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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. }y errata ed to mt me pelure, apon h 1 2 3 4 5 6 32X '^mmtrnfi'' ,n»i.>iiiiitii>i in iM ilHIKillwliiH ■ r **^ I I \ N r f yffl"" " ' '>d „' '■ ^ ^^cj^cO LETTERS T a OM General Washington TO SEVERAL ilF HIS FRIENDS, IN loNE and Tl'Iv, 1776} / AN INTErtESTINO VIEW OF AMERICAN POLITICS, rf. -. < <_. AT THAT ALWMPORTANT PERIOD. \i P II- \ t ^-<•<-v' PHILADELPHIA: j niiPUBLisnrrx at the federal press, 1795. '"*! #1 i I I m^ m i^ * V i' # I ! ^ w. t, • \l • « /# .nLj ij j i j, ' jiu,i'iii i nir i" PREFACE To THIS EDITION. THE following Letters are, at this time, republiflied from a Bofton Edi-. tion, now out of print, as furnifhing an intereding appendix to the Official Letters of General Washington, which have lately made their appear- ance. Jill ' '' ti r — j B m g jj iif .wu it i ' ji ' L/ '- V- »a t'. i u ! ! ' !ii t. ' . r w! ' . - iftrxS- ,^. «^^**^*S«»W*M». - i 1 II ■:r r^'^i> ■'•■ '-^ :}fif¥/n:' •1*1; 'I' t ' , -'^ .; I'D »•' i *> 'J'- »' • J "*. .i >'-'•«'*-«• >' ri^tt, ilKatMpwi*»Mwwmylii* il»iiili>iii rii|l«»iBMtr»i il »l"-W'g'* " wti ' gigffijt MBrr' l^t itnft'V miri ,•. 1..^. <.'^j -n— Bf— a ..J. jx; PREFACE To the Former Edition of ihcfc Letters, fion whicii the Present Edition is copieJ. ■'///? pitblic will naturally be inquifitive as ti the authenti- city b/the follotving letters, for every thing elfe^ they will jpeak /or thrmfelvfs : and for their genuinenefs, the Editir con- teives hi mfelf concerned to give only ftich vouchers as he him f elf has received. By the bft packet he was fuvotired ivith a letter from n friend, now ferving in a loyal corps under Brigadier- General De Lancey $f New-Ttrk, of which he here fubjoins a faithful extraa. Pleajcd vjith t})e cmniu nication himfilf (and as he is not ajhamed to add, inflruSiedby it) he could not he enfy to withhold it from the public at large : inafmuch as, in his judgment, it exhibits a fairer and fuller viciv of Jmrican po- litic s^ than the world has yet feeii. '■'■Among the pri finer s at Fsrt Lcc, Irfpicda mulatto fellow, whom /thought I rccollcSfcd, andivho confirmed my con- jeSJures by gazing very earnejUy at me. I afked him if he knew me. At fir (l, he was unwilling to own it ; but, when he luas about to be carried of; thinking, Ifuppofe, that 1 r.ighi perhaps betffomeferviceto him, he ca/ne andtoldme,that he ztv.f BiUy,and the oldfervant of General IFaJhington. He ha I been left there tn account of an indifpofttion which prevented his attending his majltr. I ajked him a great many que/1 ions, as you mayfuppof ; but found very little fatisfaSlion in his anfwers. Jt tail, hovj- evtr-t he told me that he had a fmall portmanteau of his mqfi:r's ; ef which, when he found that he mujl be put into confinement, he tntrtated my care. It contained only a few fiockings andftmts \ «nd I could Jet nothing viorth my care, except an almanack, in ? which m r iiiin* M<— irtWh»«» J Jil uh'uh he hadktpt a fort t/ajournaly or diary of hi, protttdhis fine f his firj} coming toNtw Ytrk: thtKf wtri alfo twtUtttrsf, om his lady, one from Mr. Cujlisy andfimi pretty Ung ones from a Mr. Lund irajhington; and in the fume bunalt uith them, tht firjidraughts.or foul copies, ofnnfwers to them. I readth.fe with uvidity; tnd being highly entertained with them,h die, need I tell you that I am ten thoufand tim s more afraid to live, like Lucifer, a fallen an- gel. No, Lund, that were too much; betide what will, I cannot, and I will not, furvive either my misfortunes, or my difgr.;ccs. Heaven knows how truly I love my country ; an 1 that I embarked in this arduous enterprize on the pureft motives. But we have overfliot our mark : we have grafped at things beyond our reach : it is impoffible we fhoald fuc- ceed; and I cannot with truth fay, that I am forry for it; bccaufe I am far from bsing fure that we deferve to fucceed. That the Britilh Miniftry had meditated fchemes fatal to the liberties of America ; and rhat, if wc had not oppofed their firft eflbrts to impofe taxes upon us, without our conftnt, we might have bid adieu to svery idea of conftitutional fe- curity hereafter, I have not a doubt. Nay, I am fo tho- roughly petfuaded of the unworthinefs of their defigns, and of the duty of every honeft American to oppofe them, that, diffatisficd as I am with my fituation, were it to do over again, i would rather be even as I am than tamely crouch, whdtt chains were faftening round my neck ; fur there is not, in my cftimation, fo \ ilc a thing upon earth as a human beuig \vho, having t.ce enjoyed liberty, can patiendy bear to lee it taken from him. I would, and I will die ten thou- la.'.d dcaihs, rather than be this thing myfelf. On thefc principles, and thcfe only, I firft took up arms; but my misfortune, and the true fource of all my uneafinefs is, that though in good policy, as well as honour, thefe ought to be the principles of every American, I have long ago difcovcred they are not, and on this account alone I dread our !« 1 other men ? For his moment, I feel i: I thank my God lar for any pcrfonal fraid to die: why ifamy and liifgrace. you that I am ten ucifer, a fallen an- aetide what will, I misfortunes, or my love my country ; prize on the purefl: : we have grafped ible we fhoald fuc- ! am forrv for it; defcrve to fucceed. Ichemes fatal to the ,d not oppofed their 'ithout our conftnt, ' conftitutional fe- Nay, I am fo tho- F their defigns, and I oppofe them, that, vere it to do over than tamely crouch, neck ; for there is )n earth as a human , can patiently bear I will die ten thou- myfelf. On theic up arms; but my y uncafmefs is, that r, thefe ought to be Ions ago difcovcred done I dread our ( " ) defeat. Our want of (kill, our want of ammunition, in fliort, our want of everything which aji army ought to have, are all, no doubt, exceedingly againll us ; but they r.re all no hing to our want of virtue. Unufed to the many arts aud devices, by which defigning men carry their points, 1 un- willingly l.ftened to my own apprehenfions, when early m the firft Congrefs, I thought I faw a tendency to me:iiurcs which I never could appove of. I reafoi.ed mylelt, howe- ver, out of mv fears, vvith no ordinary reproach on my own meannefs, in 'having given way to (ufpicions, which could not be true, unlcfs we had men amongft ourfelves more fla- gitious than even thofe we were oppofing. At length, how- ever, when a continental army came to be voted for, my fears returned with redoubled force; for then, for the iirll time, I clearly faw our aims reached farther than we cared to avow. It was carried with an unanimity that really allo- nifhed me; becaufe I knew, many who voted for it were as averfe to the independency of America as 1 was. And they even ridiculed me for my apprehenfions on that account ; and, indeed, when they fuggefted, that Great Britain, feeing us apparently determined to rifque every thing rather than that they fhould tax us, would never think of engaging in a civil war with us, which mufl neceffarily coft her more than even America could repay her, I coJd not but hope, that I was miftaken, and that our military preparations might be a good political movement. In one, thing, however, we all agreed, that, as the forces were chiefly to be raifed in New England, it would be extremely ralh and imprudent in tHe fouthern delegates to leave them in the poflTeffion of fo for- midable a power without any check. I need not tell you, diat it was this confideration which, if I am to be credited, forely againft my will, determined me to accept of the com^ mand of this army. We fet out with bad omens ; I was miftruftful of them in every thing; and they were taught to look upan me with jcaloufy. This foon manifefted Jtfelf in B 2 • ti i| 1 ( 12 ) k\ ill i ! I