Mercy Otis Warren: Selected Letters

53. To John Sloss Hobart, June 9, 1780

who by the cruel necessity of the times are obliged to suffer the interruption of domestic felicity. But these may be the antiquated notions of the last century, which the polish of modern days has rubbed so briliant a standard that there are few who cannot be as happy in the society of others as with those to whom they are connected by the strongest tie.—Yet, I am far from being singular ;—you have a friend at Braintree, that will accede to every sentiment. I purpose to call on her in a few days, and if possible prevail with her to go to Plymouth with me. I expect on my way to be entertained with the perusal of some of your letters. When you recieve this, I shall have a claim as usual on your politeness, and call for one in my own right. My son does not propose to stay long in France, but he will open his own plans when he has the honour of seeing you, who I am very sensible will, even without an application from me, do all that friendship and generosity dictate, to prevent his disappointment in this tour—and to render his pursuits successful. You will Sir, remember me with tenderness to my young friends Messieurs John and Charles,2 then will I subscribe with every sentiment of respect, and esteem your obliged and very Humble Servant M Warren mwp1 1. Guillaume Thomas François, Abbé Raynal (1713–96), French writer well known to North Americans for various books, including L’Histoire philosophique et politique des établissements et du commerce des Européens dans les deux Indes (n.p.: Amsterdam, 1770). 2. The sons of John Adams. 53 to john sloss hobart [Another death brought forward from mow another letter to a bereaved family member of the deceased. This time, the deceased was mow’s neighbor and long-time friend Ellen Hobart Lothrop, and the recipient her brother, John Sloss Hobart (1738–1805), whom mow barely knew. Hobart was a Revolutionary political to john hobart, june 1780
135 figure from New York who, because of destruction to his property on Long Island, had to relocate temporarily to his family home in Fairfield, Connecticut.] Plymouth June 9th 1780 Sir, The formality of a letter of condolence is no part of my inducement to address you; the affection you must have felt for an amiable sister1 has its weight, but the love I bore my excellent friend Mrs. Lothrop forbids a non compliance with a request repeatedly urged; it is probably her partiality might lead her to thin a line to her beloved brother from one she had long considered in the highest stile of friendship could not fail to be agreeable. But whatever was her motive in desiring it, I am happy in the compliance , both as it was her wish, and as no one has had greater opportunities of observing the progress she made in the road to glory than myself. The poet’s image of patience, or a monument smiling at grief, will give you some idea of the quiet resignation with which she struggled under a painful disorder;2 but the higher descriptions of the sacred pen, which exhibit faith and hope bidding defiance to the dread tyrant, that holds in bondage the children of men will convey a livelier picture of her closing scene. The serene calm that overspread her countenance was without any mixture of the raptures of enthusiasm, or the affectation of superior philosophy; it was the dignity of virtue; it was the fortitude of the christian; and in full confidence if she saw not her Saviour clearly at this end of the vale, she should behold him at the other;—an expression of her own a few hours before she expired; with a placidity peculiar to herself, she ventured beyond the threshold of eternity without a fear. It is not a gloomy subject, yet such is the strength of passion and the weakness of human nature, that the tear starts from my eye;—and this hand trembles when it is about to tell you it is but a few days since it closed the lids of one whom I never saw but a reciprocal glow of affection gladdened each cheek. “A friend in purchase for a world is gain.” Then you, Sir, will excuse it if while I wish to console the fraternal bosom, the sigh of a wounded breast, and the plaintive...