Dr. Church returns today, and, with smarting eyes, I must write a few lines to you. I never had in my life such severe duty to do, and was never worse qualified to do it. My eyes depress my spirits, and my health is quite infirm. Yet I keep about, and attend Congress very constantly.
(From a letter, dated on 10th June 1775, from John Adams to his wife Abigail)
The letter was written during the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Only a few days before the Continental Army was established and George Washington was appointed to Commander -in-Chielf of the army on 15 June 1775.
The mentioned Dr. Church is Benjamin Church (1734-1778), a surgeon, before the time of the Revolutionary War, member of the Sons of Liberty. Later, between 27 July and 17 October 1775, the Chief Physician & Director General of the Army’s Medical Service.
Also, the doctor and confidant of George Washington during this early months of the war.
In October 1775, accidentally, it was discovered, that he was sending secret informations about the American patriots to General Thomas Gage. (His cyphred letters was carried by the secret mistress of the married Church.
Benjamin Church was tried and convicted of “communicating with the enemy”. He was jailed, but later released, and died yomewhere on the Caribean Sea.
John Adams wrote two letters on that day, in the second one he mentions:
Dr. Church has given me a lotion which has helped my eyes so much that I hope you will hear from me oftener than you have done.
📖 Read more:
The Letters of John and Abigail Adams
Brad Meltzer ans Josh Mensch: The First Conspiracy. The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington.