Samuel Adams to Arthur Lee

It has been altogether from a Regard to your Safety that I have restraind myself from continuing on My part that Correspondence which you were obliging enough to indulge for several years. I know very well that your Avowal of and warm Attachmt to the Cause of Justice and truth, had renderd you exceedingly obnoxious to the Malice of the British King & his Ministers, and that a Letter written by a zealous Asserter of that Cause, and addressed to you, while you was in their Power would, if intercepted, have brought upon you the Resentment of that cruel & vindictive Court. But I cannot omit this opportunity of writing to you after so long a Silence, to assure you that I am still most heartily engagd according to my small Ability in supporting the Rights of America and of Mankind. In my last Letter to you near two years ago,¹ I ventured to give you my opinion, that if the British Troops then in Boston should attempt to march out in an hostile Manner, it would most surely effect a total and perpetual Separation of the two Countrys. This they did in a very short time, and the great Event has since taken place, sooner indeed than I expected it would, though in my opinion, not so soon as in Justice it might, & in sound Policy it ought. But there is a Timidity in our Nature which prevents our taking a decisive Part in the critical time and very few have fortitude enough to tell a Tyrant they are determind to be free. Our Delay has been dangerous to us; yet it has been attended with one Advantage. It has afforded to the World a strong Proof that oppressed & Insulted as we were, we were willing to give Britain time to recollect herself, and correct her own Errors. We are now enduring in the sharp conflict, confiding that righteous Heaven will not look with an indifferent Eye upon a Cause so manifestly just, and so interesting to Mankind. You are now called to act in a still more enlarged Sphere. Go on my Friend in the support of Liberty Virtue. You already have the Applause of virtuous Men, and may be assured of the Smiles of Heaven. Your Brother Mr. R H Lee will give you a particular Account of our Affairs in America. Nothing therefore remains for me to add but that I am,

Your very affectionate friend,

SA