fonniii^ tliem to anything like decent dlfcipline. But I have, long ago, pefteicd you m , and unfoldier-like ma n r, ^' hich not only j;jvc them .:n opportunity to efcape, but Sas taii?h. he ti fit dt-rpi c u?. There is no forming an idea ot tn i n|)) 'unce of fcS a ftroke at that conjuncture. If any 'ing 'ip ^i • ar h c luld hivc made America independ- ent and ^:l" 1 >i , c'^'t was tVe g Idcrn opportunity. I confcfs to you, I nad N'rked my imagination up to fuch a pitch of high xpetfti i(ji , I ut my difappointmcnt has difpirited me in a manner I nev^-. cm reove . Fnr, from that moment, I have delpaired o or.r ever d) n_j any thing truly great. Any little fleams f fnccefs, or lairer profpefts we have fince had, ferve but t»> make o.ir inferiority the more confpicuous : For what wcidcntf! can fall out to aggrandize us, who can be made great only by great and fpirited efforts, when we have (hev.n that we wanted both the underftanding and the virtue to purcHafe to ourfelves immortal glory on better and cheiper terms than ever we can hops hereafter to have it ? But, the Woift remains yet to be told. Some of thofe very men who were the moit forward tJ th\\ art me in this meafure, had dif- covsred a diiFerent way of thinking on other occuficns, and, I am perfuaded, that were the queftion pu to them now, as to this city and the fouthern regmient?, I fliould not hear a diffbming voice. — But, let me fpare you. After all this, you will again, I doubt not, as you often have, aik why I continue in a fuuarion fo dilagreeable to mef I v/i(h you had forborne this queftion, the truth being, that I neither am able, nor very willing to anfwer it. My refo- lution to hold it out as long as I can is dictated by my fecU ings, which I neither can defcribe to you, nor wholly juftify on paper; but which, however, I find it impoffible for me to difregard. The eyes of all America, perhaps of Eu.-ope, of the world are fixed tm nie. It has been our policy, (and> at the time, I thought it well founded) to hold out falfe U\' j'ti ,1 'IB 'IB • 40 • I? I '' * 'i ( '4 ) lights to the world. Tlitre are not a hundred men in Arne. rica that know our true iituation ; three fourths of the Cbn- grcfs i'.felf are ignorant of ii ; yourfeli excepted, here lives not a man at all acquainted with my peculiar circiimftance<:. The world looks upon us as in pofllffion of an army all animated with the pure flame of liberty, and determined to die rather than not be free. It is in pofleflion of proof*, .hat it is fo, under my own hand : I have always fo fpoken of it and Iftill do. But, you kno.v how remote in my judgment all thij> is from the truth ; though I am not fure that there is another man in the army, befides myfelf, that thinks fo. I fliould guefs, however, that there are many. Bu', tied up as my ©wn mouth is, it is little to be wondered at, that theirs are fo too, at leaft to me. Thus circumflanced, can you point out a way in which it is pofllble for me to reiign, jull now, as it were on the eve of aftion, without the imputation of cowardice ? Thert is nu fuch way. Befides, diffident and defponding as I am, how do I know, that it is not fo with thofe we have to op.. pofe ? they certainly have reafon. The events of war de- pend on a thoufand minutia, without the ken of a mere by- ftander. I know not that ths commander of the armies of the low countries, could his heart have been read as you do mine, had not the fame fears, and the fame caufes f«r thenj that I have. You learn not this from the hiftory, nor wai it to be expelled you fliould ; yet, he fucceeded at laft ; And, who knows, what an over-ruling Providence, who often brings about the greatcft revolutions by the moft un- likely means, may intend for America ? If it be the will of God, that America fliould be independent of Great Britain, and that this be the feafon for it, even I and thefe unhopeftil men around may not be thought unworthy inftruments in his hands. And, fliould we fucceed, we are heroes, and im- mortalized beyond even thofe of former times ; whereas difgracc only, and intolerable infamy await our retreat. In t\ red men in Ame- irths of the Cbn- ed, here lives not :iimftances. The irmy all animated incd to die rather }f«, '>h.it it is fo, :n of it and I ftill judgment all thij^ t there is another nks fo. I fliould i', tied up as my that theirs are (9 a way in which a it were on the bvardice ? Ther« fponding as I am, e wc have to op.. 'cnts of war dc- en of a mere by- ' of the armies of n read as you do e caufes far then^ hiftory, nor wa* licceeded at laft ; Providence, who by the moft un- F it be the will of of Great Britain, d thefe unhopeful nftruments in his heroes, and im- times i whereas our retreat. In < '5 ) this perfuafion, I refolve to go 011; contented, with th3 glo- rio s Kino- William, to fave my country, or die in the laft ertions, I paid you no ordinary compliments, in my own mind, for your modsfty in forbearing to meddle with things which it was no reproach to you to confcfs, were out of your reach. Confidering your rank, fortune, and educa- tion, whenever it is proper for you to come forward on the theatre, it muft not be any underpart that you aft. You are, therefore, certainly in the right", to decline taking any part at all, till you are fit for a firft and leading character; And you have my full and perfect approbation of your refolution to perfift in your purpofc, for the prcfent, not to accept of any rank, civil or military. I (cz your anxie y, l-;ft the prc- fent opportunity for fignalizing yoivr juft love for your coun- try fhould, by your not unnecwfliiry cautions, be lufFcrcd to flip by you, unimpiovcd. Your ardour is commendable. * ^^ I . I I « ( IS ) and far be it from me to clif.-ojra^s in jo\i a fpirit I 'b m'ich love. But, vviiilft you recain thje li).iourabb principles, there is litth danger of yoir van ino oppjrtunities lo call them forth ino ac^i jn. T.ie nunant )u< en;srprii2 in vhich ytjur CO nitry is engaged, is n »t t.) be accon^ili;!! J in 'his or that yea-. If, in no lo.iger a period than h. fiege of Troy, we bring all oar mighty fche.nes to bear, it will be the gre''t- ell: wo.k that ever was perfcifted in fo little a tim;. Y^n ha\>e fet your hea t, you tell me, on a mllirary employment. This is the ufual bent of young men ; and, as it was my own, it w ill be with an ill-grace that I reprehend it in you. But with the experience that I have had of i% I (hould be wanting in that love and efteem I owe you, (hould I hefitate to tell you, that, as your father, there is not a profeflion you could have chofco in which I fhould not more cordially have concurred with you. Yet, I love arms ; I am married to my fword, as well as to your moft amiable mother : and, herein is my witnes, :hat I am in earncft when I fay, death alone Ihall divorce me fron either. I am not fo blindly devoted, however, to my profeffian, as not to fee by how frail a tenure I hold the little reputation I have in it. As a ftatefman, as a fenator, i: is in the general fufficient that you mean well, that you are careful to qjalify youifelf to form a right judg- ment of the trui in'erefts of your country, a.A that, with the hnneft impartiality of a freeman, you have ftill exerted your beft endeavours to promote thofe interefts : But, with a foldier, fuccefs alone is merit; and there is nothing that can atone for the want of ir. The woilJ is a worfe judge of military matters, than any other. It would aftonifli you to find, on a minute comparifon, how very little difference there was in the (kill and fpirit which guided Braddock and Wolfe in the laft anions of their lives} but, how different has been their fate ! — ^I think I am not without fomc talents for the line of life which has fallen to my lot ; but oppofed, us I rauft be, by men probably, of infinitely