This Web page shows the table of contents of our Mercy Otis Warren CD.
Internal links will take you to the various sections, but you cannot get
to the books themselves here on the Web. For that you need the CD.
This CD was compiled by Richard Seltzer. The books themselves are in
the public domain. You can copy them onto your hard drive for convenience,
or make an archival copy of the CD, as backup in case of damage to the
original. But the collection and its indexes, created for your convenience,
are under copyright. Please contact us first if you are interested in making
copies of this CD for commercial purposes. seltzer@samizdat.com
I entered these works by Mercy Otis Warren by hand. (The old type,
with "s" that looks like "f" and other peculiarities characteristic of
the time, makes this text impossible to scan). I have modernized the spelling
and punctuation and made other edits for readability. Please let me know
of typos, so I can fix them promptly. Richard Seltzer
seltzer@samizdat.com
Mercy Warren's entry in the Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edition,
1911:
"Warren, Mercy (1728-1814), American writer, sister of James Otis, was
born at Barnstable, Mass., and in 1754 married James Warren (1726-1808)
of Plymouth, Mass., a college friend of her brother. Her literary inclinations
were fostered by both these men, and she began early to write poems and
prose essays. As member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1766-1774)
and its speaker (1776-1777 and 1787-1788), member (1774 and 1775) and president
(1775) of the Provincial Congress, and paymaster-general in 1775, James
Warren took a leading part in the events of the American revolutionary
period, and his wife followed its progress with keen interest. Her gifts
of satire were utilized in her political dramas, The Adulator (1773) and
The Group (1775); and John Adams, whose wife Abigail was Mercy Warren's
close friend, encouraged her to further efforts. Her tragedies "The Sack
of Rome" and "The Ladies of Castile," were included in her Poems, Dramatic
and Miscellaneous (1790), dedicated to General Washington. Apart from their
historical interest among the beginnings of American literature, Mercy
Warren's poems have no permanent value. In 1805 she published a History
of the American Revolution, which was colored by somewhat outspoken personal
criticism and was bitterly resented by John Adams (see his correspondence,
published by the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1878). James Warren
died in 1808, and his wife followed him on the 19th of October 1814."
Portrait of Mercy Warren (by Copley) -- closeup of face, full
figure
Plays
The Adulateur, a five-act play, published in 1773
The Defeat, excerpts from a play, published 1773
The Group, a three-act play, published in 1775
The Blockheads, a three-act play, published in 1776, shortly after
the British withdrew from Boston
The Motley Assembly, a farce, published in 1779.
About Mercy Warren
Introduction to Observations on the New Constitution by Mercy Otis
Warren by King Dykeman, Philosophy Department, Fairfield University
Observations on the new Constitution, and on the Federal and State Conventions,
1788. Pamphlet against the Constitution, formerly attributed to Elbridge
Gerry, now acknowledged as written by Mercy Otis Warren
Chronology of Mercy Otis Warren 1728 - 1814 by King Dykeman, Philosophy
Department, Fairfield University
Introduction to the work of Mercy Otis Warren 1728 - 1814 by King Dykeman,
Philosophy Department, Fairfield University
Biography of Mercy's brother: James Otis the Pre-Revolutionist by John
Ridpath
Mercy (a stage play) by Richard Seltzer. This two-act historical comedy
is based on the lives of Mercy Otis Warren and General Johnny Burgoyne.
A recent biography of Burgoyne, entitled The Man Who Lost America,
focuses on his defeat and surrender at Saratoga in 1777. A recent biography
of Mercy Warren, entitled First Lady of the Revolution, indicates that
she was intimately connected with principal actors and actions of the Revolution.
Both Burgoyne and Mercy Warren were playwrights. After the Revolution,
Burgoyne wrote several "hit" plays for the London stage. In 1775, during
the British occupation of Boston, he wrote The Blockade of Boston. Mercy
replied with a play entitled The Blockheads. These two historical figures
are natural antagonists who should be made to meet on the stage.
The Rise, Progress and Termination of the American Revolution
"Mercy Warren: Conscience of the American Revolution" a detailed review
of this book by Richard Seltzer
The original 3-volume work is 1317 pages long. Mercy wrote early drafts
of this work near the time of the events described, and completed the work
about four years before its appeared in 1805. She explains the delay as
due to health problems, temporary bouts of blindness, and grief at the
death of her only son.
Mercy writes in the third person even when dealing with events involving
her immediate family. Keep in mind that James Otis (early advocate of the
rights of the colonies) was her brother, James Warren (speaker of the Massachusetts
House of Representatives) was her husband, and Winslow Warren (would-be
diplomat) was her son.
