GIFT OF 
 
 SEELET W. MUDD 
 
 and 
 
 GEORGE I. CCCHRAN MEYER ELSASSER 
 DR. JOHN R. HAYNES WILLIAM L. HONNOLD 
 JAMES R. MARTIN MRS. JOSEPH F. SARTORI 
 
 lo tfie 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 SOUTHERN BRANCH 
 
 JOHN FISKE
 
 ui-T-r. 

 
 ANECDOTES 
 
 OF THE LATE 
 
 CHARLES LEE, ESQ. 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL OP THE FORTY-FOURTH 
 REGIMENT, 
 
 COLONEL IN THE PORTUGUESE SERVICE, 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL, AND AID-DU-CAMP TO THE KING OF POLAND,. 
 
 AND SECOND IN COMMAND IN THE SERVICE 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 DURING THE 
 
 RESOLUTION. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE ADDED, 
 
 HIS POLITICAL AND MILITARY ESSAYS; 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 ' LETTERS 
 
 TO AND FROM 
 
 MANY DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS^ 
 
 IM 
 
 EUROPE AND AMERICA. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 WITH 
 
 AN APPENDIX 
 
 OF 
 
 ADDITIONAL PAPERS AND LETTERS. 
 
 LONDON: 
 PRINTED FOR J. S. JORDAN, NO. l66, FLEET STREET. 
 
 3797. 
 
 I .
 
 0. 
 L47L-2- 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 
 following Memoirs and Letters of 
 the late Major General Lee have been 
 in the pofleflion of the Editor frnce the year 
 
 J 786. They were tranfmitted from America 
 to England by the gentleman whofe name 
 
 is fubfcribed to the Memoirs, and who was 
 a member of Congrefs for the ftate of 
 Georgia, for the purpofe of publication. In 
 their manufcript ftate they have been feen by 
 feveral perfons in England, who expreiTed a 
 ftrong defire of putting them to the prefs, 
 which the avocations of the pcrfon to whom 
 they were entrufted, and his not being ac- 
 quainted with fuch undertakings, had caufed 
 him to neglect. 
 
 b As
 
 As the fubjecl: of Revolutions is again re- 
 newed by what has occurred in France, it i8 
 prefumed, that whatever relates- to the Mo- 
 ther-revolution, that of America, will, at Icaft, 
 afford entertainment to the curious, and 
 contribute to encreafe the general (lock of 
 hiftorical knowledge. 
 
 The reader may expect to find, in almoft 
 every thing that relates to General Lee, a 
 great deal of the ftrong republican character. 
 His attachment to principles of liberty, with- 
 out regard to place, made him the citizen of 
 the world rather than of any country ; and 
 from his earlieft youth to the end of hi? 
 career, this general trait in his character may 
 be traced* 
 
 So little of the courtier had he about him, 
 that he never defcended to intimate any thing. 
 Whatever he fpoke or wrote was in the full- 
 eft ftyle of expreflion, or ftrong figure. He 
 ufcd to fay of Mr. Paine, the author of 
 Common Senfe^ in America, and fince of 
 Rights of Man^ in England, (of whofe writ- 
 ings he was a great admirer,) that " be 
 3 bur/1
 
 C vii ) 
 
 3)urft forth upon the 'world like Jove in thun- 
 der ;" and this ftrength of conception, fo 
 natural to General Lee, had it not been mixed 
 with a turn equally as ftrong for fatire, and 
 two much eccentricity of temper, would 
 have rendered his converfation perpetually 
 entertaining. 
 
 Though the Memoirs and every Letter in 
 this publication are moft faithfully printed 
 from the copy tranfmitted from America, 
 the Editor has omitted many whole letters, 
 and alfo his trial before the Court Martial, 
 as not fufficiently interefting to balance the 
 expence to which they would have extended 
 the work, But if any of the particular friends 
 or relations of General Lee mould be deli- 
 rous of feeing them, they may be indulged 
 with the opportunity, by leaving a line at the 
 pubiimers, directed to the 
 
 EDITOR. 
 
 LONDON, Feb. 1792. 
 
 b 2 CONTENTS.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 MEMOIRS OF MAJOR GENERAL LEE, - r 70 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, 73 jp4 
 
 Sketch of a Plan for the Formation of a Mili- 
 
 tary Colony, - ~ 73 
 
 An Eflay on the Coup Qe'il t - - g - 
 
 A Picture of the Countefs of - , - 97 
 
 An Account of a Converfation, chiefly relative 
 
 to the Army, * - - - j OO 
 
 An Epiftle to David Hume, Efq. - - j T ^ 
 
 A Political EfTay, _ nj 
 
 A Breakfaft for Rivington, - - - 1-20 
 
 To the People of America, - - j-j6 
 
 To the Gentlemen of the Provincial Congrefs 
 
 of Virginia, _ , 5 5 
 
 On a famous trial in the Court of Common Picas, 
 
 between General Moflyn, Governor of Mi- 
 
 norca, ami an Inhabitant of that Iflaml, - itfj 
 A fiiort Hidory of the Treatment of Major Ge- 
 
 neral Conway, late in the Service of Ame~ 
 
 Propofals
 
 Page 
 
 Propofals for the Formation of a Body of Light 
 Troops ready to be detached on an emer- 
 gent Occafion, 180 
 
 Some Queries, Political and Military, humbly 
 
 offered to the Confideration of the Public, - 183 
 
 Copy of General Lee's Will, 189 
 
 LETTERS TO GENERAL LEE from feveral eminent 
 Characters both in Europe and America, 197 288 
 
 From the Earl of Pembroke, - 197 
 
 William Bunbury, - - - 199 
 
 Thomas Wrough^n, 202 
 
 W. Paterfon, - - 206 
 
 Edmund Burke, - - - 210 
 
 Thomas Gamble, 213 
 
 Horatio Gates, - 214 
 
 *** ...^ .... 218 
 
 George Lux, 222 
 
 An Old Friend, - 224 
 
 Alex. White, - 225 
 
 Trevor Newland, - - 233 
 
 B. Franklin, - - 239 
 
 . JohnAdams, - - 242 
 
 - John Hancock, - 243 
 . the Same, 245 
 Horatio Gates, - - 147 
 - B. Franklin, 249 
 . John Hancock, 250 
 i G. Washington, - 252 
 
 Thomas Burke, - - 256 
 
 Geo. Johnfon, - - - 258 
 
 i H. Clinton, - 260 
 
 John Page, - 20 1 
 
 From
 
 Page 
 
 From An Old Friend, - 267 
 
 _ G. Wamington, - - 268 
 
 the Same, - 27* 
 
 Refolves of Congrefs,. mentioned in the pre- 
 ceding letter, 
 . P i JofephReed, 
 
 __ ***# _ - 
 
 i 
 
 W Livingfton, 
 
 An Old Friend, 
 
 E. Edwards, 
 
 LETTERS FROM GENERAL LEE, 
 To the King of Poland, 
 
 the Prince of Poland, 
 
 Mr. Coleman, 
 
 Mrs. M'Cauley, 
 ~ ToLouifaC. 
 
 LordThanet, 
 
 the King of Poland, 
 
 SirC.Davers, 
 
 His Grace the Duke of , 
 
 Gen Burgoyne, 
 
 From J. Burgoyne to Gen. Lee, 
 
 Gen. Lee's Anfwer, 
 
 To Gen. Burgoyne, - - 
 
 Gen. Gage, - * 
 
 the Same, ? 
 
 John Hancock, 
 
 the Same, - ... 
 Edward Rutledge, Efq, - * 
 
 i the Hon. the Preftdent of the Council of 
 Safety, North-Carolina, 360 
 
 To
 
 C xii ) 
 
 Page 
 To Samuel Purviance, Efq. - 382 
 
 the Hon. the Pref. of the Committee of Safety, 363 
 
 His Excellency John Hancock, Prefident of 
 
 the Continental Congrefs, - 365 
 
 John Page, Efq. V. P. of the Committee, - 368 
 
 Colonel Muhlenburg, 369 
 
 Edmund Pendleton, Pref. of the Commit- 
 
 teeof Safety* 3.70 
 
 His Excellency John Hancock, Efq. 374 
 
 Edmund Pendleton, Efq. Prefident of the 
 
 Convention, 3 79 
 , 381 
 
 His Excellency, Patrick Henry, Jun. Go- 
 
 vernor of Virginia, 384 
 
 Richard Peters, Efq. Secretary to the Board 
 
 of War and Ordnance, 403 
 
 His Excellency John Hancock, 410 
 
 the Board of Ordnance, - 411 
 
 the Governor of Cape Frangois, - 418 
 
 Dr. Rufh, with a character of General Howe, 42 z 
 
 His Excellency Henry Laurens, 42$ 
 
 Mifs F s, Philadelphia, 427 
 
 the Same, 43 1 
 
 Mifs Sidney Lee, 433. 
 
 the Same, > 435 
 
 MEMOIRS
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 O F 
 
 MAJOR GENERAL LEE. 
 
 THE family of the Lees is both ancient and 
 refpe&able, many of them having had con- 
 nections and intermarriages with the principal 
 families in the Englifh nation ; and, from a pedi- 
 gree done for Mr. Thomas Lee *, diftributor and 
 collector of the ftamp-duties for the county and 
 city of Chefter, North Wales, we learn, that the 
 General's father was John Lee of Dernhall, in the 
 the faid county, who was fome time a Captain of 
 Dragoons, afterwards Lieutenant Colonel of Ge- 
 neral Barrel's regiment from 1717 to 1742, at 
 which time he was promoted to a Regiment of 
 Foot. He married Ifabella, fecond daughter of 
 Sir Henry Bunbury, of Stanney, in the county 
 of Chefter, Baronet : by this lady he had three 
 
 * In 1723. 
 
 B fons;
 
 fons, Thomas, Harry, and Charles, the youngeft, 
 who is the fubjecl of thefe memoirs. 
 
 From his early youth he was ardent in the pur- 
 fuit of knowledge ; and being an officer m eleven 
 years of age, may be confidered as born in the 
 army ; which, though it deprived him of feme 
 regularity with refpeft to the mode of his educa- 
 tion, yet his genius led him afliduoufly to cultivate 
 the fields of fcience, and he acquired a competent 
 Ikill in the Greek and Latin; while his fondnefs 
 for travelling gave him alfo an opportunity of 
 attaining the Italian, Spaniih, German, and French 
 languages, 
 
 Having laid a good foundation, tactics became* 
 his favourite ftudy, in which he fpcnt much time 
 and pains, dcfiring nothing more than to dif- 
 tinguifh himfelf in the profefiion of arms. We 
 find him very early in America, commanding a 
 Company of Grenadiers of the 44th regiment; 
 and he was at the battle of Ticondeqpga, wi 
 General Abercrombie was defeated. Here, i' 
 faid, he was (hot through the body ; but for- 
 tunately his wound did not prove mortal. 
 