fuperior fkilU riiiiT.iliirii ii"irii"i'f(iMiui)'iiffliii;iiii?n>-!i ( '7 ) I fplrit I 'b m'ich irabb principles, i-jrtunities to call ;srprii2 in .vhich \^^\'i!h J in 'his or u fiege of Troy> A'ill be the grct- tle a tim;. Yjh :ary employment, nd, as it was my irchend it in you. of i% I Iho uld be hould I hefitate to a profeflion you )re cordially have m married to my her : and, herein fay, death alone blindly devoted, tow frail a tenure s a ftatefman, as t you mean well, »rm a right judg- ', A.A that, with lave ftill exerted refts : But, with re is naihing that is a worfe judge ould aftoniih you y little difference :d Braddock and It, how different liout fomc talents )t; but oppofed, ;ely fuperior fkillj and cncompaffed moreover with fuch hofts of oihcr diffisul- ties and difcouragements as I air, it. is not mine to command Aiccefs. And when either my co'emporaries, or future hifto- rians, ffiall fit in judgment on my condiift, if, haply, ill for- tune {hould overtake me, feeing our milcarriages only, and having neither curiafity nor ability to inveftigate the thou- fand caufes which led to them, am I not too well warranted in concluding, that they niil be attributed to mifmnnage- ment ? Have I not then reafon to n\ ilh that your choice had fdien on the quieter but not lefs important calling of a pri- vate gentleman ; in which, as a fenator, you might have given proof of your abilities, in a uay in which fortune would not have had fo great a fliare ? But nutwithftanding all thi?, and if, after all, you be irrevocably determined to try your fortune in the field, and you can gain your mother's and your wife's confent, I here give it you under my hand, that you (hall not want mine. Moft certai;ily there cannot be a more ho- nourable employment i and if (which heaven avert) fortune fhould declare againft you, my confolation will be, that T can-allure myfetf, you wiU deferve to be fuccefsfuL 1 will, on the opening of the next campaign, procure you an ap- pointment to the command of a regiment, either here, or in the fouthern wing. And, if my opinion may have any weight with you, you will, for many reafons, prefer the be- ing ftationed in fome of the fouthern ftates. There is no fear of its being an inaffive flation. I have little cxpe(51:a- tion that this year will clofe with aught confiderably dccifive on either fide ; and if our enemies be sble to hold out ano- ther campaign, it is aioft likely their policy v/ill be, by means of their naval fuperiority, to carry on a kind of an incurfivc war, by making unexpe(fled defcents in different and diflanC places. Meanwhile, permit me to prefs you to perfevere in your attention to military matte;s. The manual exercife, which you were fo juftly diligent to learn v/hilft I was with yov, is but the A, B, C, of your profeflion. Neither wUl i i''.(! "■■flw I l-/.*(^--^' - rfiip ^^ ^ li f < BMi> . "■a '-' jJA. 'B "iw ( 18 ) you profit (b much as you might reafonably expcA, tiom the Ihidy of thofc authors, who have written profeffedly on the art of war. This is like the learning the game of whift by reading Hoyle. I have been witncfs to the mifchicvous cf- f'c<5ls of it. A man, book-lcarncd only, does very well in the ftill fccncs of marchings and encampments. But when, in the various buftles of a(flual war, a caufc arifes, as muft often be the cafe, not delcribcd in his books, he is utterly at a lof"(. I would not, however, have you to undcrftand me as if I meant to difcouragc your reading thcfc books, a'c all j fo far from it, I would have you read them very often, and make yourfelf acquainted with the fubjeft as much as you can, in theory. My caution meant only to guard you againft placing too much reliance on them. Their beft commenta- tors, next to your own experience, will be the hiftorians of Greece and Rome ; which it is your hnppinefs to be able to read in the originals. But, the main and moft efTential qua- lification is an high fenfe of honor, an elevation of fentiment, and a certain dignified flile of behaviour, that diflinguiflies, or fhouid diflinguifli, a foldier from every other man. It is a fhame indeed, if he who undertakes to command others, has not firft learned to command himfclf. I will not endure any thing mean or fordid either in your principles, or your manners ; having determined, if it were left with me, to be as ftrift and rigorous in thefe particulars, as were the knights of old, when a candidate was to be inverted with the orders of chivalry. I cannot diflociate the ideas between a foldier .nnd a gentleman : and however common it may be to give that laft appellation to perfons of every charafter, it yet con- veys to me an idea of worths I want words to exprcfs. I am not/oliclious to pay you compliments, even by implica- tion ; but, I may cei tainly be permitted to fay, that if I had not known you to be a gentleman, you never fhouid have had my cynfcnt to your becoming a foldier. vJ I ■i iii i i ii i i ii ^ expert, tioin the profeffedly on the game of whift by be tnifchicvous cF- locs very well in cnts. But when, ife arifes, as muft :s, he is utterly at to underftand me icfc books, a'c all j rji very often, and b as much as you guard you againft r beft commenta- e the hiftorians of Inefs to be able to noft efTential qua- ition of fentiment, that diftinguiflies, other man. It is command others, I will not endure rinciples, or your ft with me, to be i were the knights ;d with the orders between a foldier it may be to give rafter, it yet con- Js to exprefs. I even by implica- fay, that if I had never ihuuld have ( 19 ) Your obfervations on this important contclV arc juft and accurate, and difcover a reach of thought, and a pcnctrafion beyond what I had cxpefted of you. What ytni fay on the fubjea of independency is pcrfeftly judicious, an*!, no doubt, highly worthy of all our moft fcrious confideration. Yet, I ■ have a prefentiment, that it will take place, and fiwcdily.— Open and unreferved as my conduft towards you has ever been, I have no reluftance to confrfs to you, that the mca- fure is diametrically oppofite to my judgment •, for I have not yet defpaired of an honorable reconciliation; and whiUt I can entertain but an hope of that, both intercft and inclination lead me to prefer it to every thing elfc upon earth. Human affairs are oddly ordered. To obtain what ypu moll wifli for, you muft often nuke ufe of means you the leaft approve of ; As in bargaining, to obtain a fair and equal price, you muft frequently a(k more than you wilh to take. I do not re- ally wilh for independence ; I hope there are few who do ; but I have never heard the reafonings of thofe, who have prov- ed that, if we did not declare for it, we fhould fail to obtain the conftituti»nal fubordination to which wc are entitled, fairly refuted. I would not have you, therefore, haftily con- clude that if, in this ftiugglc, we fall fhort of every thing wc have claimed, we are Worfted: Perhaps, the very worft thing that could befal us, is that we fliould gain all. I do aflure you that, in my opinion, the next- ;, i,. irtune to that of being thruft from our juft rank in the order of freemen, would be the giving us up, and leaving us to ourfelves. But, this Great Britain will never do, volunta-ily : for, if ever (he does, whatever may become of us, .rom that moment, flie may date the commencement of her own downfall. I am exceedingly happy in the becoming moderation which you obferve and endeavour to introduce towards the unhappy men whofe political creeds differ from ours. But for this blot in her fcutcheon, thrown on her by too many of her raih and unworthy advocates, by a contrary conduft, this C 2 4| dW>^ ( iO ) • ' ' " , ■ - effort of America vvouUI have done her honour, even though flic had failed. I am flioclcCsl at the inftances of intolerance I daily hear of, and