Volume 1 -- from the origins to Valley Forge in 1778
Introduction -- An Address to the Inhabitants of the United States of America
Chapter 1 -- Introductory Observations
Chapter 2 -- The Stamp Act. A Congress convened at New York, 1765. The
Stamp Act repealed. New grievances. Suspension of the legislature of New
York.
Chapter 3 -- Cursory Observations. Massachusetts Circular Letter. A new
House of Representatives called. Governor Bernard impeached. A riot on
the seizure of a vessel. Troops arrive. A Combination against all commerce
with Great Britain. A General Assembly convened at Boston, removed to Cambridge.
Governor Bernard after his impeachment repairs to England.
Chapter 4 -- Character of Mr. Hutchinson. Appointed Governor of Massachusetts.
The attempted Assassination of Mr. Otiose. Transactions of the March 5,
1770. Arrival of the East India Company's Tea Ships. Establishment of Committees
of Correspondence. The Right of Parliamentary Taxation without Representation
urged by Mr. Hutchinson. Articles of Impeachment resolved on in the House
of Representatives against Governor Hutchinson and Lieutenant Governor
Oliver. Chief Justice of the Province impeached. Chief Justice of the Province
impeached. Boston Port Bill. Governor Hutchinson leaves the Province.
Chapter 5 -- General Gage appointed Governor of Massachusetts. General
Assembly meets at Salem. A proposal for a Congress from all the Colonies
to be convened at Philadelphia. Mandamus Counselors obliged to resign.
Resolutions of the General Congress. Occasional Observations. The Massachusetts
attentive to the military discipline of their youth. Suffolk Resolves.
A Provincial Congress chosen in the Massachusetts. Governor Gage summons
a new House of Representatives.
Chapter 6 -- Parliamentary divisions on American affairs. Cursory observations
and events. Measures for raising an army of observation by the four New
England governments of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and
Connecticut. Battle of Lexington. Sketches of the conduct and characters
of the governors of the southern provinces. Ticonderoga taken. Arrival
of reinforcements from England. Proscription and characters of Samuel Adams
and John Hancock. Battle of Bunker Hill. Death and character of General
Joseph Warren. Massachusetts adopts a stable form of government.
Chapter 7 -- Continental Army. Mr. Washington appointed to the command.
General Gage recalled, succeeded by Sir William Howe. Depredations on the
sea coast. Falmouth burnt. Canadian affairs. Death and character of General
Montgomery.
Chapter 8 -- Dissensions in the British Parliament. Petition of Governor
Penn rejected. Boston evacuated. Sir Henry Clinton sent to the southward.,
followed by General Lee. His character. Sir Peter Parker's attack on Sullivan's
Island. General Howe's Arrival at Sandy Hook. General Washington leaves
Cambridge. Observations on the temper of some of the colonies.
Chapter 9 -- Declaration of Independence. Lord Howe's arrival in America.
Action on Long Island. Retreat of the Americans through the Jerseys and
the loss of Forts Washington and Lee. Affairs in Canada. Surprise of the
Hessians at Trenton. Various transactions in the Jerseys. General Howe's
retreat. Makes headquarters at Brunswick. His indecisions. Some traits
of his character.
Chapter 10 -- Desultory circumstances. Skirmishes and events.
General Howe withdraws from the Jerseys. Arrives at the River Elk. Followed
by Washington. The Battle of Brandywine. General Washington defeated, retreats
to Philadelphia. Obliged to draw of his army. Lord Cornwallis takes possession
of the city. Action at Germantown, Red Bank, etc. The British Army take
winter quarters in Philadelphia. The Americans encamp at Valley Forge.
General Washington's situation not eligible. De Lisle's letters. General
Conway resigns. The Baron de Steuben appointed Inspector General of the
American army.
Volume 2 -- from Saratoga in 1778 to the eve of Yorktown in 1781
Chapter 11 -- Northern Department. General Carleton superseded.
General Burgoyne vested with the command for operations in Canada. Ticonderoga
abandoned by General St. Clair. Affair of Fort Stanwix. Of Bennington and
various other important movements of the two armies, until the Convention
of Saratoga. General Burgoyne repairs to England on parole. His reception
there. Reflections and observations on the events of the Northern Campaign
Chapter 12 -- Observations on the conduct of the British
Parliament, previous to the capture of Burgoyne. The ineffectual efforts
of the commissioners sent to America in consequence of Lord North's Conciliatory
Bill. Their attempts to corrupt individuals and public bodies. Negotiation
broken off. Manifesto published by the commissioners. Counter Declaration
by Congress. Sir William Howe repairs to England
Chapter 13 -- Evacuation of Philadelphia. Battle of Monmouth.