 When he returned to England from America, 
 after the reduction of Montreal, he found a gene- 
 ral peace was in contemplation. The cefTion of 
 
 .:id a was talked of, which gave great uneafmefs 
 to every American, as it appeared prejudicial to 
 their intereft and lately. On this occafion f>e 
 exerted hinifclf, and publilhed a pamphlet mewing 
 
 the
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 the importance of this country, which was much 
 approved of by all the friends to America. The 
 celebrated Dr. Franklin, in particular, was pleafed 
 to compliment him, and faid " that it could not 
 fail of making a falutary impreffion." In the 
 year 1762, he bore a Colonel's commiffion, and 
 ferved under General Burgoyne in Portugal ; and 
 in this fervice he handfomely diftinguimed hhn- 
 felf. 
 
 The Spaniards had formed a defign of invading 
 that kingdom, and had aflembled an army on the 
 frontiers of Eflremadura, with an intention of 
 penetrating into the province of Alentejo. Count 
 La Lippe was the commanding officer of the Por- 
 tuguefe army, who formed a defign of attacking 
 an advanced body of the Spaniards, which lay on 
 their frontiers, in a town called Valentia de Al- 
 cantara. 
 
 This enterpize was committed to Brigadier Ge- 
 neral Burgoyne, who effected a complete furprize 
 on the town, took the General who was to have 
 commanded in the intended invafion, with a num- 
 ber of other officers, and one of the bed regiments 
 in the Spanifh fervice was entirely deflroyed. But 
 notwithstanding this, and feveral fubfequent fkir- 
 mifhes, the Spanifh army continued mafters of 
 the country, and nothing remained but the pafTage 
 of the Tagus, to enable them to take up their 
 quarters in Alentejo. 
 
 General Burgoyne, who was pofled with an in- 
 B 2 tention
 
 ( 4 ; 
 
 tendon to obflruct them in their pafiage, lay ftt 
 the neighbourhood, and within view of a detached 
 camp, compofed of a confiderable body of the 
 enemy's cavalry, which lay near a village called 
 Villa Velha. As he obferved that the enemy kept 
 no very foldierly guard in this pod, and were un- 
 covered both in their rear and their flanks, he con- 
 ceived a defign of falling on them by furprize. 
 The execution of his defign was entrufted to his 
 friend Colonel Lee, who, in the night of October 
 8th, fell upon their rear, turned their camp, made 
 a confiderable (laughter, difperfed the whole party, 
 deftroyed their magazines, and returned with 
 fcarce any lofs. 
 
 When a general conclufion was at length put to 
 the war, he returned to England from Portugal, 
 after having received the thanks of his Portuguefe 
 Majefty for his fervices ; and Count La Lippe 
 recommended him in the ftrongefl terms to the 
 Englifh Court. He had, at this period, a friend 
 and patron in high office, one of the Principal 
 Secretaries of State; fo that there was every reafon 
 for him to have expected promotion in the Englifh 
 army. But here his attachment, his enthufiafm 
 for America, interfered, and prevented. The great 
 Indian, or what we called Pondiacks War, broke 
 out, which the minilterial agents thought their in- 
 tereft to reprefent as a matter of no confequence. 
 The friends of America thought the reverfe, and 
 aflerted it would be attended with dreadful wafle, 
 
 ravage,
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 ravage, and defolation. This brought him once 
 more to publifh for the defence and protection 
 of this country, by which he loft the favour of 
 the Miniftry, and fruit the door to all hopes of 
 preferment in the Englifh army. But he could not 
 live in idlenefs and inactivity ; he left his native 
 country, and entered into the Polifh fervice, and 
 \vas of courfe abfent when the ftamp act parted ; 
 but although abfent, he did not ceafe labouring in 
 the caufe of America, as may be learned from many 
 of his letters. He ufed every argument, and exerted 
 all the abilities he was mafter of, with every cor- 
 refpondent he had, in either Houfe of Parliament, 
 of any weight or influence ; and at the fame time, 
 he had not an inconfiderable number in both. 
 
 It muft be obferved, that this famous act had 
 divided almoft every court in Europe into two 
 different parties : the one, alfertors of the prero- 
 gative of the Britifh Parliament ; the other, of 
 the rights and privileges of America. General 
 Lee, on this occafion, pleaded the caufe of the 
 Colonies with fuch earneftnefs as almoft to break 
 off all intercourfe with the King's minifters at 
 the Court of Vienna, men that he perfonally 
 loved and efteemed ; but, at the fame time, it was 
 thought that he pleaded with fo much fuccefs as 
 to add not a few friends and partizans to America. 
 Thefe circumftances are mentioned, as they ferve 
 to demonftrate that a zeal for the welfare of the 
 Colonies, from the General's earlieft acquaintance 
 
 B 3 with
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 \vith them, Jiad been a ruling principle of his life. 
 The prefent volumes will teflify what he facrificed, 
 \vhat he did, and what he hazarded, in the lad 
 and mod important conteft which feparated the- 
 Colonies from their Parent State : but there is 
 one circumftance that feems to claim a particu- 
 lar attention ; which is, that of all the officers 
 \vho embarked in the American fervice, he was 
 the only man who could acquire no additional 
 rank, and perhaps the only one whofe fortune 
 could not have been impaired, or at leaft the 
 tenure by which it was held, changed from its 
 former condition into a precarious and arbitrary 
 one, by the fuccefs of the Britiih mmiftry's 
 fchemes ; for, had they been completed to the full 
 extent of their wifhes, the condition of his for- 
 tune had not been altered for the worfe : his for- 
 tune, though not great, was eafy, and, it may be 
 faid, afiluent, for a private gentleman ; a detail of 
 which theEditoris enabled to collect from his papers. 
 
 i ft. The General had four hundred and eighty 
 pounds per annum, on a mortgage in Jamaica, paid 
 punctually, 
 
 ndly. An eftate of two hundred pounds per 
 annum in Middlefex, for another gentleman's life ; 
 but whofe life he had infurcd againfl his own. 
 
 3dly. A thoufand pounds on a turnpike in 
 England, at four per cent, intereft. 
 
 4thly. One thoufand five hundred pounds, at 
 
 five per cent, 
 
 ^thly. His
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 5thly. His half-pay, one hundred and thirty-fix 
 pounds per annum ; in all, nine hundred and 
 thirty-one pounds per annum, clear income : be- 
 fides this, about twelve hundred pounds in his 
 agent's hands, and different debts. He had, like- 
 wife, ten thoufand acres of land in the ifland of 
 St. John, which had been located and fettled at 
 ' the expence of feven hundred pounds ; and a man- 
 damus for twenty thoufand acres in Eaft Florida. 
 
 This is the ftate of the General's fortune when 
 he engaged in the late American conteft ; and this 
 fortune would have been totally unaffected, though 
 the prerogative of taxing America without her 
 confent had been eftablifhed and confirmed : the 
 full poffeffion of it was fecure, and independent of 
 her fate. But thefe confederations did not influence 
 his mind : he gave up fecurity for infecurity, cer- 
 tainty for uncertainty ; he threw into the lap of 
 America, without any chance of winning ; he 
 itaked all on the die of her fortunes : if me fuc- 
 ceeded, he could not be bettered ; if me mifcarried, 
 his whole was loft. His rank, as before obferved, 
 acquired no addition ; but the contrary, for a flop 
 was put to its progrefs in the two other fervices, 
 the Polim and the Englifh. 
 
 The General, who could never flay long in one 
 place, during the years 1771, 1772,^ the fall of 
 1773, had rambled all over Europe ; but we can 
 collect nothing material relative to the adventures 
 of his travels, as his memorandum-books only 
 B 4 mention
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 mention the names of the towns and cities through 
 which he pafied. That he was a moft rapid and 
 very adive traveller, is evident : it appears alfo, 
 that he was engaged with an officer in Italy in an 
 affair of honour, by which he loft the ufe of two 
 of his fingers ; but having recourfe to piftols, 
 the Italian was ilain, and he immediately obliged 
 to fly for his life. His warmth of temper drew 
 him into many rencounters of this kind j in all 
 which he acquitted himfelf with fingular courage, 
 fprightlinefs of imagination, and great prefcnce 
 of mind. 
 
 Much diflatisfied with the appearance of the politi- 
 cal horizon at London, on the 1 6th of Auguft 1773, 
 he embarked on board the packet for New-York, 
 \vherehe arrived on the loth of November follow- 
 ing, and had a very fevere fit of the gout. At this 
 period, the controverfy between Great Britain and 
 her Colonies began to be ferious ; and the Gene- 
 ral concerted a defign of taking a part in favour 
 of America, in cafe it came to an open rupture. 
 
 The deflruction of the Britifh Eaft India com- 
 pany's tea at Bofton, the 1 6th of December, was 
 a prelude to the calamities that afterwards enfued. 
 At this crifls, General Lee's mind was not in- 
 obfervant or inactive ; his converfation, his pen, 
 animated the Colonifls to a great degree, and per- 
 fuaded them to make a perfevering refiftance. 
 
 During this winter, he vifited Philadelphia, 
 Williamlburgh, and fcveral other places m Vir- 
 ginia
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 glnia and Maryland; and returned to Philadelphia, 
 a few months before the firft Congrefs met in that 
 city, on the 5th of September. Encouraging and 
 obferving what was going forward here, he then 
 paid a vifit to New- York, Rhode- Ifland, and 
 Bofton, where he arrived on the id of Augufl 
 1774. The mod active political characters on 
 the American theatre, now hailed him, and were 
 happy in his acquaintance, not a little pleafed with 
 his fanguine, lively temper ; confidering his pre- 
 fence among them at this crifis, as a moft fortu- 
 nate and propitious omen. General Gage had 
 now iflued his proclamations ; and though Lee 
 was on half-pay in the Britifh fervice, it did not 
 prevent him from expreffing his fentiments in 
 terms of the mod pointed feverity againft the 
 miniftry. In fhort, he blazed forth a Whig of 
 the firft magnitude, and communicated a portion 
 of his fpirit to all with whom he converfed. As 
 he continued travelling, or rather flying from place 
 to place, he became known to all who diftin- 
 guifhed themfelves in this important oppofition : 
 his company and correfpondence. were courted, 
 and many occaftonal political pieces, the produc- 
 tions of his pen, were eagerly read, and much ad- 
 mired ; and from this popularity, there is no 
 reafon to doubt but he expected he mould foon 
 become the firft in military rank on this 
 Continent. 
 
 General Gates was fettled on a plantation in 
 
 Berkeley
 
 EC-' .-' unty, Virginia; and having a gi 
 
 friendfhip for Lee, perfuaded him to purchafe 
 irom v, Mr. Kite, a very fine valuable tnict of 
 Ivmd in his neighbourhood, of about two thoufand 
 feven hundred acres, on which were feveral good 
 improvements. 
 