have no power to prevent. But, like the other evils of war, it is a caUmity that unavoidably grows out of fuch a convulfion ; and one might as well hope to ftcm the fury of a torrent, as to give laws to an enraged people. It is however, the duty of every true friend to liberty, by every gentle and conciliatory means in his power, to reftrain it. And, I am happy to find this fentiment daily becoming more general amongft us. All things confidered, I cannot but think it not a little to our honour, that things have not been carried to a ftill greater height in this way. Remember me afFcJlionatcly to Nelly, and tell her, that though I fliould be happy to fee her, I may not hope for that happinefs fpeedily ; as the dir> of arms, 1 imagine, would be but unpleafiug entertainment to her; and I have little profpeA of any leifurc, at Icaft before we go into winter quarters. I hope Mr. Calvert, and all the family are well : I beg to be remembered to them. I will write to your mother in a few days. You are very good in leaving her alone as little as may be. Continue to write to me frequently, freely, and fully ; the hearing f my deareft friends' and family's welfare being the only true happinefs 1 have any chance to enjoy a- midft the perpctu.il hurry in which I live. I am, my dear Jack, Your very aiFe■ is i ^ 'fL^Y-' ;'^' »^Siri^i«Wi.i" ir, even though s of intolerance . But, like the voidably grows cl] hope to ftem :nrage(l people, d to liberty, by wcr, to reftrain daily becoming dcred, I cannot things have not ay, nd tell her, that )ot hope for that igine, would be vc little profpeA Iter quarters. I 11 : I beg to be mother in a few lone as little as itly, freely, and family's welfare knee to enjoy a- id and Father, Wafhington. ;^' ( ai ) New-Tori:, July 8, 1776. 7i Mr> Lund tyajhington, at Mount Ftrnony Fairfax Countyt Virginia. Dear Lund, TTIT'E arc ftill going on with all imaginable briftcncfs and fucccfs with our works, which I think are already im- pregnable. It would really aftonifti you to fee the progrcft we kave made. I do not believe that all hiftnry can furnifli a precedent of fo much being done in fo little time, or in fo mafterly a manner, where you had fo litilc right to look for confumrAate flcill. If, in every thing clfe, we could but come up to our exertions in thefe fortifications, I fliould hardly know how to doubt the judgment of thofe who think that we may bid defiance to the world. But, I know not how it is, I am diffident of cver^ thing. Whilft almoft every body clfe feems to have perfuaded himfcif, that we have nothing to fear, I alone torment myfelf with thinking that every thing is againft us. Even from thefe very works, which have in- fpircd us with fuch confidence, I anticipate only misfortune and difgrace. By this time the die is cafl, and America is authoritatively declared free and independent ; and unlefs we can be contented to appear ridiculous in the eyes of all the world, we muft refolve to fuppopt this declaration by a fuita- ble conduct : — we muft fight our way to freedom and inde- pendency } for in no other way, fhall we be permitted to ob- tain it, farther than words. A war, therefore, and & moft ferious one, is now inevi- table. Next to good finances, which it is not my province to provide for, a good army is, doubtlefs, a main requifite to the carrying on a fuccefsful war ; and a good army, is by no means fecured, as fome feem to reckon, by fecuring a large number of men. We want foldiers, and between thefe, and raw, undifciplined men, there is a wide difference. 3itti to (land fire, and to bear a reverfc of fortune with a de- cent maj2;nanimity. If it had not been for this ill-judged hu- mour of fighting from behind a fcreen, the 19th of April, and J 7th of June lad: year, might have been the happieft days A- mcrica cverfaw. All thefe things have I, again and again, rcprefentcd to my mafters ; I am afhamed to fay, to how lit- tle purpofc. They return nic anfwers and inftru^ions, which, though I cannot refute, have not yet convinced what I would call the feelings of my own mind. This day Nveck, the enemy's fleet was firft defcrkd off Sandy- Hook. They have been employed fince then in de- barking their troops on Statcn-Ifland, where they are can- toned, as far as I can judge, in a very uncompadt and un- guarded manner. I cannot exadly afcertain their number, but I have reafon to believe, tJiat they fall fhort of (even thoufand. It is more extraordinary ftill, that; I am not able ( aj ) iiid undircipllned nd I am free to itributing to thii, intrcnchmcnts be cft'cit. To be a \ danger; to dare I and expofcd to again witK undi- hat it is equally noy your enemy. Lition ', but I will centinel allows I that, in the mo- lot to forget the :o. Now what, [t-works, but fo ' what prodigious It would be al- fCTC only to train irtunc with a dc- lis ill-judged hu- 9th of April, and happicft days A- again and again, fay, to how lit- ind inftru^ions, : convinced what firft defcrkd ofF fmce then in de- re they are can- compadl and un- in their number, 1 fhort of kven at; I am not able to Inform you «f the exatfl numl>cr of forces under my own command : I fancy however, we might bring into the field, at thi. place, double their number at a minute's WHrniny ( „n 1 with this I peiiority of number?, making all polliblc al- lowaiicr"; for our other ilif.idvantagcs, onu would h.)pc; \vr might be able to give a good account of tlicm. You, who arc fanguinc in the extreme, and all impatience, will t:igcrly aflc, why we fufFercd ihcm to land unmolelKd, and to re- main fo ever fince. Wh»t excellent expeditions you firc-fulu generals can indantly plan and execute ! liut you forget that they arc parted on an iflanJ, and that we have noway at coming at them, unlcfs they would lend us their fhips and boat?, which I have not prefumed to afk of them. Aware, however, of the importance of falling on them, whilll tl.. re is a chance of doing it with fucccfs, and eic they become a match for us, by reinfoicemei.ts w hich they daily exoeit, I have formed a fcheme, which, at leaft, is plaiifible, and pro- mifcs fair to be fuccefsful. 1 have fubmittc 1! it to Congref^ and every moment expedt their aiifwei ; and if they '.% ill bur fupport me with alacrity, and in good earneft, my next, I truft, will not be fo defponding I cxpciSl to be all rea.ly to put my plan in execution on Tucfday, or at fartheft, on Wcdnelday night; fo that probably, at the very moment you are reading this, we may be engaged in a very diillrent ler- vice. You will, no doubt, be impatient to hear tVcm me as foonas may be, after Wednefday, and I will not dilappoiiic you. Meanwhile, I Ihull not need to tell you, that end h(»w it will, all that I freely chatter to you, is to remain a profound fecret to every body clfc. Dodlor, now Brigadier-General Mercer is here, and is a great comfort tonic. Like myfelf, he wants experience > but he is very {hi ewd and fenfible, and though a Scotfman, is remarkably humane and liberal. I have coinmunicated ih>: ■whole of my dcfign to him alone ; and am not aflAam^d to own* that I have received much afliftance fiom him. I kijow ^^ . , — iMitaiirij^-iiiiTTrtnr i H ) - not how it may turn out ; but though neither he nor I are very apt to be fanguine, we have both confefTed to be fo on this occafion. Animated, however, as I feel myfelf with the near prolpe ( 29 ) tport this decla- ither its wifdom vocates for this 1 ordinary corn- determine on a ^t any rate, the md all I have to itable Tpirit. G. W. ** ^h 15, 1776. c. IFStaten-Ifland; rupted by us, in ley muft now, I IS they expedl to lear of their mo- ifTay will not be cioufly, I think, , if we do but a<^ may, we fhall at they have to ex- 10 rrJying on any ti which commif- fioners were to be invefted, for the purpofe of fettling this difpute. Like moft other things belonging to it, thefe too have made a much greater figure in talk, than they do in fait. There arc but two commiffioners, the two Howes ; ;ind their powers are extremely vague and undefined. It is a pity, methinks, that Congrefs had not had better information on this fubjeft ; if they had, it is to be prcfumed, they would not have precipitated the declaration of independence, fo as to preclude all poffibility of negociation. I mny venture to whifper in your car, that this excepted, I firmly believe, that America might have carried every other point; and certainly, there was a time, when this would have been deemed a con- queft beyond the warmeft wifhes of the warmeft American. Whether in the prefcnt pofture of affairs, it ftill be fo, is ano- ther queftion ; I can anfwer only for myfelf, that I would pot even afk fo much. Different men will judge differently with refpeft to this conduft on the part of Great-Britain ; I own I am bewildered and puzzled to aecount for it. After fuch an aftonifliing expence as they have been at, and with fuch fair profpefts as they have before them of being foon in a capacity to prefcribe their own terms, it certainly is extraor- dinary to find them condefcending to be friends w ith us, on conditions as mortifying and degrading to them, as they are flattering to us. I can account for it but in one way ; I re- ally afcribe it to their magnanimity. It mufl be an uiiplcafing conteft to the nation : I fay the nation ; for however expe- dient it may be for us to have it called a miniflerial wa :, no man who knows any thing of the Englifli government, can imagine, that the miniflry could have moved a ftep in it, if it had not been the fenfe of the natio.i. It mufl, too, be :i mofl fruitlefs and unprofitable war ; fince tvcry advantage they can gain, muff: in faft be a lofs, as being gained over themfelves. No wonder, therefore, they have been flow and backward to enter into it ; no wonder they would be glad to be well rid of it, on almoft any terms. I have ever beon of wfeftS i ,! ( 30 ) this opinion, and it was this perfiafion alone that reconciled me to the meafiire of taking up arms. I fee, however, the world around me viewing it in a diffcenf light ; c\uy con- ccffion that is made to us, they attribute to timidity onlv, irtd defpoiidency. I own appearances make for this conjedtue j *nd, no doubt, Congrcfs ^^ ill give it its fan^fticn. I have not adopted this opinion, that we mi. ht have wacc with Great- Bri.ain, on terms which wo:. Id once h ..c hccn thought mod honorable, on flight grounds. YJte c'ay, g letter was brought tome, making ovc.tures for antg ci;.tioi», from Lord Howe. I had expedted it ; and h id my inft uc- tions. It was addreflfed, as I had forcfcen, to nic as in tny private charafter only. On the ground of in(!epcrnd'.ncy, if we chofe to maintain it, this was not a mere m.itter of p mc- tilio ; it was the critical moment of trial, whether we n nuld afliert, or recede from oar pretenfions. Never did men fit in debate on a queftion of higher magnitude : and ^> hen they had once determined to declare their country free, I fee n t why they might not fupport this their declaration, by this as well as other means. A contrary conduft would certainly have indicated fome want of firnuK.fs. Yet, I confefs to you, I felt aukward upon the occafion. The puniflilio feemed, and it could not but fcem, to be my own ; and as fuch it looked, methought, as though I were proud of my titles. Put your- felf in my place, and fee me, longing as you know I do moft earneftly for peace, yet turning my back on a gentleman, >vhom I had reafon to confider as the harbinger of it, only becaufe he aflced for Mr. and not, General Washing- ton. How often it is my lot to find it my indiipenftble duty to aft a part contrary to both my own fcntiments and incli- nations ! But, if I miftake not, it is in fuch inftances only, that, properly fpeaking, we manifeft our fortitude and mag- nanimity. I fhall aftonifli you, when I inform you, that this firft re- huff abated not the ardour of the noble commiflioner. His ?' f one that reconciled fee, however, the light } e\ try coii- )timi(J)>y onlv, irtd or this conjedtue J intfticn. e mi. ht have ivacc Id once h .e hecn is. Y^-lte ('ay, ^ 5 for a tug ri;.ti hen they had ee, I fee n t why >n, by this as well lid certainly have confefs to you, I iifliliu feemed, and I as fuch it looked, titles. Put your- u know I do moft on a gentleman, inger of it, only RAL Washinc- indifpenfible duty iments and incli- ch inftances only, >rtitude and mag> that this firft rc- nmiHioner. His f ( 31 ) deputy paid its a fecond vifit, and vouchfafed to honour .-.: withthe appelUvionof General. What name will you give ic this c ,ndelcenfion ? I own it hurt me ; and lias well nigh led me into a train of thinking very different f. wm all my .01- mcr opinions. The gentleman who b; ought the mtfluige, is a Colonel Patte.fon, Adjutant General, and a fenfible, weh- informed man. He req-elled to fpcak to me alone ; and 1 was glad he did. After the firft ialutations, he told me the putport of the letter which had been refufed ; and hiS cr.aad now was to afk mc to point out the moft eligible means ot opening a negociation, for the purpofc of accommodaling the unhappy difpute. I replied, that I kne^v but of one vvay ; and that was by application to Congicfi. He faid, the Kmg';; Commiffioners would have no objection to treating with the members who compofcd ihe Congrefs, provided only that they came with legal authority from the regular LegiOatures ot their refpeaivc countries. I anfwered, they doubtlefs would eome with fuch authority > as, indeed, they could come with ■no other. I evidently faw his drift in the exception, as he did mine : and to put a flop to all poffibility of miftakc, he de- clai'ed it impoffible for his mafters ever to acknowledge the Congrefs, as fuch, a legal, and conftitutional body of men ; and as it feemcd to be rather a punctilio of pride, than of any ^real importance, he hoped it might be waved. I ftared : How, Sir, have you not already acknowledged the powers of Con- igrefs, by acknowledging the honourable rank I hold, and which I hold from them, and them only ? That, faid he, was ,the cphceiTion merely of politenefs ; andmide for the purpofe orily of getting accefs tome; and he was perfuaded, I was too fenfible a man to lay any .ftrefs on fo mere a triHe ; I tha- ked him forhis compliment, but aflurcd him, that I meant to lay the moft fcrious ftrefs on it. If he really had had that pinion of my underftanding which he was plcafed then to exprefs, he muft have fuppofcd, that though a trifle in itlelG it ceafed to be fo after I had made a point of" it. , ^r'iiu'w rt'C'ii'l'i' 'Hi-Wi-'t-i I '' ' """ u ( 32 ) Words could not have told him more ftrongly that our re- folutions were to aflert and maintain our independency. And ifthccommi/rionersofthc King ofGreat-Britainfound them- Jllvcs cithei unable or unwilling to give up this as a preli- niin.ry aiticic, they and he muft pardon mc for faying, that I could but tliink them very idly employed in foliciting an interview with me. On this he prepared to take his leave, h.ft adding with a degree of fliarpnefs and animation, that I own attcatd inc ; Sir, faid he, you are pleafcd to be cavalier vvjih mc ; I confider you as a well-meaning— I wilh I could fay, well-informed man ; yet, I am miftaken, if your head, as well as your heart, would not, at this moment, didate a very difFcrcnt language. There may be heroifm, for ought I know, in dcfperatcly rcfolving to go all lengths with the men with >vhom you have conneded yourfclfj but it is madnefs : and you may be ihankfuJ, if pofterity gives no worfe a name to a man who has no judgment of his own. Wrong, Sir, your judgment no longer. We certainly have