{"id":1391,"date":"2004-07-25T16:49:49","date_gmt":"2004-07-25T20:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=1391"},"modified":"2015-05-14T15:21:50","modified_gmt":"2015-05-14T19:21:50","slug":"john-to-abigail-a-disposition-entirely-american","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=1391","title":{"rendered":"John to Abigail: “a Disposition entirely American”"},"content":{"rendered":"

John to Abigail July 23 1775<\/i><\/p>\n

Dr. Franklin has been very constant in his Attendance on Congress from the Beginning. His Conduct has been composed and grave and in the Opinion of many Gentlemen very reserved. He has not assumed any Thing, nor affected to take the lead; but has seemed to choose that the Congress should pursue their own Principles and sentiments and adopt their own Plans: Yet he has not been backward: has been very usefull, on many occasions, and discovered a Disposition entirely American. He does not hesitate at our boldest Measures, but rather seems to think us too irresolute, and backward. He thinks us at present in an odd State, neither in Peace nor War, neither dependent nor independent. But he thnks that We shall soon assume a Character more decisive.<\/p>\n

He thinks that We have the Power of preserving ourselves, and that even if We should be driven to the disagreeable Necessity of assuming a total Independency, and set up a separate state, we could maintain it. The People of England have thought that the Opposition in America was wholly owing to Dr. Franklin: and I suppose their scribblers will attribute the Temper, and Proceedings of this Congress to him: but there cannot be a greater Mistake. He has had but little share farther than to cooperate and assist. He is however a great and good Man. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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