8 Matching Annotations
  1. Oct 2025
    1. As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh. We have been told that our Struggle has loosened the bands of Government every where. That Children and Apprentices were disobedient — that schools and Colledges were grown turbulent — that Indians slighted their Guardians and Negroes grew insolent to their Masters. But your Letter was the first Intimation that another Tribe more numerous and powerfull than all the rest were grown discontented. — This is rather too coarse a Compliment but you are so saucy, I wont blot it out.

      It's wild how he doesn't take his own wife seriously. It sounds like he's just saying "add it to the list of problems" or "now the women are complaining?"

    2. Depend upon it, We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems. Altho they are in full Force, you know they are little more than Theory. We dare not exert our Power in its full Latitude. We are obliged to go fair, and softly, and in Practice you know We are the subjects. We have only the Name of Masters, and rather than give up this, which would compleatly subject Us to the Despotism of the Peticoat, I hope General Washington, and all our brave Heroes would fight. I am sure every good Politician would plot, as long as he would against Despotism, Empire, Monarchy, Aristocracy, Oligarchy, or Ochlocracy. — A fine Story indeed. I begin to think the Ministry as deep as they are wicked. After stirring up Tories, Landjobbers, Trimmers, Bigots, Canadians, Indians, Negroes, Hanoverians, Hessians, Russians, Irish Roman Catholicks, Scotch Renegadoes, at last they have stimulated the to demand new Priviledges and threaten to rebell.

      It seems that this whole part just disregards anything Abigail had written about. He says something along the lines of "men know their role, and they'll go easy on women, but they need to go wo war and fight". In the second part of the paragraph, he just restates what he's saying in the beginning, that women are just the next subgroup of people to rebel against the patriots.

    3. I find as much as I can do to manufacture cloathing for my family which would else be Naked. I know of but one person in this part of the Town who has made any, that is Mr. Tertias Bass as he is calld who has got very near an hundred weight which has been found to be very good.

      This as well as the rest of the paragraph shows that she is in touch with the town, as well as all she is doing for their family. Just goes to show it's ridiculous that women can fill this important role but cant have any rights outside of their home.

    4. I want to hear much oftener from you than I do. March 8 was the last date of any that I have yet had.

      I can feel her sense of longing, as well as impatience for his replies. I wonder how long it took to send mail back then, it's been a few weeks since she's heard from him, is that a long time for their postal service?

    5. Men of Sense in all Ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your Sex. Regard us then as Beings placed by providence under your protection and in immitation of the Supreem Being make use of that power only for our happiness.

      It just doesn't sound right even coming from her words, but the harsh reality was women seems like they were just there to satisfy men, which is absolutely terrible, I don't blame her for speaking in this tone.

    6. I long to hear that you have declared an independancy—and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.

      Very Powerful! I even take a liking to the threat of rebellion, and although at this point women have a long way to go, it is impressive to see this much fire from a woman in this time period; she speaks for those who want to represent.

    7. I have sometimes been ready to think that the passion for Liberty cannot be Eaquelly Strong in the Breasts of those who have been accustomed to deprive their fellow Creatures of theirs.

      Abigail is saying "How can men be passionate for liberty if they won't allow it for women?"

    8. I am willing to allow the Colony great merrit for having produced a Washington but they have been shamefully duped by a Dunmore.

      Dunmore Passed "Lord Dunmore's Proclamation" which freed slaves of the south so they could join the British army.