ftooped as low as the proudeft wrong-head among you could aflc us j but, if you really think, as you fecm to afFeft to do, tha: we have made thcfc overtures either from meannefs, from a diftruft of our caufe, or our ability to make good our juft claims, you are out m all your reckoning. That the mean and narrow-mind^ cd leaders of your councils may difTeminate fuch opinions, in your unhappy coumry, I can eafily fuppofe j but remember. Sir, you, and your party, owe fome account to the world ! and when the world fhall come to know your infatuated in- folence in the inftance before us, as know it they muft, think how you will excufe yourfelves ? I replied with no leh warmth, nor, I truft, dignity. I was, indeed, ftung : for after once having owned me as a General, you muft confefs there was fomething Angularly contemptuous in prefuming thus to fchool me. A few perfonal civilities put an end to the con- ference. '-Jf-i mUmf f mwnri ■I I I II I u lyi ■n|f»ii»w»^i^ ongly that our re- ependency. And ritain found them- > this, as a preli- c for faying, that d in foliciting an to take his leave, inimation, that I fed to be cavalier — I wilh I could i> if your head, as nt, didlate a very or ought I know, th the men with is madnefs : and vorfc a name to a 'rong. Sir, your ooped as low as cus; but, if you '- we have made a diftruft of our claims, you are id narrow-mind^ iich opinions, in but remember, to the world f ir infatuated in- hey muft, think rd with no leis ftung: for after ift confefs there :fuming thus to end to the con< ( 33 ) I have tranfmitteda faithful account of it to Congrcfs i Init, as I can hardly fuppofe they will jud^c it expedient to make it public, I thought I owed to you, : wholly to difa'ipoiut your curiofity. You will not, however, nccJ mc to caution you to be fccret, as well on this as on other things, which I write to you. One thing more I muft not omit to mention to you. It my conference with Colonel Patterfoii, I thought I coiiM Jif- cover that it was intended I fliould be imprefTcd with a pcr- fuafion that the commiffioncrs thought not unfavourably of our pretenfions, as urged in the beginning of the difputc. This is to be accounted for : They arc whigs ; and if I am rightly informed, the General owes his feat in Parliament to the intereft of the diflenters. But why approve of our firft pretenfions only ? Surely if wc were then right, wc are not now wrong : I mean as to 'what we have a right to, by the principles of the conftitution ; the expediency of our mcafures is now out of queftion. I cannot diflbciate the ideas between our having a right of refiftance in the cafe of taxation, and the fame right in the cafe of legiflating for us. You know I am no deep cafuift in political fpeculations, but having hap- pily been brought up in revolution principles, I thought I trod furely when I traced the footfteps of thofe venerable men. Wonderful I Thefe too are the principles of our op- ponents; fo that all our misfortune and fault is the having put in praftice the very tenets which they profefs to embrace. But I ihall exhauft your patience ; which I (hould not do, forefeeing as i do, that I (hall, hereafcer, have occafion to put it to the trial. I am with the trueft regard. Dear Lund, Yours, &c. G. W. ( 34 ) New-Tor kf July 22, 1 7 76. To Mr. Lund Wnjhington^ if«. T WISH I coulJ fny I thorotirxhly approved of all the new iV:Milaiions in the new inlHt'ition of government in my DJtivc ft.itc. It could, liowcvcr, hardly h.ivc been cxpeftcd, that a reformation (o capital and cumprthenfive ihould be per- fect at firft ; the wonder is, it is nj: flill more exceptionable. My heart glows with unulu.d warmin, when I advert, as 1 often do, to that pure and difintcreltcd ardour which muft h;ive animated the bulk of my countrymen throughout the wholcofthis controvcrfy. There may bee ccptions amongft u>f and, no loubt, there are ; but it is not fair to infer this from our an~ hs per- formed, v/e may well difpcnfc n ith foinc lirflc errors in j'ldg- mcnt ; when without that, we havi, in its Head, \\v.\t which perhaps wecoulJ not have with it; I mean that uMiiifc'plincd ardour which is iiifiniicly bctier nd.ipted to our purpofcs. \ There cannot be a more ftrilcin;^ inflancc ihr.t tl-.c judg- ment of the people may, in general, be fifely trufml, in llic long run, than is to be met with in V'irginla. Very fetv countries have to boafl of more men of refpciilahlo undcr- ftandings j I know of none that can produce a familv, all < f them dittinguifticd as clever men, like our Lee«. Tley arc all of them the very men one would wifli for, to take t!i'j lead of a willing multitude ; for, they are certainly men of fhininu; talents, and their talents are of that particular kind which ufually render men popular. No men were ever more fo, than the men in qucftion once were. It is obviou|, this is no loKgcr the cafe ; and the rcafon muft be thi\t they are no longer worthy of it. With all their clcverncfs, they a; e fcl- fifti in the extreme. The people, at length, have found this out; or, no doubt, R. H. Lee would have now been gover- nor, the grand objeft of all liis aims. You would be mortified to hear thj criticiTms which are common here on Henry's inauguration fpeech. It i^, indeed, a poor and pitiful performance ; and yet I can believe, th;it fet off by his fmooth and oily delivery, it would appear cle- ver when he fpoke it. Why did he not a(k Mr. Page to prepare it for him ? There is not a man in America more capable. The counfcllors of ftatc arc certainly iireproaclia- ble, and will do honour to thofe who appointed thcvn. I am E 2 l' • ( 36 ) particularly pleafed with the fuccefs of my honeft brother-in- law, Bat. DanJriJgc ; and the plcafureis not Icflenedby the ufluraiicc he makes mc, that my letters were ferviccabia to him; there being but few men whom I love more than I do him. As you arc foon to go down the country, you will foe hin; and therefore fparc mc the trouble of writing p' ticu- larly to him. My friends muft now be fo indulgent to me, as to wave the matter of compliment ; I think myfclf happ)i, whenever I can write, as I (hould, on urgent bulinefs. You know how ticklifh my fituation is ; little as one would think, there is to be envied in it, I yet am envied. And though, in all good rcafuti, their fears (hould take a dirc(fl contra y courfe, there arc who are forever fuggeftingfufpicionsandjealonfies of the army and its commander. My own heart aflfuies me> I mean them no ill ; however, if 1 really have the influence and afcendcncy which they fuppofe, I will, for their fakes as well as my own, hereafter maintain it at fome little coft. A thoufand confidcrations determine me to drain every nerve to prevent the army's being under any other controul, whilft I live. Let a perfuafion of the ncceflity of this, if occafion ihould arife, be feafonably urged in my native ftatc : and, in the mean while, let fume more than ordinary pains be taken to make mc popular. Their own honor and intereft are both concerned in my being fo. Shew this to Mr. Dandridge ; and, as you both can enter into my meaning, even from the moft diftant hints, I can reft fatisfied, that you will do every thin* I wilh you. We have lately had a general review ; and I have much pleafure in informing you, that we made a better appearance, and went through oui exercifes more like foldiers, than I had expected. The Southern ftates are rafti and blameable in the judgment they generally form of their brethren of the four New-England ftates ; I do alTure you, with all my partiality for my own countrymen, and prejudices againft them, I can- not but confider them as the Rower of the American 7>rmy. ''^:. mmm loncft brother-in- lot Icflened by the ^ere ferviccablo to le more than I do iiitry, you will fee ' writing pi ticu- indulgent to me, inic