 Pu this bufmefs, he left his friend t> in the 
 Northern States, and returned to Virginia, where 
 
 . Linained till the month of May 1775, when he 
 again ; 1 liiinll-lf at Philadelphia. The 
 
 .erlcan Congrefs were alTembled ; and he 
 .me daily a greater enthufiaft in the caufe ol 
 Lfcerty. The battle of Lexington, and fome other 
 matters, had now ripened the contefl ; and Lee's 
 active and enterprifing difpofition was ready for the 
 moil arduous purpofes. He therefore accepted a 
 commiilion from the Congrefs, which was offered 
 to him by fome of its principal members ; but he 
 found it neceflary previoufly to refign that which 
 he held in the Britifh fervice. This he did with- 
 out delay, in a letter tranfmitted to the Right 
 Honourable Lord Vifcount Barrington, his Majef- 
 ty*| Secretary at War ; afluring his Lordfhip, 
 that although he had renounced his half-pay, yet, 
 whenever it mould pleafe his Majcfty to call hint 
 forth to any honorable fervice againft the natural 
 hereditary enemies of his country, or in defence 
 of his mod jufl rights and dignity, no man would 
 obey the righteous fummons with more zeal and 
 alacrity than hirnfelf: at the fame time, the 
 
 General
 
 ( II ) 
 
 Ceneral exprefled his difapprobation of the pre- 
 lent meafures, in the mod direct term? ; declaring 
 them to be " fo abfolutely fubverfive of the rights 
 and liberties of every individual fubjecl, fo deftruc- 
 tive to the whole empire at large, and ultimately 
 fo ruinous to his Majefty's own perfon, dignity, 
 and family, that he thought himfelf obliged in 
 confcience, as a citizen, Englimman, and a foldier 
 of a free State, to exert his utmolt to defeat 
 them." 
 
 Profefling thefe fentiments, he received a Con- 
 tinental commiflion of the rank of Major General. 
 As he had made war his fludy from his youth, feen 
 a variety of fervice, and diftinguifhed himfelf for 
 his courage and abilities, one might have imagined 
 he would have immediately been appointed fecond 
 in command in the American army : this was 
 not the cafe j in all countries, killing goes by 
 favour ; and men will be tenacious of any rank 
 beflowed upon them. General Ward, of Maiiii - 
 chufetts Bay, by fome means or other, had re- 
 ceived a commiflion of a prior date ; and on this 
 account, perhaps to the injury of the fervice, he 
 took rank of General Lee, who was at prefent 
 content to act under him. Whatever his feelings 
 were on this head, he took care to difguife them ; 
 and General Ward, on the evacuation of Boflon, 
 grew weary of military honour and fervice, re- 
 fired to private life, and fent his resignation to 
 Congrefs, 
 
 a On
 
 ( 1= ) 
 
 On the 2 1 ft of June, General Wafliington and 
 General I.ir, having received their orders from 
 Congrefs, left Philadelphia, in order to join the 
 troops aflembled near Bofton. 'l"hey were acv 
 panicd out of the city, for fome miles, by a troop 
 of light horfe, and by all the officers of the city 
 militia, on horfeback ; and at this time Get 
 Lee was accounted, and really was, a great acqui- 
 fition to the American caufc. On the road tl 
 received the news of the affair at Bunker's-iuli, 
 and arrived at the camp at Cambridge the ad of 
 July 1775. ' nc I* ?! 6 of MaiTachufetts received 
 them with every teftimony of eftcem ; and the 
 Congrcff of that Colony nut only prefcntei! 
 addrefsto his Excel i >eneral Wafhington, as 
 
 commander in chief, but, from a fcnfc oi the mili- 
 
 . of General Lee, prefcntcd om 
 him alfo, couched in terms of tiie higheft refpect. 
 The General remained with this army till the 
 year 1776, when General Wafhington, having 
 obtained intelligence of the fitting out of a fleet 
 at Bofton, and of the embark.. troops f 
 
 thence, which, from the fcaton of the year, and 
 other circumftances, he judged muft be dcftined 
 for a Southern expedition, gave orders t 
 
 Lee, to repair with fuch volunteers as were 
 willing to join him, and could be expeditioufly 
 raifed, to the city of N '.., withadcfig:. 
 
 !h from taking poflemon of 
 New- York and the North-River, as they would 
 
 reby
 
 ( '3 ) 
 
 thereby command the country, and the communi- 
 cation \vith Canada. The General, on his arrival, 
 began with putting the city in the bed pofture of 
 defence the feafon of the year and circumflances 
 would admit of ; difarming all fuch perfons upon 
 Long-Ifhnd, and elfe where, whofe conduct and 
 declarations had rendered them fufpected of de- 
 figns unfriendly to the views of Congrefs. Colonel 
 Ward was ordered to fecure the whole body of 
 profcfled Tories in Long-Iiland. This gave an uni- 
 verfal alarm, that even the Congrefs of New- York 
 endeavoured to check the General in this bufmefs, 
 by informing him, in a letter, that the trial and 
 punifnment of citizens belonged to the Provincial 
 Congrefs, and not to any military character, how- 
 ever exalted. To this the General anfwered, that 
 when the enemy was at the doors, forms mufl be 
 difpenfed with that his duty to them, to the 
 Continental Congrefs, and to his own confcience, 
 had dictated the neceflity of the meafure that if 
 he had done wrong, he would fubmit himfelf to 
 the ftiame of being reputed rafh and precipitate, 
 and undergo the cenfure of the public ; but he 
 mould have the confcioufnefs of his own breaft, 
 that the pure motives of ferving the community, 
 uncontaminated by picque or refentment to indivi- 
 duals, urged him to the ftep. The General alfo 
 remondrated againfl fupplying the men of war and 
 Governor Try on with provifions, as the boats 
 coming to the city muft open the means of their 
 5 receiving
 
 ( '4 ) 
 
 receiving every fort of intelligence. " I fnould," 
 fays the General in one of hit letters, " be in 
 the higheft degree culpable to God, my confcience, 
 and the Continental Congrefs, in whofe fcrvice I 
 am engaged, mould I fuflfer, at fo dangeroi 
 
 , a banditti of profeflcd feet of liberty and their 
 country, to remain at liberty to co-operate with, 
 and (Irengthea the minifterial troopt openry in 
 arms, or covertly, and consequently more dan- 
 gcroufly furnifh them with intelligence." 
 alfo drew up a Ttji* which he ufdwd lib officers 
 to offer to thofe who were reputed inimical to the 
 American caufc : a rcfufal to take this, was to be 
 conilrncd at no more or Icfs i avowal of 
 
 their hollilc intentions ; upon which, their per- 
 font were to be fecurcd, and fent to Connecticut , 
 where it was judged they could not be fo dangerous. 
 Thus the General excited the people to c 
 fpiriicd meafure, and intimidated by every meant 
 the friends to the Engliih government. At this 
 
 , Captain Vandeput, of the Afia, fci/.od a 
 Lieutenant Tiley, and kept him on r> ihip 
 
 .rons. On the principles of retaliation, Let 
 took into cuiiody Mr. Stephens, an o; 
 
 iovcrnmenty and informed the Captain \\hat 
 he had done, and that thi gentleman fhould 
 not be releafed until Lieut. Tile)- *; 
 
 ^ had t! . Ii:> lU'U-ruii: 
 
 decifive tlilpoliiion had an an; :ifluence 
 
 both on the anm and people ; and the fteps he 
 
 ofcd
 
 ( '5 ) 
 
 propofed for the management of thofe who dif- 
 approved of the American refiftance, ftruck a 
 terror wherever he appeared. 
 
 Congrefs had now received the account of Ge- 
 neral Montgomery's unfuccefsful expedition againft 
 (.Uicbcc. As flattering expectations were enter- 
 tained of the fuccefs of this officer, the event threw 
 a gloom on American affairs. To remedy this 
 difafler, they turned their eyes to General Lee, 
 and Congrefs refolved that he mould forthwith re- 
 pair to Canada, and take upon him the command 
 of the army of the United Colonies in that pro- 
 vince. This, though he was juft recovered from a 
 fit of the gout, he accepted ; but while prepara- 
 tions were making for the important undertaking, 
 Congrefs changed their determination, and ap- 
 pointed him to the command of the Southern de- 
 partment ; in which he became very confpicuous, 
 as a vigilant, brave and active officer. His exten- 
 fivc correfpondence, his addrefs under every dif- 
 ficulty, and his unwearied attention to the duties 
 of his ftation, all evince his great military capa- 
 city, and extreme ufefulnefs to the caufe he had 
 cfpoufed, and was warmly engaged in Every tef- 
 tiinuuy of refpect was paid him by the people of 
 the Northern Colonies, and he experienced a 
 fimilar treatment in his journey to the Southward. 
 On his arrival at Williamfburgh, every oneexpreflf- 
 ed their high fatisfadion at his prefencc among 
 them f and the troops of that city embraced the 
 
 opportunity
 
 opportunity of presenting him with an addrcfs, 
 exprcffive of their fanguinc hopes and firm refo- 
 lutions of uniting with him in the common caufe. 
 < example was followed at Ncwbern, North- 
 Carolina ; and a committee was appointed by the 
 inhabitants of that town, to wait upon him in t 
 name, and, in an addrcfs, to thank him for his 
 generous and manly exertions in defence of Ame- 
 rican rights and liberties ; and to offer him their 
 cordial congratulations for his appearance among 
 them, at a time when (heir province wit actually 
 invaded by a powerful fleet and army ; and to cx- 
 prefs their happincfs to find the command of the 
 troops dcltincd for their protection, placed in the 
 hands of a gentleman of his diftinguiflicd cha- 
 racter. 
 
 Great too was the j<n in South Carolina, wl. 
 his prcfcnce was feafonablc and abfolutely necef- 
 fary, as Sir He:. on was actually preparing 
 
 for an invafion of that province. The minds of 
 all ranks of people were confulerably elevated at 
 the fight of him; itdiffufcd an ardour among the 
 
 , attended with the mod falutary confc- 
 qucnces ; and his diligence and at Cha: 
 
 town, previous to the attack upon Sullivan's iflaml, 
 Mill be long remembered. From a per his 
 
 letters and directions to the officers commanding 
 at that pod, we may juftly infer, (hat America was 
 
 .o fir.all obligations to htm for the f 
 fuccefs there obtained And here it may be r 
 
 Itioned,
 
 ( >7 ) 
 
 tioned as fomewhat remarkable, that when General 
 Lee received orders, at Cambridge, to repair to 
 New-York, to watch the motions of the Britifh, 
 he met General Clinton the very day he arrived 
 there ; when he came to Virginia, he found him 
 in Hampton Road and juft after his arrival in 
 X rth Carolina, General Clinton left Cape Fear 
 Their next meeting was at Fort Sullivan, which 
 mud have made Lee appear to Clinton as his evil 
 genius, haunting him for more than eleven hun- 
 dred miles, along a coafl of vaft extent, and meet- 
 ing him at Philippi. 
 
 The affair of Sullivan's ifland was a mod extra- 
 ordinary deliverance ; for, if the Englifh had fuc- 
 ceeded, it is more than probable the Southern Co- 
 lonies would at that time have been compelled to 
 have fubmitted to the Englifh government. Dread- 
 ful was the cannonade, but without effect. Porto 
 Bello, Boccochico, and the other caflle at Cartha- 
 gena, were obliged to flrike to Vernon ; Fort 
 Lewis in Saint Domingo yielded to the metal of 
 Admiral Knowles ; but in this inftance, an unfi- 
 nifhed battery, confr.ru ted with Palmeto logs, re- 
 fifted, for a whole day, the twelve and eighteen- 
 pounders of the Britifh fleet, to the aflonifhment 
 and admiration of every fpectator. 
 
 The fleet and army under Sir Henry Clinton 
 and Sir Peter Parker being repulied, General Lee 
 then flew to the afliftance of Georgia, where he 
 
 continued for fome weeks, planning fchemes to 
 
 C put
 
 put that province in a (late of defence, and to 
 make an excurfion into Eaft Florida, as their Sou- 
 thern frontiers were fuflering confiderably by the 
 incurfions of Indians and others from that quar- 
 
 About this time, the Congrefs were informed 
 by General Waftiington, that Clinton, wilfctthe 
 troops under his command, had returned, and j 
 ed General II owe at Stntcn-ifland. In confeqiu 
 of this intelligence, the Congrefs were convinced 
 that the Knglifh, by collecting their whole force 
 into a point, were determined to make a mod 
 gorous exertion at New. York ; and in order to en- 
 furc fuccefs there, were difpofcd for the prefent to 
 overlook every other object. The getting pof- 
 
 >n of that city, and the junction of the two 
 armies umi ' \ve and Burgoync, it 
 
 was the Congrefs's opinion, were the grand object* 
 they had in view, and for the attainment of \\ : 
 they would give up every interior confidera? 
 Lee' s in the Southern department had in- 
 
 creafed the good opinion they h:. ivcd of 
 
 him; his reputation w;. :iith ; and tl 
 
 1 to him for alMance, in the ; 
 important fit nation of tin ir all.',:-. An ex] 
 was difpatched to Georgi ting him to rc- 
 
 as foon as poflible to PliilaJLlphia, there to 
 iuch orders as they might judge expe- 
 great expedition, the 
 
 beginning of October, and waited on Congrefs 
 
 itninc-
 
 ( '9 ) 
 
 immediately on his arrival, who, after confulting 
 him, refolved that he mould without delay re- 
 pair to the camp at Haerlem, with leave, if he 
 mould judge proper, to vifit the pods in New- 
 Jerfey. He arrived at General Wafhington's 
 army juft time enough to prevent it from being 
 blockaded in York-ifland, the circumftance of 
 which hath been thus related. General Wafii- 
 ington was at that time under a neceflity of con- 
 fulting his council of officers, before he could take 
 any ftep of confequence ; and they, contrary to 
 his opinion, were for waiting an attack in their 
 own lines on York-ifland Extenfive barracks 
 had been erected, and large preparations made 
 for fuch a ftep. Sir William Howe, finding the 
 Americans too ftrong to be attacked with fafety 
 from the fide of New-York, leaving Lord Piercy 
 with a body of troops oppofite the river, em- 
 barked the reft in his flat boats, pafled fafely the 
 dangerous paflage of Hell-Gate, and landed on 
 Frog's Neck, an ifland feparated by a fmall creek 
 from Weft Chefter. Here he remained a week, 
 under a pretence of waiting for (lores and provi- 
 fions; while the Americans, in confequenceof their 
 refolution, continued on the ifland. The very 
 evening before General Howe made a movement, 
 General Lee arrived at General Washington's 
 camp : his opinion of their dangerous fituation 
 convinced the Council of War; and, that night, a 
 precipitate movement extricated them from the 
 C 2 danger.
 
 danger. The next morning, General Howe 
 landed on Pell's Manor, a point feparatetl from 
 Frog's Neck by a channel of fcarcc 200 yards : 
 he then extended his army acrofs to Hudfon's 
 iivcr ; but there was then no enemy to 
 
 he, inftcad of trifling away his time, cram- 
 mal up on Frog's Neck, landed only on 
 point, not a foul of the American army w< 
 have efcapeJ. Hitherto General Lee had been 
 fucccfsful, and was univcrfally efteemcd ; but 
 fortune now began to reverfe the fccnc. On the 
 i jth of December 1776, at the head of all the 
 men he could collect, he was marching to 
 C.eneral Walhington, who had aficmbled the Penn- 
 
 :ua militia, to fccure the banks of the Dela- 
 ware. From the diflance of the Britifh cant 
 
 >, he was betrayed into a fatal fccurity, by 
 
 !i, in croflmg^he upper part of Nev 
 from the North ;i\vr, 1 . t-\cJ his quarters, and 
 lay c. id at fome diftance from 
 
 main body. 11 i circumftance being commu- 
 nica: (Colonel Harcourt, who commanded 
 
 the Britilh light horfe, and had then made a dc- 
 fultory excurfion at the head of a fniall detach- 
 ment, he conducted h*u meafures u ith fuch 
 
 .c was carried off, though fi 
 ral guarded ports and armed patrolcs lay in 
 
 'ifli, nnd equal 
 
 theconft. of the ^ :is, atthi 
 
 ed event. ' of a fingle 
 
 in
 
 in other circumftances would have been a matter 
 of little moment ; but in the prefent (late of the 
 continental forces, where a general deficiency of 
 military (kill prevailed, and the inexperience of 
 the officers was even a greater grievance, the lofs 
 of a commander, whofe fpirit of enterprize was 
 directed by great knowledge in his profeflion, 
 acquired by actual fervice, was indeed of the ut- 
 molt importance. The Congrefs, on hearing this 
 news, ordered their Prefident to write to Gene- 
 ral Wamington, defiring him to fend a flag to 
 General Howe, for the purpofe of enquiring in 
 what manner General Lee was treated ; and if he 
 found that it was not agreeable to his rank and 
 character, to fend a remonftrance to General 
 Howe on the fubjec~t. This produced much in- 
 convenience to both fides, and much calamity to 
 individuals. A cartel had fome time before been 
 eftablifhed for the exchange of prifoners be- 
 tween the Generals Howe and Wafliington, which 
 had hitherto been carried into execution, as far as 
 time and circumftances would admit. As Lee 
 was particularly obnoxious to Government, it was 
 fuid that General Howe was tied down by his in- 
 directions, from parting with him upon any terms, 
 if the fortune of war mould throw him into his 
 power. General Wamington not having at this 
 time any prifoners of equal rank \viih Lee, pro- 
 pofed to exchange fix field officers for him, the 
 number being intended to balance that difparity ; 
 
 C 3 or
 
 or if this was not accepted, he required that he 
 mould be treated fuitably to his Hat ion, acc< 
 ing to the practice eftablifhcd among poll: 
 nations, till an opportunity offered for a direct 
 and equal exchange. To t!n- i: was an 
 that as Mr. Lee was a deferter from his Majcity's 
 ft r vice, he was not to be confidered as 
 of war ; that he did not at all come uithin the 
 conditions of the cartel, nor could he receive any 
 of its bent; . I his brought on a fruitlcfs 
 cuffion, whether General Lee, who had 
 his half-pay at the beginning of the troubles, 
 could be confidered as a defer tor ; or whet he 2 
 could with juftice be excluded from the ge: 
 benefits of a cartel, in which no particular excep- 
 tion of perfon had been made. In the mean 
 time, General Lee was guarded with all the it. 
 ncfs which a State criminal of the firfl magnitude 
 could hare experienced in the moft dangi 
 political conjuncture. This conduct not only fuf- 
 pendcd the operation of the cart, . induced 
 
 retaliation on the American fide ; and Colonel 
 -.pbell, who had hitherto been treated with great 
 humanity by the people of Bofton, was now 
 thrown into a dungeon. 
 
 :e Britifh officers who were prifoncr* in the 
 Southern Colonies, though 
 rigour, were, ! , abridged of t 
 
 liberty. It\\a<attl. 'imc declared, t! 
 
 future treatment fhouM in every degree I 
 
 lated
 
 lated by that which General Lee experienced, and 
 that their perfons fhould be anfwerable, in the ut- 
 mofl extent, for any violence that was offered to 
 him. Thus matters continued till the capture of 
 the Britim army under General Burgoyne at 
 Saratoga, October i7th, 1777. A change of con- 
 duel towards him then took place; he was al- 
 lowed his parole in New- York, lodged in the fame 
 houfe with Lieutenant Colonel Butler of the 38th, 
 dined with General Robertfon commandant of the 
 town, and with many principal officers and fami- 
 lies, and a (hort time after was exchanged. 
 
 The firft military fcene in which General Lee 
 appeared after his liberation, was the battle of 
 Monmouth, which terminated his career in the 
 American army. Before this affair, his character 
 in general was very refpectable ; many of the 
 warm friends to America, highly valued the impor- 
 tant fervices he had rendered to the United States. 
 
 From the beginning of the contefl, he had ex- 
 cited and directed the military fpirit which pervad- 
 ed the continent ; his converfation raifed an emu- 
 lation among the officers, and he taught them to 
 pay a proper attention to the health, cloathing, and 
 comfortable fubfiflence of their men : add to this, 
 his zeal was unwearied in inculcating the prin- 
 ciples of liberty among all ranks of people j hence 
 it is faid, that a ftrong party was formed in Coa- 
 grefs, and by fome difcontented officers in the 
 army, to raife Lee to the firft command j and it 
 C 4 hath
 
 hath been fuggefted by many, that General Lee's 
 conduct at the battle of Monmouth, was intended 
 to effect this plan ; for, could the odium of the de- 
 feat have been at that time thrown on General 
 Wafhington, and his attack of the Britifh army 
 made to appear rafli and imprudent, there is great 
 reafon to fuppofe he would have been deprived of 
 his command. It hath been obferved by ibme wri- 
 ters on this fubject, that when General Lee was 
 taken prifoner, the American army was on no par 
 with the Royal forces ; but the cafe was much 
 changed on his return from his captivity, lie 
 found them improved, and daring enough to at- 
 tack even the Britifh grenadiers with firmnefs and 
 refolution. Had not this been the cafe, and Ge- 
 neral Lee, when ordered to attack the rear of the 
 Royal army, feen his men beat back with difgnice, 
 unwilling to rally, and acting with fear and trepi- 
 dation, his retreat would have been neceiFary, his 
 conduct crowned with applaufe, and his purpofes 
 effected ; but, difappointed in this vicv/, the retreat 
 hath been imputed to himfelf, as he could not al- 
 ledge the want of fpirit in his troops for the juf- 
 tification of his conduct. 
 
 The Britifli army, early en Thurfday the 25th of 
 June, completed their evacuation of Philadelphia, 
 having before tranfported their (lores and mod of 
 their artillery into the Jerfies, where they had 
 thrown up fome works, and feveral regiments were 
 encamped j they manned the lines the preceding 
 
 night,
 
 
 night, and retreated over the commons, eroding 
 at Gloucefter Point. A party of the American 
 horfe purfued them very clofe ; however nothing 
 very material happened till the 28th, when, about 
 three o'clock in the morning, the Britifh army 
 moved on their way to Middietown Point. 
 About eleven o'clock, the American van, com- 
 manded by General Lee, overtook them ; but he 
 foon retreated, and was met by General Warning- 
 ton, who formed on the firft proper piece of 
 ground near Monmouth Court-houfe. While 
 this was doing, two pieces of cannon, fupported by 
 Colonel Livingflon and Colonel Stewart, with a 
 picked corps of 300 men, kept off the main body 
 of the Englifh, and made a great ilaiighter. Very 
 fevere ikirmifhing enfued; and the American army 
 advancing, the Britifli made their lad efforts upon 
 a fmall body of Pennsylvania troops at and about 
 Mr. Tennant's houfe ; they then gave way, leaving 
 the field covered with dead and wounded. Ge- 
 neral Wafhington's troops purfued for about a 
 mile, when, night coming on, and the men exceed- 
 ingly fatigued with inarching, and the hot wea- 
 ther, they halted about half a mile beyond the 
 ground of the principal action. The Britifli took 
 a ftrong poll in their front, fecured on both flanks 
 by morafTes and thick woods, where they remained 
 until about twelve at night, and then retreated. 
 In confequence of this aclion, General Lee was 
 put under arreft, and tried by a Court Martial at 
 5 Brunfv/ick,
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 Brunfwick, the 4th July following. The charges 
 exhibited againft him were, 
 
 i ft. For disobedience of orders, in not attack- 
 ing the enemy on the 28th of June, agreeable to 
 repeated instructions. 
 
 sdly. For mifbehaviour before the enemy on 
 the fame day, by making an unneceflary, diforderly, 
 and mameful retreat. 
 
 3dly. Fordifrefpectto the commander in chief, in 
 two letters, dated the id July, and the 28th June. 
 
 The letters, on which the third charge is found- 
 ed, are as follows : 
 
 SIR Camp, Englifti Town, i ft July 1778. 
 
 FROM the knowledge I have of your Excel- 
 lency's character, I mult conclude, that nothing 
 but the mifinformation of fome very flupid, 
 or mifreprefentation of fome very wicked per- 
 fon, could have occafioned your making ufe of 
 fuch very fmgular expreflions as you did, on my 
 coming up to the ground where you had taken 
 poft : they implied, that I was guilty either of 
 difobedience of orders, of want of conduct, or 
 want of courage. Your Excellency will therefore 
 infinitely oblige me, by letting me know, on which 
 of thefe three articles you ground your charge, 
 that I may prepare for my juftificationj which I 
 have the happinefs to be confident I can do, to the 
 Army, to the Congrcfs, to America, and to the 
 
 World
 
 ( '7 ) 
 
 World in general. Your Excellency mud: give me 
 leave to obferve, that neither yourfelf, nor thofe 
 about your perfon, could, from your fituation, be 
 in the leafl judges of the merits or demerits of 
 our manoeuvres ; and, to fpeak with a becoming 
 pride, I can affert, that to thefe manoeuvres the 
 fuccefs of the day was entirely owing. I can boldly 
 fay, that had we remained on the firfl ground, or 
 had we advanced, or had the retreat been conduct- 
 ed in a manner different from what it was, this 
 whole army, and the interefts of America, would 
 have rifked being facrificed. I ever had, and I 
 hope ever mail have, the greateft refpect and vene- 
 ration for General Wafhington ; i think him en- 
 dued with many great and good qualities : But in 
 this inflance, I mull pronounce, that he has been 
 guilty of an act of cruel injuflice, towards a man 
 who has certainly fome pretenfions to the regard 
 of every fervant of his country ; and, I think, Sir, 
 I have a right to demand fome reparation for the 
 injury committed ; and unlefs I can obtain it, I 
 mufl, in juflice to myfelf, when the campaign is 
 clofed, which I believe will clofe the war, retire 
 from a fervice, at the head of which is placed a 
 man capable of offering fuch injuries : but, at the 
 fame time, in juftice to you, I mufl repeat, that I 
 from my foul believe, that it was not a motion of 
 your own breafl, but inftigated by fome of thofe 
 dirty earwigs who will for ever infinuate them- 
 
 felves near perfons in high office j for I am really 
 
 con-
 
 C 28 ) 
 
 convinced, that when General Wafliington ac~ls 
 from himfelf, no man in his army will have rea- 
 fon to complain of injuftice and indecorum. 
 
 I am, Sir, and I hope ever fhall have reafon to 
 continue, 
 
 Your mod fincerely devoted 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 CHARLES I. 
 His Excellency Gen. Wafhington. 
 
 Head Quarters, Englifli-Town, June aSth 1778. 
 SIR, 
 
 I RECEIVED your letter, (dated, through 
 miflake, the ifl of July), exprefled, as I conceive, 
 in terms highly improper. I am not confcious 
 of having made ufe of any very fmgular expreflions 
 at the time of my meeting you, as you intimate. 
 What I recollect to have faid, was dictated by 
 duty, and warranted by the occafion. As foon 
 as circumftances will admit, you fhall have an 
 opportunity either of juflifying yourfelf to the 
 Army, to Congrefs, to America, and to the 
 World in general, or of convincing them that you 
 are guilty of a breach of orders, and of mifbeha- 
 viour before the enemy on the 28th inftant, in not 
 1 attacking
 
 attacking them as you had been directed, and in 
 making an unneceifary, diforderly, and fhameful 
 retreat. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your mofl obedient Servant, 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 Major Gen. Lee. 
 
 SIR, Camp, June 28th, 1778. 
 
 I BEG your Excellency's pardon for the in- 
 accuracy in mifdating my letter. You cannot 
 afford me greater pleafure than in giving me the 
 opportunity of mewing to America, the fufficiency 
 of her refpedive fervants. I truft, that the tem- 
 porary power of office, and the tinfel dignity at- 
 tending it, will not be able, by all the mills they 
 can raife, to offifcate the bright rays of truth. In 
 the mean time, your Excellency can have no ob- 
 jeclion to my retiring from the army. 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your mod obedient, 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 Gen. Washington. 
 
 SIR,
 
 SIR, Camp, June 30th, 
 
 SINCE I had the honour of addrefling my 
 letter by Colonel Fitzgerald to your Excellency, 
 1 have reflected on both your fituation and mine ; 
 and beg leave to obferve, that it \vill be for our 
 mutual convenience, that a Court of Inquiry fhouM 
 be immediately ordered ; but I could wifli it 
 might be a Court Martial : for, if the affair 
 !ra\vn into length, it may be difficult to col- 
 lect the neceffary evidences, and' perhaps might 
 bring on a paper-war betwixt the adherents to 
 both parties, which may occafion fomc difa'jree- 
 able feuds on the Continent j for all are not my 
 friends, nor your admirers. 
 
 I muil entreat, therefore, from your iove of 
 juftice, that you \\ill immediately exhibit your 
 charge; and that on the firft halt, I may be 
 brought to a trial. 
 
 I am. Sir, 
 
 Your mod obedient, 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 His Excellency Gen. Washington. 
 
 THE
 
 ( 3' ) 
 
 THE Court met, by feveral adjournments, till 
 the 1 2th of Auguft, when they found the unfor- 
 tunate General guilty of the feveral charges brought 
 againfthim, andfentencedhim to befufpendedfrom 
 any commiffion in the armies of the United States 
 of North America for the term of twelve months. 
 But it was ufual in America, and thought neceffary, 
 that the fentence of every Court Martial mould 
 be ratified or confirmed by Congrefs ; the pro- 
 ceedings, therefore, of the Court, were accordingly 
 tranfmitted to them, and the General repaired to 
 Philadelphia to await their decifion. During 
 his flay there on this bufinefs, he was involved 
 In feveral difputes ; and though his affair might 
 be confidered as yet fub judlce^ yet the converfa- 
 tion of the city was rather againft him, which 
 induced him to publifh, as it were, a fecond de- 
 fence; and as this may not be fo well known to 
 the public as the elegant and mafterly defence in 
 his trial, which hath been republifhed in Europe, 
 I mail infert it in this place. 
 
 GENERAL LEE's Vindication to the Public. 
 
 THE different commentators on the orders I re- 
 ceived from Gen. Wafhington on the 28th of June, 
 have,I think, conftrued them into no more than three 
 different Jfenfes. I lhall, therefore, for argument's 
 
 fake,
 
 fake, give the world leave to fuppofe them to have 
 n any one of thefe three*: jft. To attack 
 the enemy in whatever fituation, and in whatever 
 force I found them, without considering confe- 
 oiKiices. 
 
 sd. To contrive the means of bringing on a 
 general engagement. 
 
 3d. To annoy them as much as poffible, with- 
 out rifking any thing of great importance ; that 
 in fuel, to act with a great degree of latitude, 
 according to my own difcretion. 
 
 Now, I f;;y, granting any one of thefe three to 
 have been the orders I received, it is manifeft, 
 that I did literally and effectually comply, as far 
 as depended on myfelf, and on human means. As 
 to the firft, notwithstanding the attempt, by a low 
 evafion, to prove that the orders I gave were only 
 to advance on the enemy, it is clear from Cap- 
 tain Mercer's evidence, that General Wayne and 
 Colonel Butler were ordered, not only to advance, 
 but, in precife terms, to attack ; it is clear, that 
 1 uid, with the three brigadiers on the right, make 
 the only movement pofiible to accomplifh this 
 
 * It mull appear fomcwhat extraordinary, that when the prin- 
 cipaland heavieil charge brought againftme, was the difobedience 
 of order.;, th..:". it it fcems I difobeyed, fliould never 
 
 have been attempted to be ascertained to the Court by the 
 proper authority, but were left to the conje&urc and wild con- 
 ftructions of thofe who might take the trouble to guefs, and to 
 the hardiirefs of ihofe who might chufe to invent. 
 
 end ;
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 end it is clear that I did not wifh, or give any 
 orders for a retrograde manoeuvre from the firfl 
 point of action, and that, even when I was informed 
 of our left being abandoned, the retreat, how- 
 ever neceffary, was, I am afhamed to own it, 
 done contrary to my orders, and contrary to my 
 intentions. I fay I am afhamed to own it ; for 
 if the Britilh cavalry had vigoroufly pufhed on our 
 right, they might have turned our flank, taken 
 us in reverfe, and we had been loft. There 
 is one fuppofition, and indeed only one (and 
 that, for the General's honour, is too monftrous 
 to be admitted), that would render me criminal ; 
 it is, that he had pofitively commanded me, that 
 after the attack commenced, whatever were my 
 circumftances, or whatever were my numbers, 
 from thence I mould not, from any confideration, 
 recede an inch. Now, if fuch I had conceived to 
 have been his intention, fo great is my opinion 
 of the valour, zeal, and obedience of the troops, 
 and fo well I think I know myfelf, that I do really 
 believe we mould all have perifhed on the firfl 
 fpot j but I never had, and it is almofl impofiible 
 I mould have, an idea that fuch was his plan ; 
 and it is evident that it was not ; confequently, 
 in feeking a better pofition in our rear, I could 
 be guilty of no difobedience. Upon the whole, 
 admitting the orders I received to have been (as 
 it has been infmuated) to attack, without any 
 confideration of the force, or fituation of the 
 
 D enemy,
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 enemy, they were as fully and rigidly obeyed, 
 circumftanced as I was, as it was poiiible for any 
 human officer to obey orders of fuch a nature. In 
 the next place, if the General's inftrudions are 
 conftrued to be, that I mould find the means 
 of bringing on a general ( engagement, it is difficult 
 to imagine a more efficacious method than that 
 which was purfued. But I muft here beg leave to 
 obferve, that thofe gentlemen who talk fo fami- 
 liarly of bringing on a general engagement, mud 
 underftand themfelves as little as they can be un- 
 derftood by others. To bring on a general engage- 
 ment, is not always in our power. An enemy of 
 any capacity will take fuch meafures as not to be 
 under the neceffity of fighting againil his inclina- 
 tions 5 and, however it may be received, I cannot 
 help being perfuaded, that fome of the Britifh 
 generals are not deficient in this great eflential. 
 Clinton, Grey, and Erlkine, were bred up, and 
 confidered no defpicabk officers in one of the bed 
 fchools of Europe. Prince Ferdinand and his 
 nephew, the hereditary prince, think, it is faid, 
 and do moft certainly fpeak very honourably of 
 them. Now, although it muft be fuppofed that 
 men of this ftamp will make it a rule to retain the 
 power of refufmg a general engagement, there 
 are ftrong grounds for believing, that on this day 
 (whether from our manoeuvres, or from the often 
 ungovernable impetuofity of the Biitifh troops) 
 they would have been put under the neceffity of 
 
 committing
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 committing the moil confiderable part of their 
 army to the decifion of arms, if the opportunity 
 on our fide had been availed of. They were 
 tempted to pafs three of the great ravines which 
 traverfe the plain ; and there is room to flatter 
 ourfelves they would have patted the laft, if they 
 had been wifely fuffered. They would then have 
 been actually in our power ; that is, they would 
 have been under the neccffity of fighting againfl 
 unequal force ; for they had fcarcely the poffibi- 
 lity of retreating, and it was at cur option to 
 engage whatever part of the army we thought 
 proper, whether the whole, one half, or only a 
 third, as they had immediately emerged from the 
 ravine, and before they could have had time to 
 develope and form j our rear was, on the contrary, 
 quite clear and unembar raffed, and were, in fact, 
 entire mailers of our manoeuvres ; at the fame 
 time, Colonel Morgan, and the militia on the 
 flanks, by this Reparation of the major part of the 
 enemy's army to fo great a diftance from their 
 baggage, and the body covering the baggage, 
 would have had a much fairer opportunity of 
 making .their refpeclive attacks, than if they had 
 remained more compact : thus, if any thing is 
 meant by finding the means of bringing on a gene- 
 ral engagement, it was done, and in the moft far 
 lutary manner, to the utmofl extent of human 
 poffibility. 
 
 D 2 We
 
 We come now to the laft fuppofition, viz. That 
 the orders I received (which in facl: is the truth, 
 unlefs they had no meaning at all) were to annoy 
 i he enemy, ftrike a partial blow, but without 
 riiking any thing of great importance; or, in other 
 terms, to aft in a great mcafure difcretionally *. 
 And here I defy the mod acute military critic of 
 the world, to point out a more eflectual method 
 than what was purfued j for, had we taken poft 
 on the hither or weftern margin of the firft ravine, 
 as General Wayne feems to think we ought to have 
 done (and admitting that in this pofitionour flanks 
 could have been fecurc, \\hicli they certainly 
 were not), or on the margin of any of the other 
 ravines in our rear, the laft not excepted, if the 
 laft had been tenable, how could we poflibly 
 have annoyed the enemy, or ftruck a partial blow ? 
 The confequence would at moft have been this, 
 that we might have remained gazing on and can- 
 nonading each other for fome time, and the 
 moment they chofe to retire, they could have done 
 it at their leifure, and with impunity ; for, by all 
 the rules of war, and what is more, by all the 
 rules- of common fenfe, we could not have ventured 
 to purfue them, becaufe we mould have put, if 
 
 * It muft be remarked, that cli (obedience to chfcretionary 
 orders h> prima facie, a glaring abfurdity ; it is an impoffibility; 
 and yet it has been endeavoured to prove me guilty of thia 
 kmpoffibihty. 
 
 not
 
 Tiot impracticable, at leaft very dangerous, defiles 
 in our rear ; and if they had turned back upon 
 us, we mould have been effectually in their power, 
 unlefs we could have infured victory to ourfelves 
 with very unequal numbers ; but, by drawing 
 them over all the ravines, they were as much in 
 our power ; befldes, it muft occur to every man 
 who is not deftitute of common reafon, that the 
 further they were from their mips and the heights 
 of Middletown, the point of their fecurity, the 
 more they were (to ufe the military language) 
 in the air. 
 
 To thefe confiderations may be added, that the 
 ground we found them on, was extremely favour- 
 able to the nature of their troops ; and that we 
 drew them into, as favourable to ours. The 
 ground we found them on, was calculated for 
 cavalry, in which they comparatively abounded ; 
 and that which we drew them into, as much the 
 reverfe. In fine, admitting that the order I re- 
 ceived was any one of the three referred to, and 
 fuppofing we had been as perfectly acquainted 
 with every yard of the country as we were utterly 
 ignorant of it, I am happy to be able confcioufly 
 to pronounce, that were the tranfactions of that 
 day to pafs over again, there is no one flep I 
 took which I would not again take. There is 
 no one thing I did which does not demonftrate 
 hat I conducted myfelf as an obedient, prudent, 
 D 3 and
 
 and, let me add, fpirited officer * ; and I do from 
 my foul fmcerely wifh, that a court of inquiry, 
 compofed of the ableft foldiers in the world, were 
 to fit in judgment, and enjoined to canvafs with 
 the utmofl rigour every circumftance of my con- 
 duel on this day, and on their decifion my repu- 
 tation or infamy to be for ever ellablifhcd. There 
 is, however, I confefs, the flrongeft reafon to 
 believe (but for this omiflion I am no ways refpon- 
 fible) that, had a proper knowledge of the theatre 
 of action been obtained, as it might, and ought 
 to have been, its nature and different fituations, 
 with their references ftudied, and, in confequence, 
 a general plan of aclion wifely concerted and 
 digefted, a moft important, perhaps a decifive 
 blow might have been (truck, but not by adopt- 
 ing any one meafure that any one of my cen- 
 furers has been fortunate enough to think of. I 
 have already faid, that had we remained on the 
 ground where the attack commenced, or on the 
 margin of th? firft ravine, which General Wayne 
 fecms to think was a good pofition, we fliould pro- 
 bably havebecn loft; and I believe I may fafely aflcrt, 
 that had we attached ourfelves to the fecond pofi- 
 
 * This ftyle, on ordinary occafions, would appear a moft. 
 intolerable and difgufting gafconade; but when a man's con- 
 dudl has been fo grofsly rnifreprcfented and calumniated, as 
 mine has been, the ftrongeft. language is juftifiable in his 
 defence. 
 
 tion,
 
 ( 39 ) 
 
 tion, in front of Carr's houfe, reconnoitred by 
 Monf. Du Portail, on the hill which Colonel 
 Hamilton was fo ftrongly prepoffefled in favour of, 
 and allowing our flanks to be fecure in any of 
 thefe pofitions, which it is evident they were not, 
 fecurity is the only thing we could have had to 
 boaft of. The fecurity of the enemy would have 
 been equally great ; but any poflibility of annoy?- 
 inj>; them we certainly had not. I aifert, then, 
 that if we had acted wifely, it was our bufmefs to 
 let one, two, or three thoufand pafs the laft ravine, 
 in the rear of which, and on the eminence pointed 
 out to me by Mr. Wikoff, and to General Wafh- 
 ington by Colonel Ray *, the main body of our 
 army was ported, frefh, and unfatigued j whereas 
 thofe of the enemy were extremely harrafled, or, 
 indeed, worn down to fo low a degree of debility, 
 that had they once paifed, they had little chance 
 of repaffing ; the ground was commanding, and, 
 to us, in all refpecls advantageous. A fort of 
 natural glacis, extending itfelf in our front, from 
 the creft of the eminence quite down to the ra- 
 vine, over which there was only one narrowed pafs, 
 the plain fo narrowed as to give no play to the ma- 
 noeuvres of their cavalry ; and at two or three 
 hundred yards diftance in the rear, a fpace of 
 ground moft happily adapted to the arrangement 
 
 * To thefe two gentlemen not a little credit for the fuccefs 
 of the 28th of June is due. 
 
 D4 of
 
 ( 40 ) 
 
 of a fecond line . This ground, from the nature 
 of its front, is almofl entirely protected from the 
 annoyance of the enemy's cannon; and, of courfe, 
 
 1 calculated for the refpiration of a bed 
 troops, fuch as my detachment was, fatigued, 
 
 difpirited by adion, and the exceilive heat of 
 the weather ; here they might have ta! ;h ; 
 
 here they might have been refrefhtd, and, in a 
 
 v fliort time, refitted at leaft to aft as a Hn 
 fupport, which was all that, in thele circumftances, 
 could be necefl'ary. I propoi 
 to form them as fuch, but was precipitately or- 
 dered, and, 1 confefs, in a manner tha :icly 
 rufiled me, to three mi!. ir. 
 
 Thus, in my :ious 
 
 opportunity loft ; ; p. both i 
 
 was only a diftant, un. . acioin 
 
 nonade ; and what has been fo magnificently ('died 
 a purfuit, was no more than taking up the 
 ground which the Britifh troops could notpoflibly, 
 and were not (their principle being retreat) in- 
 terefted to maintain. 
 
 * It may beobjecled, tliat a part of my detachment ; 
 under Srott ami Max.vcll, ba 1 already filed off in the rear, 
 but they might eafily have been brought up. It is evident 
 they might, as not long afterwards a part of them were or<: 
 and did march up. It muft be obfervcd, that I myfclf was 
 totally ignorant that any part of them had filed off ; but thofc 
 I had with inc would have formed a very rtfpcdtable line of 
 rcfti 
 
 P. S. A
 
 P. S. A thoufand wicked and low artifices, 
 during my trial, were ufed to render me unpopu- 
 lar. One of the principal was, to throw out that 
 I had endeavoured, on every occafion, to depreciate 
 the American valour, and the character of their 
 troops. There never was a more impudent falfe- 
 hood ; I appeal to my letters addreffed to Mr. 
 Burgoyne to the whole tenor of my converfation, 
 both previous and rabfequent to the commence- 
 ment of the prefent war, and to all my publica- 
 tions. It is true, I have often heavily lamented, 
 as to me it appears, the defective constitution of 
 the army; but I have ever had the higheft opinion 
 of the courage and other good qualities of the 
 Americans as foldiers ; and the proofs that my 
 opinion was juft, are numerous and fubftantial. 
 
 To begin with the affair of Bunker's-hill. I may 
 venture to pronounce that there never was a more 
 dangerous, a more execrable fituation, than thefe 
 brave and unfortunate men (if thofe who die in 
 the glorious caufe of Liberty can be termed un- 
 fortunate) were placed in ; they had to encounter 
 with a body of troops, both in point of fpirit 
 and difcipline, not to be furpafied in the whole 
 world, headed by an officer of experience, intre- 
 pidity, coolnefs, and decifion. The Americans 
 were compofed, in part, of raw lads and old men, 
 half armed, with no practice or difcipline, com- 
 manded without order, and God knows by whom. 
 Yet what was the event ? It is known to the 
 
 world,
 
 ( 42 ) 
 
 world, that the Britifh troops, notwithftanding 
 their addrefs ^and gallantry, were moil feverely 
 handled, and almofl defeated *. 
 
 The troops under the command of General 
 Montgomery, in his expedition againfl St. John's, 
 Chambly, and into Canada, who were chiefly 
 compofed of native Americans, as they were from 
 the Eaflern State, difplayeu,Jby his own account, 
 in a letter 1 received from that illuftrious ycung 
 jaan, not only great courage, but zeal and enter- 
 prize. 
 
 The aflault under Arnold, on the lower town 
 of Quebec, \vas an attempt that would have 
 itartled the moft appn is ; and, if they 
 
 mifcarri-_d, it cannot be attributed to a deiiciency 
 of valour, but to want of proper information of 
 the circumflance,s of the place. 
 
 The defence, of SullivanVIfland, by Colonel 
 Mcultrie, might be termed an ordeal. The garri- 
 fon, both men and officers, entirely raw ; the 
 fire furious, and of a duration almofl beyond ex- 
 ample ; their fituation extremely critical and 
 dangerous, for the rear was in a manner open ; 
 and, if General Clinton could, as it was expected, 
 
 * The Colonel* Stark, Prdcot, Little, Gardner, Read, 
 Nixon, and the two Brewers, were- entitled to immortal honour 
 for their action on that day ; but, according to the ufual 
 juftice of the writers of newfpapers and Gazettes, their names 
 have fcarccly been mentioned on the occafion. 
 
 have
 
 ( 43 5 
 
 have landed on the ifland, there were no refources 
 but in the laft defperate refolutions. 
 
 With refpecl to the tranfaclions on York and 
 Long-Ifland, I muft be filent, as I am ignorant 
 of them ; but, from fome obfervations after I 
 joined the army, I have reafon to think the fault 
 could not have been in the men, or in the com- 
 mon bulk of officers. 
 
 Even the unhappy bufmefs of Fort Wafhington, 
 which was attended with fuch abominable con- 
 fequences, and which brought the affairs of 
 America to the brink of ruin, when the circum- 
 ftances are well confidered, did honour to the 
 officers and men, devoted to the defence of this 
 worthlefs and ridiculous favourite. 
 
 The defence of Red-Bank, by Colonel Green, 
 and Mud-Iflandj by Colonel Smith, forced a con- 
 feflion, even from the mofl determined infidels on 
 this point, of the Britifh officers, to the honour 
 of American valour. I have often heard them 
 allow, that the defence of thefe two places were 
 really handfome things that no men could have done 
 better ; which, from unwilling mouths, is no fmall 
 panegyrick. 
 
 The victory -gained by Stark, at Bennington, 
 and the capture of Mr. Burgoyne's whole army, 
 by Gates and Arnold, are, above all, convincing 
 arguments of what excellent ingredients, in all 
 refpects, the force of America is compofed. 
 
 The
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 TiiC- detail of what paiTed lately on Rhode-Ifland 
 is not yet come to my knowledge ; hut, from all 
 I Ijave been able to collect, the men and officers 
 exhibited great valour and facility, as did their 
 General, difcrefion, calmnefs, and good conduct. 
 Upon the whole, I am warranted to fay, what I 
 always thought, that no difgrace or calamity has 
 jn on the arms of America through the whole 
 courfe of the war, but what muft be attributed to 
 fome other caufc than to the want of valour, of 
 difpofition to c ., or to any other military 
 
 defect in the men, or the general mafs of their 
 officers in their .t ranks ; and I folemnly 
 
 declare, that \vns it at my choice to felecl f: 
 all the nations of the earth to form an excellent 
 and peiffc: 'J, without hefitation, 
 
 give the preference to the Americans. By publifh- 
 ing this opinion, I cannot incur the fufpicion of 
 paying my court to their vanity, as it is notorioufly 
 the language I have ever h 
 
 I, have been told, that one of the cri 
 
 puted to me, is my en. n 
 
 of the Brir . , i .an 
 
 .- to ackno . n were times, 
 
 I conL .1 the promulgation of ftich an 
 
 opi: ould have been in-politic, and even 
 
 .1 ; but in thefe times, it is notorious to 
 
 the world that my condudl was the reverfe. Every 
 
 thing I wrote, every thing I faid, tended to 
 
 jnfpire that confidence in their own flrength, 
 
 which
 
 ( 45 ) 
 
 which it was thought the Americans wanted ; 
 and it is believed, that what I faid, and what I 
 wrote, had. no inconfiderable effect ; but now, cir- 
 cumflanced as we are, I cannot conceive the 
 danger, or even impropriety, in fpeaking of them 
 as they deferve, particularly as their excellence 
 redounds to the honour of America. I could not 
 help, whilft I was prifoner, being aftoniihed at 
 the bad policy and ftupidity of fome of the Britifn 
 officers, who made it their conftant bufmefs to 
 depreciate the character of the Americans in point 
 of courage and fenfe. I have often exprefied my 
 aPtonimrr.ent, making a very natural obfervation 
 to them, that if the perfuafion of their opponents* 
 cowardice and folly were eflablifhed in the world, 
 the great merits they themfelves pretended to 
 muft, at the fame time, be utterly deftroyed. 
 That 1 have a very great opinion of the Britifh 
 troops, I make no fcruple to confefs ; and unlefs 
 I had this opinion of them, I do not fee what 
 ground I could have for my eulogiums on Ameri- 
 can valour. This is a truth, fimple and clear as 
 the day ; but be it as it will, it is now mod cer- 
 tain, let the courage and difcipline of the Britifh 
 troops be as great as imagination can paint, there 
 is at prefent no danger from either the one or 
 the other, The dangers that now threaten, are 
 from other quarters j from the want of temper, 
 moderation, ceconomy, wifdom, and decilion 
 amongft ourfelves ; from a childifh credulity j and, 
 5 in
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 in confequence of it, a promptnefs to commit acts 
 of the higheft injuflice on thofe who have deferved 
 bed at the hands of the community ; but above 
 all, from the direct oppofites to thofe qualities, 
 virtues, and principles, without which it is impof- 
 ; that the mode of government eftablifhcd 
 fliould be fupported for the tenth part of a 
 century. Thefe, I afiert, arc now the proper ob- 
 jects of our apprehenfions, and not any real 
 or fuppofed excellence in the armies of Great 
 Britain, who has infinitely more rcafon to fear for 
 her own independence, than to hope for the fub- 
 ju^ntion of yours. 
 
 General Clinton's letter, which has juft ap- 
 peared, has fo wonderful an accord with the 
 abo\e eflay, that I make no doubt but that fome 
 acute gentleman may infmuate U\at it furnifhed 
 the hint : but I can appeal to more than fifty 
 gentlemen of this city, or officers of the army, 
 to whom it was read, previous to the publication 
 of General Clinton's letter, whether a fingle fyl- 
 lable has been added or varied, the conclufion of 
 the poftfcript excepted, which has no reference 
 to the affair of Monmouth. 
 
 IT was a confiderable time before Congrefs 
 took the General's trial under their confideration, 
 during which our unfortunate hero continued 
 
 finarting
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 fmarting under the frowns of fortune and the ma- 
 lignant tongues of men ;' and to add to his fuffer- 
 ings in this (late of fufpenfe, he received a letter 
 from Colonel Laurens, one of General Warning* 
 ton's aids, informing him, " that, in contempt of 
 decency and truth, he had publicly abufed Gene- 
 ral Wafhington in the groiTeit terms;** that, " the 
 relation in which he flood to him, forbade him to 
 pafs fuch conduct unnoticed ; he therefore de- 
 manded the fatisfaction which he was entitled to ; 
 and defired, that as foon as General Lee mould 
 think himfelf at liberty, he would appoint time 
 and place, and name his weapons.' 1 Without 
 hefitation this was accepted ; and the General 
 made choice of a brace of piftols, declining the 
 fmall fword, becaufe he was rather jn a weak (late 
 of body, having lately received a fall from a horfe, 
 and alfo taken a quantity of medicine to baffle 
 a fit of the gout, which he apprehended. They 
 met according to appointment, and difchargcd 
 their piftols, when General Lee received a flight 
 wound in his fide ; and it hath been faid, that 
 on this occafion, he ilifplayed the greateft forti- 
 tude and courage. 
 
 Shortly after;, the proceedings of the Court Mar- 
 tial on his trial came under confideration in 
 Congrefs, and produced debates for feveral even- 
 ings ; but, finally, the fentence was confirmed. 
 The General was much diflatisfied with it, and his 
 mind extrcme.lv imbittered againft one of the mem- 
 bers,
 
 ( 48 ) 
 
 hers, Mr. William Henry Drayton, of South C 
 lina. This gentleman's conduct was vituperated 
 by Lee in the fevere't language, becaufe he op- 
 pofed in Congrefs a divifion of the fevcral charges 
 brought againft him, but argued and infifted up- 
 on lumping them all together, to be decided by 
 one queflion. In this he \vas in^ciiioufly and 
 \varmly oppofed by a very amiable and worthy 
 gentleman, Mr. William Paca, a late governor 
 of Maryland. Here we muft obferve, that prior 
 to this, ^.Ir. Drayton was by no means one of the 
 General's favourites ; he had taken fome unnecef- 
 fary liberties with his character, in a charge which 
 he delivered as chief juftice to a grand jury in 
 Charles-Town, South Carolina. His temper thus 
 exafperatcd, he could no longer refrain from em- 
 phatically exprefiing his fenfe of the injuries he 
 had received from Mr. Drayton. Thefe were de- 
 livered, intermixed with threatning language, to 
 ]\ir. Hutfon. his colleague and friend, who com- 
 municated the fame. A correfpondence enfued, 
 fo remarkable for its poignancy of reply, a? may 
 be worth preferving in thefe memoirs. 
 
 SIR,
 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 SIR, Philadelphia, Feb. 3d, 1779. 
 
 MY colleague, Mr. Hutfon, hath this day men- 
 tioned to me, a converfation you had with him, 
 in which you expreffed yourfelf as injured by a 
 mifreprefentation of your conduct: immediately 
 preceding your captivity by the enemy, in a 
 charge I had the honour to deliver, as Chief Juf- 
 tice, to the Grand Jury of Charleftown, South 
 Carolina. 
 
