Today in Johnson City History, Thursday, July 24, 2025
John Adams writes to James Warren, a terrible accident, Limestone events and more
Monday, July 24, 1775: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, John Adams wrote a letter to James Warren; the original spellings and punctuation have been preserved.
“From John Adams to James Warren, 24 July 1775
“To James Warren
“Philadelphia
“Dear Sir
“In Confidence,—I am determined to write freely to you this Time. —A certain great Fortune and piddling Genius whose Fame has been trumpeted so loudly, has given a silly Cast to our whole Doings —We are between Hawk and Buzzard—We ought to have had in our Hands a Month ago, the whole Legislative, Executive and Judicial of the whole Continent, and have compleatly moddelled a Constitution, to have raised a Naval Power and opened all our Ports wide, to have arrested every Friend to Government on the Continent and held them as Hostages for the poor Victims in Boston. And then opened the Door as wide as possible for Peace and Reconcilliation: After this they might have petitioned and negotiated and addressed, &c. if they would.—Is all this extravagant?—Is it wild?—Is it not the soundest Policy?
“One Piece of News—Seven Thousand Weight of Powder arrived here last Night—We shall send along some as soon as we can—But you must be patient and frugal.