the earliest opportunity to write to your affectionate mother. [no signature] mwp2, draft?2 1. mow had reason for her concerns. Harvard students were known for their rowdiness , but two incidents involving Harvard students in 1770—one, a case of breaking and entering and assault; the other, a case of students assaulting a deputy sheriff—had raised concerns about the “antics” of the student body. See Theodore Chase, “Harvard Student Disorders in 1770,” New England Quarterly 61, no. 1 (March 1988), 25–54. 2. This letter, in mow’s hand, may be a draft, since it lacks a signature. At bottom is written “To J. Warren.” Another draft can be found in the Letterbook, which may in fact be based on this one. Note also that the Warrens did not distinguish family members of the same name with Roman numerals or Jr./Sr. jw’s father was also named James, and thus technically his son would be James III. However, because jw2’s grandfather plays almost no role in this book, we have chosen to distinguish jw2 here as Jr. 4 to hannah fayerwether tolman winthrop [One of mow’s closest correspondents...