myfelf happ^i, nt bufinefs. You one would think, And though, in fl contra y courfe, ions and jealoufies 1 heart aflutes me, lave the influence for their fakes as ne little coft. A train every nerve r controu], whilft f this, if occarion vc ftatc : and, in ry pains be taken ] intereft are both Mr. Dandridge ; ig, even from the frou will do every and I have much letter appearance, }ldiers, than I had and blameable in ethren of the four 1 all my partiality linft them, I can- American 7>rmy. -411,., JP { V ) They are a ftrong, vigorous, aiul liardy pcopli', uuirrJ to la- bour and toil J which .»ur people IclJoni ar •. And though our hot and eager fpirits may, i.eihap^,fuit bettei in a CuddcM and defperate cntcrpri/.e ; yet in the way in which wars arc now carried on, you muft look for permanent advantage* only from that patient and per'cveriiig temper, whieh is the rclult of a life oflahour. The Ncw-Englandei s are cool, confide- rate and Icnfible ; whillt wc are all fire aud fury ; like their climate, they maintain an equal temperature, whereas wc cannot fhin-, but wc burn. They have an uniformity and ftabihty (,f char.i(Jtcr, to which the people of no other ftates have any pretenlions -, hence theymulV, and will always prc- ferve their influence in this great Empire. Were it not for the drawbacks and thtj difadvantagfs, which the influence of their popular opinions on the fubje^ of goveriimcnr, have on their army, they foon might, and probably wouLi, give law to it. If .General Putnam had the talents of Mr. S. Adam--, or Mr. Adams had his, perhaps, even at this moment, this had not been matter of conjc-aiirc. But, ruUiam is a plain, blunt, undcligning old fellow, whofe viev,-s reach no further than the duties of his profcflion. H^; is, in.lced, very igno- rant i yet, I find him a ufcful officer ; and cb.icfly becaufo iv,- neither plagues me, nor others, with vvrangling claims of pri- vileges. I owe him too no fmall acknowledgments for the fairncfs of his accounts. I could open to you fume ftranjjc fcenes in this way. Some people feem to ha-e gotxn fi:cli a habit of cheating government, that, though llifficicntly con- fcien'ious in other refpeas, they really are farlefs fcrupulous in iheir maimer of charging than, I think, beCiimcs them. — But, as I have often told you, General Mercer is the man, on whom thefe ftates muft reft their hopes. The character that one of his countrymen gave to the Pretender, fits himcxaflly; «' He is the moft cautious man I ever faw, not to be a co\s'- ard i and the braveft not to be rafh." In my judgment, he is not inferior evv-n to General Lee, in military knowledge j jj^- ^Mii M r ' ( 38 ) and, in almoft every thing die, he is infinitely his fi-prrior. Yet the overbearing virtues of this laft named gentleman are uleful to us, efpecially at o u feiiing out : we wanted not the fober and flow dcdudions of argument and reafon : and Lee, like the author of Common Senfc, has talents perfectly formed to dazzle and confound. I thank you for your care in making the remittances you mention to McfTrs. Carey and Co. I fmcerely \vi(h they may arrive fafe ; as I certainly ov/e it to them, to take every ftcp in my power to make them eafy. There is a pleafure in do- ing as one ought, in little as well as great affairs ; but, in my prefent circumftances, I fhould often want this pleafure, were it not for your afFeftionate affiduity, and truly friendly atten- tion. God blefs you, my dear friend».for every inftance of your care and concern for me ! :•, , k: ' ' I am, &c. June 14, 1776. To Mrs. JFaJh'mgton. My DEAREST Life and Love, "you have hurt me, I know not how much, by the infmu- ation in your laft, that my letters to you have lately been lefs frequeiit, becaufe I have felt lefs concern for you. The fufpicion i» moft unjuft ; — may I not add, it is moft unkind? Have we lived, now almoft a fcore of years, in the clofeftand • deareft conjugal intimacy to fo little purpofe that, on an ap- pearance only of inattention to you, and which you might have accounted for in a thoufand ways more natural and more #^ tely his fupprior. icd gentleman are 'c wanted not the reafon : and Lee, i perfeftly formed remittances you y ^vifh they may take every ftcp a pleafure in do- 'airs ; but, in my [lis pleafure, were ly friendly atten- :very inftance of G. W. ne 14, 1776, - h, by the inHnu- have lately been I for you. The is moil unkind? n the clofefl and that, on an ap- hich you might latural and more f 39 ) probable, you ihould pitch upon that /ingle motive which alone ;s injurious to me ? I have not, I own, wrote fo often to you as I wifhed, and as I ought : But think of my f.tua- bon and then afk your heart, if I be without excuse. We are not, my dearefV, in circumflances the mofl favourable tpourhappmefs: but let us not, I befeech you, idly make them worfe, by indulging fufpieions and apprchenfioBS which minds in d.ftrefs arc but too apt to give way to. I never vv^s, as you have often told me, even in my better and more diiengaged days, fo attentive to the little punftilios of friend- Ihip, as, .t may '-e, became me : but, my heart tells me, there never was a moment in my life fine. I Hrft knew you, ia " which It did Hot cleave and cling to you u ith the warmeft af- feaion : and it muft ceafe to beat, ere it can ceale to wifh for ypur happinefs, above any thing on earth. I congratulate you mofl cordially on the fair profpedt of re. covery of your amiable daughter-in-law; nor can I wonder, that this fecond lofs of a little one ihould affedt you; I fear the fatigues of the journey,and thcperpetual agitations cf acamp were, too much for her. They are, however, both young and healthy ; fo that therecan be little doubt of their foon repairino- the lofs. ^ '^ And now will my deareft love permit me, a little more carneftly than I have ever yet done, to prefs you to confent ^ that lo neceflkry, fo fafe and eafy, though fo dreaded a *mg~the being innoculated? It was always advifeable; but at this junduie it fcems to be almoft abfolutely necefTary I. am far from fure, that, that reftlefs madman, our q.ion. dw Governor, from the mere luft of doing mifchief, will not foon betake himfelf to the carrying on a predatory vvar m our rivers. And as Potomack will certainly be thou^Wic moft favourable for his purpofes, as affording him fcope to keep without the reach of annoyance, I have iktle realon to flatter my&lf, that it would not be particular! v plcaf.ng to him, t9 vent hJS /pite at my houfe. Let him ; it'would affed me # i i I I C 40 ) only as it might afFeft you ; and, for this reafon, among others,' 1 uifli you out of his reach. Yet I think I would not have you quit your houfe profeflcdly from an apprehenHon of a vifit from him : An appearance of fearfulnefs and timidity, even in a woman of my family, might have a bad effeft j huf, I muft be fomething more or lefs than man, not to wifli you out of the way of a danger, which, to fay the leaft, muft bedifagrccablc to you, and could do good to no one. All this mafc:!.