General Lee censured. General Clinton reaches New York. The Count de Estaing
arrives there. Repairs to Rhode Island. Expedition unsuccessful. French
Fleet rendezvous at Boston to refit after damages sustained by a storm.
Lord Howe leave the American Seas. Marauding exploits of General Grey.
Destruction of Wyoming. Expedition into the Indian Territories.
Chapter 14 -- Foreign negotiations. Dissensions among the
American commissioners. Deane recalled. Mr. Adams appointed. Mr. Lee and
Mr. Adams recalled. Spain declares war against England. Mr. Jay sent to
the Court of Madrid. Sir George Collier's expedition to Virginia. His sudden
recall. Ravages on the North River. Depredations in the state
of Connecticut, in aid of Governor Tryon and his partisans. General Washington
seizes Stoney Point. Recovered by the British. Penobscot expedition. Destruction
of the American navy.
Chapter 15 -- A retrospect of some naval transactions in the West Indies
1778 and 1779. Affairs in Georgia concisely reviewed. General Lincoln sent
to take the command at the southward. The Count de Estaing's arrival
in Georgia. Savannah closely besieged by the combined forces of France
and America. Repulsed by General Prescott. The Count of Estaing leaves
the southern clime. The Count Pulaski slain in Georgia. Some anecdotes
of Count Kosciusko.
Chapter 16 -- Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot sail for South Carolina.
Charleston invested. Capitulates. General Lincoln and his army prisoners
of war. General Clinton returns to New York. Lord Cornwallis's command
and civil administration in Charleston. Mr. Gadsden an other gentlemen
suspected and sent to St. Augustine. Much opposition to British authority
in both the Carolinas. The Count de Rochambeau and the Admiral de Tiernay
arrived at Newport. British depredations in the Jerseys. Catastrophe of
Mr. Caldwell and his family. Armed neutrality. Some observations on the
state of Ireland. Riots in England. Cursory observations.
Chapter 17 --Distressed situation of the army and the country from various
causes. General Gates sent to the southward. Surprised and defeated at
Camden by Lord Cornwallis. Superseded. General Greene appointed to the
command in the Carolinas. Major Ferguson's defeat. Sir Henry Clinton makes
a diversion in the Chesapeake in favor of Lord Cornwallis. General Arnold
sent there. His defection and character. Detection, trial, and death of
Major Andre. Disposition of the Dutch Republic with regard to America.
Governor Trumbull's character and correspondence with Baron Van de Capellen.
Mr. Laurens appointed to negotiate with the Dutch Republic.
Chapter 18 -- Revolt of the Pennsylvania line. Discontents in other parts
of the army Paper medium sunk. Some active movements of Don Bernard de
Galvez in America. War between Great Britain and Spain opened in Europe
by the siege of Gibraltar. Short view of diplomatic transactions between
America and several European powers. Empress of Russia refuses to
treat with the American States.
Chapter 19 -- General Gates surrenders the command of the southern army
to General Greene, on his arrival in South Carolina. Action between General
Sumpter and Colonel Tarleton. General Morgan's expedition. Meet and defeats
Colonel Tarleton. Lord Cornwallis pursues General Morgan. Party of Americans
cut off at the Catawba. Lord Cornwallis arrives at Hillsborough. Calls
by proclamation on all the inhabitants of the state to join him. Battle
of Guilford. Americans defeated. Lord Cornwallis marches towards Wilmington.
General Greene pursues him. General Greene returns towards Camden. Action
at Camden. Lord Rawdon evacuates Camden and returns to Charleston. Barbarous
state of society among the mountaineers, and in the back settlements of
the Carolinas. Attack on Ninety-Six. Repulse. General Greene
again obliged to retreat. Execution of Colonel Hayne. Lord Rawdon leaves
the state of South Carolina and embarks for England. Action at the Eutaw
Springs. General Greene retires to the high hills of Santee. Governor
Rutledge returns to South Carolina and resumes the reins of government.
Chapter 20 -- Lord Cornwallis marches to Wilmington. Marquis de la Fayette
sent to Virginia. Death of General Phillips. Lord Cornwallis moves from
Petersburg to Williamsburg. Dissonant opinions between him and Sir Henry
Clinton. Crosses James River. Takes post at Portsmouth. Indecision
of Sir Henry Clinton. Meditates an attack on Philadelphia. The project
relinquished.
