If I Can Only Live To See

I Am Now Pretty Far Advanced In Life, And All My Views Are Center'd In The Happiness And Well-fare Of My Children; You Will Therefore Find From Me Every Indulgence Which You Have A Right To Expect From An Affectionate Parent.

Happiness And Prosperity Are Now Within Our Reach; But To Attain And Preserve Them Must Depend Upon Our Own Wisdom And Virtue.

Considering The Natural Lust For Power So Inherent In Man, I Fear The Thirst Of Power Will Prevail To Oppress The People.

When The Resolution Of Enslaving America Was Formed In Great Britain, The British Parliament Was Advised By An Artful Man [sir William Keith], Who Was Governor Of Pennsylvania, To Disarm The People. That It Was The Best And Most Effectual Way To Enslave Them. But That They Should Not Do It Openly; But To Weaken Them And Let Them Sink Gradually, By Totally Disusing And Neglecting The Militia.

I Determined To Spend The Remainder Of My Days In Privacy And Retirement With My Children, From Whose Society Alone I Cou'd Expect Comfort.