*"? for ynur going to Philadelphia, a place of perfedt fe- curi 'y ; and it v.'ould be almoft worth while to be innocula- tcd, if it were only for the fair pretence it furnifhes you with of quitting Virginia, at a time when I could not but be ex- ceedingly uneafyat your remaining in it. But I flatter my- felf any further arguments will be unneceiTary, when I (hall add, as I now do, that till you have had the fmall-pox, anxi- oufly as clfe I (hould wiih for it, I never can thif^lc of con- fcnting to your pafling the winter here in quarters with me. I would have Lund Wafhington immediately remove ail the unmarried and fufpicious of the (laves, to the quarters in Frederick. The harvefting muft be got in by hirelings. Let him not keep any large ftock of grain trod out, cfpcci- allyat the mill, or within the reach of water carriage; and in particular, let as little as may be, be left at Clifton's quar- ters. It will not be too late, even in the firft week of July, to fow the additional fupply of hemp and flax feed which Mr. Mifflin has procured forme in Philadelphia; and which! hope will be with you before this letter. For obvious rea- funs, you will not fow it on the ifland, nor by the water fide. But I hope you will have a good account of your crop on the Ohio. If Bridgey continues refradlory and riotous, though C know you can illfpare him, let him by all means be fent ofl^, as I hope Jack Cuftis's boy Joe already is, for his faucinefs at Cambridge. My attention is this moment called off to the difcovery, or pretended difcovery, of a moft wild and daring plot. It is 'f fon, among othcR,' I would not have apprehenfion of a Inefs and timidity, ave a bad effeft ; man, not to wifli ay the leaft, muft ? no one. All this lace of perfedt fe- le to be innocula- urniflies you with lid not but be ex- But I flatter my- ary, when I (hall ; fmall-pox, anxi- can thif^lc of con- quarters with me. iiately remove ail to the quarters in in by hirelings, trod out, cfpeci- tcr carriage ; and It Clifton's quar- rft week of July, X feed which Mr. lia ; and which I For obvious rea- by the water fide. ' your crop on the I riotous, though means be fent oiF, for his faucinefs the difcovery, or aring plot. It is ( 41 ) impoffible, as yef, to devclope the myftery ia which it citi ei is, or is fuppofed to b.- involved. Thus much only I can fliid cut with certainty, hat it will be a fine fiJd for a v ar of lies on bo h fid;;s. No (b ibt it will male a good deal of noifc in the country; and there arc who think it uf.ful to hav;; the minds of the people kept conftai.tly on tlic irtt by rumours of this Crt. For m/ par', I v\ ho am faid to be the objcit p; in- dpally aimed at in it, find my.el ' perkdly at my eay ; iind I have mentioned it to you only from an apprchcnfioii th;.r, hearing it from others and not from me, yon might iir:a-::i;:e I was in the midft of danger that I knew not of. The perpetual folicitude of your poor heart abnut mc, is certainly highly flattering to me ; yet I flioulJ be happy to be able to quiet your fears. Why do you complain of my rc- ferves ? Or, how could you imagine that I diftrufted ci Jicr your prudence or your fidelity ? I have the highcft opinion of them both. But why fliouW I teaze you with tedious details of fchemcs and views which are perpetually varying ; and which therefore might, not improbably; miflead, where I meant to inform you ? Suffice it that I fay, what I haveoftcn before told you, thar, as far as I have the controul of them, all our preparations of war aim only at peace. Neither do I, at this moment, fee the leaft likelihood of there being any confider- able military operations this feafonj and, if not in this fcafon, certainly in no other. It is impoffible to fuppofe, that, in the leifure and quiet of winter quarters, men will not have the ▼irtue to liften to the diaates of plain common fenfe and fo- ber reafon. The only true intereft of both fides is reconcili- ation i nor can there be a point in the world clearer, than that both fides muft be lofers by war, in a manner which eveii peace will not foon comp-nfate for. We muft, at laft, agree and be friends; for we cannot live without them, and they will niot without us; and a bye-ftander might well be puz- »Ud to find oiit, why as good terms cannot be given and -a- • f - t^ft,tmmm^i>^- . ■%^ =fc=^..A-^i''*?<'" i;»i ( 4» ) ken now, as wh-n we (h.ill have we'l nigh ruined each orVijf by the mutuitl ma'fnefs of ructiiig one anothci 's throat . For all thcfe rearon<:, ^vhlvh cannot but be as obtious to the £n- glilh commiffi .nc^, ami o cs, as they are lo mv;, I .mi at a lofs to imagine ho / any hing can a ife to obftr A a negi»ci- atior:, a;; J, of confcqucncr, a pacilica:ion. You who know my heai r, jtnow that there is not a wifli nearer ;« it than this is; bui I am prepared for every event one onl. excepted — I mean a difli norabk peace. Rather than tha:, 'it m'', tho.igh it be ^^ iih the lois of every thing elfe I hold d^ar, continue this horrid trade, and, by ihe moft unliirely mean- , be the un- %vorthy iiift iiment of prefervingp htical I'ecurity and happi« nefs to them, as well as .o our.elves. — Piy this cannot beac- c impliOied, with ut fixing on me that fad name. Rebel. I love my ki.ig-, you know I do: afol iier, agiod man cannot but love him. H ).v pec lia. ly hard then is our firtune to be de.r.ieJ. traitor to fo good a I:ing ! But, I am not ^vithout hop.'f, t.'iat even he will yet Ice caufe to d > mc juftice : po- fteruy, I am fure, u ill. M^an while, I c.m'^ort myf If « iih th. ..fl flijii, Lh..t this has b.en the fate o the b i\ and bravcfl; men, even of the b ron; who i it than this ml. excepted — I a:, 'itm', thoiigh d d?ar, continue nean- , be the un- ;urity and happi- this cannot be ac- namef Rebel. I gtod man cannot uur firtune to be am not ^vithout me juflice : po- n'^ort myf" If \\hh eh flam! bravrft na Cha/ a, whilft I, anxinuflv as I Tee my duty, that ) ; and whaicver V. ay, I dare not ho has notlefr to ntioufly diicna ge [f I really am nor rntior ♦'o your re- n oppoitunity of take it not amifs, in your ear, to be mftanced; hardlj the promotion of? fubaltem is left to me; and free and inde« perdentas I am, I refolve to r. m^in 'o. 1 owe the Congrefs no obligati ns tor any pi^rfonal av^turs done to my'elf ; nor will I run in debt to them for favours to others. Bili 'es, I am in">rtiiiedtoha>etoafk )fthcm, wha , in f )..ndp:)licy (ifother mo.iveshaJ been w.in.ing) they ought to havegranied tom3 unafkeJ. I cannjt d.-fciibe lo you the inonvenit-ncies ihis army fufF.-rs, for wan of this confcquence being give i to its commander in chief. B jt, ai; thefe migh': be cncr-afed, ACre my peculiar firuation in this refpcdl gen:; all . kii > vn, I for- bear; only enjoming on you n ca lious fiicnce on this head. In a regular arm , our Vir<;inlay')uiig cr, woulJ cs tuinl}', in general, make the beft ifficr"; but I re^^r \ tiiat ilv-y have notnow p !t itinmy poweijullly opay hum hiscompli . cut. They difl'kc their n )ither;i allies ; and .hisdiflike is -.h.' louice of infinite mifchicfs apd vexations l'» me. In the ir.a.y ^'if- putcs and qjarrels of this fo.t which we have ha ', one ihiiig has particularly ftr.;clt mc. My cour.trymcn are no' i.i'crior in underftanding ; and arc cer ainly ("uperi^r in that dift n- guiflied 'piiit aad hig'i fcne o> hL:iior v^hich fli mid form he character of an officer. Yer, omchow or othi.r, It forever happens, that in every altc.caiion, they arc proved to be in the wrong ; and they expctSt of m . attcn.ions and partialities which it is not in my power tc /hew them. Let me rely that yo :r anfwcr to this will be dated in Phi- ladelphia. If I am n:)t ve y bufily engaged, ( »v hich I hope may not be the cafe) perhaps I may find wa s and means to pay you a vifit of a day or two ; but this I rather hint as what I wifli, than what I dare bid you cxpecT:. If you (till think the fragmcn:s of the fet of greys I bought ut Lord Botetourt unequal to the journey, let L ind Walhington fell them finely, or otherwi e a? he can, to the bell advantage, and purchafc a nev fet of bay;. I cjuld as you dcfire, gee ibeni here, and perhsips on be ter tCi ms ; but I have a notion, F 2 Vi ...*^ f 1 1 !J 1 ( H ) whether well or ill founded I know n»t, that they never an- fwcr well in Virginia. I b^-g t > be afFeaionat ly remein- be ed to all oir friends and relations ; and tha* you will con- tinue to bslietre me to be Yuur moft Faithful And tender Hufband, G, W. THE END. -ii I i : mmimSltm **"**"--■ — ' II aiiinlniB^rtu^.. . I 1 It they never an- lonac ly remein* ia» you will coo- (band. G. W. Il u ii H