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17 to sarah brown bowen [During the early years of the Revolution, the Warrens were friendly with Jabez and Sarah Brown Bowen, each from prominent merchant families in Rhode Island, hers being the one to give Brown University its name. Sarah (1742–1800) and mow appear to have exchanged a few letters; mow also corresponded with Jabez (1739–1815), who served as lieutenant governor of Rhode Island in 1778–79 and 1781–86. After the war, the Bowens turned Federalist while the Warrens became Antifederalists.] Plymouth April 17751 My dear Madam I know from the goodness of your heart you must be very solicitous to hear from me who so lately left you full of the most painful apprehensions for her friends, her family, and her country: I can only inform you that I am still in a state of suspence,—still uncertain whether I shall continue in my own pleasant habitation or whether in a few days, I shall not be obliged to seek a retreat in the wilderness from the remorseless sword of a foe, devoid of that generosity which ought to mark the human mind;—and lost to that honour and compassionate dignity which has long been the boast of Britons. Indeed the unparalleled barbarity in the late action at Lexington2 evinces that they had forgotten the laws and usages of civilized nations. We have reason to believe that no reports of their cruelty have been exaggerated :—their brutal fury has certainly led them to perpetrate the most savage acts. I saw yesterday a gentleman who conversed with the brother of a woman cut in peices in her bed with her new born infant by her side. Are these the deeds of rationals?—have we not cause for the most humiliating reflections, when we consider ourselves of the same species with a race of creatures who have thus forgot their origen: who have so far debased the powers of the human soul as to blot out the sense of moral obligation, and by their injustice and infernal ferocity, have rendered themselves fit associates for the most depraved beings? I shall not detail the transactions of the nineteenth instant, you will have them from every quarter. to sarah bowen, april 1775  47 I have been concerned for the safety of Colonel Bowen3 ever since I heard he had ventured into the den of the Lion, in order to rescue an injured friend;—we too often see the most beneficent purposes are not crowned with success,—the reward of virtue is frequently held in the golden scale of justice till the measure is compleat, e’er the prize is let down to the hand of her faithful votaries. I should have a very ill opinion of myself if I did not feel, the most ardent wishes for the safety of the first friend of your heart; may he be guarded from every outrage and soon return to his family. I feel myself under particular obligation for the polite and friendly reception I found in his hospitable house. I venerate every lover of his country. I doubly esteem them when the patriotic character is enstamped with the strong marks of private worth united with the social and benevolent affections. Lowering as the political hemisphere at present appears;—I hope some calmer season will soon arrive which will put it in my power to return some part of the civility which I think your due: whether this may be in the city, the village, or the hermitage, it is not possible yet to conjecture:—if the latter should be my future destination, I shall still think we were made for society. I believe I shall never feel so much of the disposition of the [??] as to wish to seclude myself from the conversation of the wise and the virtuous part of mankind. The works of nature and providence proclaim that the great author of the intellectual system designed his creation[?] man, should cultivate the duties of friendship and hospitality as well as self denial and mortification. Let the rigid and morose indulge their unsocial opinions, but let them not damp the cheerfulness of my friend:—though this temper may be discovered in some nearly connected with you. In a world where our knowledge is so circumscribed and our ideas so imperfect, we ought to take all opportunities of improving and enlarging them by the aid of converse. You will present my friendly salutations to those bigoted friends to...

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