Volume 3 -- from Yorktown in 1781 to the Treaty of Paris in 1783, plus
a few subsequent events and observations about the Constitution (1787),
the French Revolution (1789), and the presidencies of Washington and Adams
(up to 1801)
Chapter 21 -- A first view of the forces of the contending parties. The
Generals Washington and Rochambeau meet at Weathersfield. Attack on New
York contemplated. The design relinquished. Combined armies march toward
Virginia. Count de Grasse arrives in the Chesapeake. Sir Samuel Hood arrives
at New York. Sails to the Chesapeake. Naval action. Lord Cornwallis attempts
a retreat. Disappointed. Offers terms of capitulation. Terms of surrender
agreed on. Lord Digby and Sir Henry Clinton arrive too late. Comparative
view of the British commanders. General exchange of prisoners.
Chapter 22 -- General Wayne sent to the south. Embarrassments of General
Greene in that quarter. Recovery of Georgia and evacuation of Savannah
by the British. Death and character of Colonel Laurens. Character of General
Greene. Consequent observations.
Chapter 23 -- General observations on the conduct of the British King and
Parliament after the intelligence of the capture of Lord Cornwallis and
his army. King's speech. Address of thanks opposed. Proposition by Sir
Thomas Pitt to withhold supplies from the Crown. Vote carried in favor
of granting supplies. General Burgoyne defends the American opposition
to the measures of the Court. Variety of desultory circumstances discussed
in Parliament.
Chapter 24 -- Naval transactions. Rupture between England and France opened
in the Bay of Biscay. Admiral Keppel. Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough
captured by Paul Jones. The protection given him by the States-General
resented by the British Court. Transactions in the West Indies. Sir George
Bridges Rodney returns to England after the capture of St. Eustatia. Sent
out again the succeeding year. Engages an defeats the French squadron under
the command of the Count de Grasse. Capture of the Ville de Paris. The
Count de Grasse sent to England. Admiral Rodney created a peer of the realm
on his return to England.
Chapter 25 -- Continuation of naval rencounters. Affair of Count Byland.
Sir Hyde Parker and Admiral Zeutman. Commodore Johnstone ordered to the
Cape of Good Hope. Admiral Kempenfelt. Loss of the Royal George. Baron
de Rullincort's expedition to the Isle of Jersey. Capture of Minorca. Gibraltar
again besieged, defended, and relieved. Mr. Adams's negotiations
with the Dutch provinces.
Chapter 26 -- General uneasiness with ministerial measures in England,
Scotland, and Ireland. Loud complaints against the Board of Admiralty.
Sir Hyde Parker resigns his commission. Motion for an address for peace
by General Conway. Resignation of Lord George Germaine. Created a peer
of the realm. Lord North resigns. Some traits of his character. Petition
of the city of London for peace. Coalition of parties. A new ministry.
Death and character of the Marquis of Rockingham. Lord Shelburne's administration.
Negotiations for peace. Provisional articles signed. Temper of the loyalists.
Execution of Captain Huddy. Consequent imprisonment of Captain Asgill.
Asgill's release.
Chapter 27 -- Discontents with the provisional articles. Mr. Hartley sent
to Paris. The definitive treaty agreed to and signed by all parties. A
general pacification among the nations at war. Mr. Pitt, Prime Minister
in England. His attention to East India affairs. Some subsequent observations.
Chapter 28 -- Peace proclaimed in America. General Carleton delays the
withdraw of the the troops from New York. Situation of the loyalists. Efforts
in their favor by some gentlemen in Parliament. Their final destination.
Their dissatisfaction and subsequent conduct.
Chapter 29 -- Conduct of the American army on the news of peace. Mutiny
and insurrection. Congress surrounded by a part of the American army. Mutineers
disperse. Congress removes to Princeton. Order of Cincinnati. Observations
thereon.
Chapter 30 -- A survey of the situation of America on the conclusion of
the war with Britain. Observations on the Declaration of Independence.
Withdraw of the British troops from New York. A few observations on the
detention of the western posts. The American army disbanded, after the
commander in chief had addressed the public and taken leave of his fellow
soldiers. General Washington resigns his commission to Congress.
Chapter 31 --Supplementary observations on succeeding events, after the
termination of the American Revolution. Insurrection in the Massachusetts.
A general convention of the states. A new Constitution adopted. General
Washington chosen President. British treaty negotiated by Mr. Jay. General
Washington's second retreat from public life. General observations
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