than I expected to find him from the accounts I heard of him a few days since, but surely his days are nearly numbered and finished. We dined there last week.

I wrote brother Joe yesterday with Respect to a watch and chain I suppose Mr. Brattle has brought out for me from London. I wish when you go again to the lines you will make a point of getting them for me & forward them to me, or if you don't expect to go again yourself, I beg you will write to a friend you can confide in to do the needful.

If you should go into York again, pray get at Berry and Roger's a pair of stone knee buckles like your handsomest, or as much neater and handsomer as you please.

By several gent'l from France, that have been in London, there is but little prospect of those proud fools giving up their idea of an Independence. If it will please the asses let 'em style themselves Kings of America, as they do of France, and I am content they should hold as much power in the one country as in the other. Sir, I trust one day to find their haughty spirits sufficiently humble, and when that is the case, I shall be willing to employ their mechanics, for the boys are good workmen, but after wanton brutality in America, with all their arrogance, I am sure they 'll never pretend to anything on the score of humanity, but what a savage will be ashamed of.

Mother grows stout, sleeps as little, lays in bed as long, and gets below as early as when you were here, & I despair of mending her in this matter. I intend making an advantage of it in Winter, as I expect no wood; she shall lay in bed all day.

My love to Kitty. I once thought her a girl of her word. She promised to write me, and as she knows I am ceremonious, I can't write her first. Mr. Dhas not forgot her yet. I forbear mentioning names, but you may assure her by the initials, I don't mean the devil.

Martha & Lilly are very well & send their Loves to you all in w'ch joins. Y'r assured friend &

Col. S. B. WEBB.

affec. Bro.,

Jo. BARRELL.

I

P. S.-Pray don't forget to remember us to bro. Jack.

most heartily wish him a load of laurels, good health and a speedy return to his friends.

Joseph Barrell's Letter.

BOSTON, Sept. 23d, 1782.

DEAR SAM :-The bearer, Mr. Tundy, with his friend Mr. Taylor, gentlemen of my acquaintance, are going to Virginia the place of their abode. I write only to introduce them to your notice, and to inform you we are all well. Hetty is getting better fastso well as to go this day to a ball the General De Vandevail gives at his house. She will not dance, but nevertheless I hope she will spend an agreeable evening. We all join in love to you and brother Jack. The bearer can inform you I am so busy that I can't enlarge further than to assure you that I am, as always, Your friend & brother,

Col. S. B. WEBB.

JOSEPH BARRELL.

Jos. Barrell's Letter.

BOSTON, 19th May, 1782.

DEAR SAM.:-I was disappointed in not seeing you before you joined the army, as you promised us that pleasure. I now give it over until the close of the Campaign, which I trust will be the last, but if not, I hope the exertions of this season will drive from our doors the common disturbers of our peace, and if they must wrangle let it be on British ground.

I wish the Employment of the army may drive from your mind the painful past of the remembrance of your dear friend. Time must befriend us in those calamities, or nothing. A letter lately from Wethersfield tells us Mrs. Banker's grief is still fresh. I pity her from my heart, but I greatly wonder she grieves so much when in all probability it is but a little while she will be separated from her darling child. Her loss none but a parent knows, and you can be told by none. I have lately buried my youngest child, a baby too, as sweet a babe as I ever had and one that promised fair to answer my fondest hopes. He was 4 mos. old, and tho' so young 't was taking a piece of the heart, but there are things that have to be submitted to.

By a vessel yesterday, in 40 days from Amsterdam, we have assurances that in a few days the Independence of America will be acknowledged by the States of Holland.

We have various reports of the Engagements in the West Indies between the two fleets, but from what I can gather, my opinion is that the French have got the best of it. If this be the case I think the chance is ten to one that Jamaica falls, as I wish it to most ardently.

Friday we had a certain acc't that the Hound, a British 36 gun Frigate ran on shore at Cape Bersue, and is lost. I haven't shed a tear on this acc't and I don't believe I should if half their fleet was as safely moored.

The Chatham, a new 50 gun ship is cruising in our Bay and no doubt will do us much damage.

The arrival of the Frigate's Alliance and Dean may be looked upon as a fortunate event. I think we are acting a very stupid part in retaining the lands belonging to the estate. They might be sold for large sums now, and if you didn't want the money it might be laid out in Government securities wh' might be purchased at 1-3 their value, and upon a peace they would no doubt rise greatly. You would I think do well to insist on it.

I

have turned it to Well, if there are

Jo. wants a little spurring in this matter. him and there are difficulties he says in the way. they might be removed for the present opportunity if lost cannot be regained.

Sally is well and joins in love to you.

I am,

Your friend, &c.,

Jos. BARRELL.

Colo. WEBB.

Joseph Barrell's Letter (Poetry) with a knife & fork.

BOSTON, April 6th, 1781.

Dear Sam., to you a knife I send,
A present from your brother, friend;
Not to cut love, as old wives say
But to cut victuals, day by day;
A Fork is joined in close embrace,
As you have been, in happier case;
But press them hard, and they asunder

Will come that fools may look, & wonder;
Divided thus, in each hand one,

And you may eat for food, or fun,
But mind me Same, as heretofore,
Don't use this knife to cut a score;
The days that's past, are ov'r and gone;
And now you'd better work at home;
Enjoy the blessing; hug the prize ;
Conceal'd, domestic pleasure lies;
Compar'd, the only sweet in life
Is a fond, fair, good natured wife
Attentive virtue in her breast,
She lulls corroding care to rest,
Charms grief to joy, to pleasure, pain;
And laughs to hear the word complain-
Ah, with such tender care carest,
"Tis Heaven, and you're supremely blest;
Long may you thus without a sigh
Together live, together die.

Boston, April 6th, 1781.

Sarah Barrell's Letter.

BOSTON, June 20th, 1779.

MY DEAR BROTHER :-This afternoon Mr. Wickoff leaves town for Philadelphia-by him I send your key. Am very sorry that we did not get Josey's letter sooner. I was at Mr. Temple's when the post went out. Hetty is still there. Expect her to-morrow with the family who are to dine here.

It gives me sincere pleasure to hear that you once more are permitted to visit your friends who have long wished to see you, but none more than myself, and shall not forgive you if you don't spend most of your time with me before your return. I have much to say to you. So has Hetty. But you must come here, for I am determined she shan't leave me for sometimes; for with each other we are happy, separatedf I am miserable. Remember me to all my dear brothers and sisters. I have not time to write them by this

conveyance which I am sorry for, Mr. Barrell joins me in love to you, and the family. Write me by every opportunity and believe that

I am, and ever will be,

Your sincere friend

and most affectionate Sister,
SARAH BARRELL.

POETRY.

TO COLONEL HAMILTON.

What, bend the stubborn knee at last,
Confess the days of wisdom past,
He that, could bow to every shrine,
And swear the last the most divine:
Like Hudibras all subjects bend,
Had Ovid at his fingers end;
Could whistle ev'ry tune of love,

(You'd think him Ovid's self or Jove)

Now feels the inexorable dart

And yields Cornelia all his heart!

Say what the charms that plague you so?

I'll venture barely common

Within the circle of her eye

A thousand sweet delusions lie,

Withal the oval of her face

-No.