 I mufl inform you, Sir, that, on the one hand, 
 I have been repeatedly aifured the reprefentation, 
 I then made was a true one ; and that, on the 
 other hand, I have alfo been allured, that it was 
 not founded on fact ; and that, immediately up- 
 on this latter affurance in South Carolina, I took 
 that ftep which was moft likely to lead me to a 
 certainty on the fubjecr,, with the avowed deilgn, 
 that if I had injured your reputation, I might be 
 enabled to make the mod ample reparation ; but 
 I did not receive $he neceflary materials. Thofe 
 fentiments of propriety which dictated the firfl 
 advance on my part then, to acquire them now 
 dictate a like conduct when another opportunity 
 feems to open itfelf for my arriving at truth, and 
 to do that juftice which the cafe may require. 
 And I do allure you, that if I can be enabled to 
 tleclare, that you did not violate the orders of the 
 commander in chief, refpecting your junction 
 
 E with
 
 ( 50 ) 
 
 with him, \vhen he had retreated to the Delaware 
 in 1776, I fhall not only do fo in the mod pointed 
 terms, but beg your pardon for having, through 
 error and mifreprefentation, publiflied the con- 
 trary. 
 
 To this purpofe, I wrote to Major Euflace on 
 the 6th of January 1778, when I was in Charles- 
 town, and had no profpecl of coming to this part 
 of the Continent ; and a copy of the corref- 
 pondence between him and myfelf on the occafion 
 I will lay before you, if you defire to fee it. 
 
 Thofe principles of honour which muft make 
 you feel an injury, make me feel even an idea of 
 of having done an injury, and impels me to make 
 L reparation where it is due. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your moft obedient Servant, 
 
 WM. HENRY DRAYTON. 
 Major Gen. Lee. 
 
 SIR, Philadelphia, Feb. |th, 1779. 
 
 I SHOULD have done myfelf the honour of 
 anfwering your letter yefterday, but \vas pre- 
 vented by a variety of bufinefs. If I have vio- 
 lated any orders of the commander in chief, to 
 him, and the Congrefs only, am I rcfponfible ; 
 
 but
 
 ( 5' ) 
 
 but certainly am not amenable to the tribunal 
 of Mr. William Henry Drayton. I mall therefore 
 remain entirely indifferent whether you are 
 pleafed to think or dream that I defignedly threw 
 myfelf into the hands of the enemy, or whether 
 1 was not taken by a concurrence of unfortunate 
 circumftances, fuch as happen in the courfe of 
 all wars. The only remark I mail make on your 
 extraordinary requifition, that I mould clear my- 
 felf on this point to you fimply, Mr. William 
 Henry Drayton, whom I confider but as a mere 
 common member of Congrefs, is, that you pay 
 a very ill compliment to the General. You muft 
 fuppofe him either miferably deficient in under, 
 ftanding, or in integrity as a fervant of the pub- 
 lic, when you fuppofe that he would fuffer a 
 man, for a fmgle day, to act as his fecond in 
 command, whom he knows to be guilty of fuch 
 abominable military treafon. This ingenious fup- 
 pofition, therefore, is, in my opinion, a greater 
 affront to the General than to myfelf. 
 
 I am fincerely concerned that my friend Euftace 
 mould have degraded himfelf fo far as to enter 
 into any difcuffion of this matter with Mr. Wil- 
 liam Henry Drayton ; and I mall reprimand him 
 for not underftanding his own dignity better. 
 I mall now only take the trouble of adding, that 
 if you can reconcile your conduct in flepping out 
 of the road, (as I am informed you did in your 
 E 2 charge
 
 ( 5* ) 
 
 charge to the grand jury), to aggravate the 
 calamities of an unhappy man, who had facri- 
 ficed every thing to the caufe of your country, 
 and, as he then conceived, to the rights of man- 
 kind ; who had facrificed an ample, at lead an 
 eafy and independent fortune, the moft honorable 
 connections, great military pretenfions, his friends 
 and relations : I fay, if you can reconcile your 
 flopping out of the road to aggravate the calami- 
 ties of a man who had notorioufly made thefe 
 facrifices, and who, at the very time you was dif- 
 playing your generous eloquence, had no lefs 
 than five centinels on his perfon, and was fuftering 
 extremely in body and mind If you can, I 
 repeat, reconcile fuch a procedure to common 
 humanity, common fenfe, or common decency, 
 you muft ftill be a more fingular perfonage than 
 the public at prefent confider you. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 Your moft obedient, 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE, 
 William Henry Drayton, Efq. 
 
 SIR,
 
 ( 53 ) 
 
 SIR, Philadelphia, Feb. 8th, 1779. 
 
 AT nine o'clock lafl night, I received yours 
 of the fifth inftanf, in anfwer to mine of the 
 third. But, as I have neither time or inclination 
 to enter into a competition, -whether Mr. Charles 
 Lee, or Mr. William Henry Drayton, can raile 
 the moft ingenious fuppofition, fay the keeneft 
 thing, and pen the moft finiihed period with 
 parenthefis ; nor ambition to correfpond with 
 you in your fimple character of Mr. Charles Lee, 
 whom I cannot confider but as legally difgraced 
 for being guilty of abominable military treafon 
 againft a community of the moft liberal, juft, and 
 generous, and, I muft add, merciful people on 
 the face of the globe : 1 fay, perfectly fatisfied 
 with my fimple character of Mr. William Henry 
 Drayton, " a mere common member of Con- 
 grefs,'* and " a mere Chief Juftice of South 
 Carolina,'* I mail do myfelf the honour, out of 
 breath as I am with parenthefes, to make only one 
 obfervation in reply, abfolutely terminating the 
 correfpcndence on my part, That I verily be- 
 lieve we equally remain entirely indifferent with 
 refpect to what either is " pleafed to think or 
 dream." And now, finally taking my leave of 
 Mr. Charles Lee, with common decency from 
 refpect to my fimple character, 
 I fubfcribe myfelf, Sir, 
 
 Your moft obedient Servant, 
 
 WM. HENRY DRAYTON. 
 Major Charles Lee. 
 
 E 3 SIR'
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 SIR, Philadelphia, Match 15111, 1779- 
 
 AS I have now fettled all my affairs, and as 
 I am given to underftand that you probably 
 may foon fet out for South Carolina, I take the 
 liberty of addreffing this letter to you, which is 
 to clofe our correfpondence for ever. Until very 
 lately, I was taught to confider you only as a fan- 
 taflic, pompous dramatis perfona, a mere niafoo/io, 
 never to be fpoke or thought of but for the 
 fake of laughter ; and \vhcn the humour for 
 laughter fubfided, never to be fpoke or thought 
 of more. But I find I was miftaken ; I find that 
 you are as malignant a fcoundrel, as you are unr- 
 verfally allowed to be a ridiculous and difgufting 
 coxcomb. 
 
 You arc pleafed to fay, that I am legally dif- 
 graced ; all that I fhall fay in reply, is, that I am 
 able confidently to pronounce, that every man 
 of rank in the whole army, every man on 
 the Continent, \vho had read the proceedings of 
 the Court Martial (perhaps indeed I might except 
 Mr. Penn of North Carolina, and Dr. Scudder 
 of the Jerfeys, with a few others about their 
 fize in underftanding), is of the opinion, that 
 the fligma is not on him on whom the fentence 
 was pafled, but on thofe who palled this abfurd, 
 iniquitous, and prepoflerous fentence ; for, to be 
 jiift, I do not believe you quite blockhead enough 
 to think the charge had a fhadow of report ; 
 and if, by fome wonderful metamorphofis, you 
 
 iliould
 
 ( ts > 
 
 iliould become an honed man, you will confefs 
 it. As to the confirmation of this curious fen- 
 tence, I do not conceive myfelf at liberty to make 
 any comments on it, as it is an affair of Con- 
 grefs, for which body I ever had, and ought to 
 have, a profound refpeft. I mall only lament 
 that they are difgraced by fo foul a member as 
 Mr. William Henry Drayton. You tell me the 
 Americans are the moft merciful people on th 
 face of the earth : I think fo too ; and the ftrong- 
 eft inftance of it is, that they did not long ago 
 hang up you, and every advocate for the ftamp- 
 act ; and do not flatter yourfelf, that the prefent 
 virtuous airs of patriotifm you may give your- 
 felf, and your hard laboured letters to the Com- 
 miffioners and the King, will ever warn away 
 the (lain. If you think the terms I make ufe of 
 harm or unmerited, my friend Major Edwards 
 is commiffioned to point out your remedy. 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 
 William Henry Drayton, Efq, 
 
 THIS correfpondence, which produced nothing 
 
 but inkfhed, being finiflied, the General retired 
 
 to his plantation in Berkeley county, Virginia, 
 
 E 4 where,
 
 ( 56 ) 
 
 v.-hcrc, ftill irritated with the fcurrilous attacks 
 he had met \vith from feveral writers and others 
 in Philadelphia, he could not forbear giving 
 vent to the bitternefs of his feelings ; and in this 
 mifanthropic dilpofitlou, compofed a fet of queries, 
 which he ftyled Political and Military. Thefe he 
 fbnt by one of his aids to the printers of Philadel- 
 phia, for publication ; but they thought it impru- 
 dent to admit them into their papers, as General 
 Wafhington poflefled the hearts and admiration of 
 every one : he therefore applied to the editor of 
 the Maryland Journal at Baltimore, who indulged 
 him with their infertion. The queries no fooner 
 made their appearance, but a confidcrable difturb- 
 ance took place among the citizens of Baltimore : 
 the printer was called upon for the author, and 
 obliged to give up his name. General Reed, then 
 Prefident of the State of Pennfylvania, conceiv- 
 ing himfelf to be injured, publifhed the fubfe-- 
 quent piece for his juftification. 
 
 THE afperfions which have been thrown on 
 my own character from the prefs, I have ever 
 defpifed too much to take the leaft notice of them ; 
 but when a moft valuable and amiable character 
 is attacked through me, I think it my duty to 
 
 remark
 
 ( 57 ) ' 
 
 remark it, and guard the public from error, even 
 in opinion. 
 
 In a fet of queries, defigned to lefTen the cha- 
 rafter of General Wamington, in a late paper, 
 I arn alluded to fo particularly as not to be mif- 
 taken, and quoted, as having furnifhed evidences 
 under my own hand, that General Wafhington 
 was not the diftinguifhed character the addrefles 
 of the Council of this State had reprelented ; from 
 which an inference is to be drawn prejudicial 
 to the General in point of ability, and the Council 
 in confiftency, fo far as I had any fhare in thofe 
 addrefles. This infmuation I therefore think 
 it my duty to contradict ; and, though the fanc- 
 tity of private and confidential correfpondence 
 has been grofsly violated on this occafion, I 
 ihould have paiTed it by, if the fact had not been 
 as grofsly mif-flated. 
 
 The only ground on which this infmuation can 
 be made, arofe from the following circumftance : 
 In the fall, 1776, I was extremely anxious that 
 fort Wamington mould be evacuated j there was 
 a difference in opinion among thofe whom the 
 General confulted, and he hefitated more than 
 I ever knew him on any other occafion, and 
 more than I thought the public fervice admitted. 
 Knowing that General Lee's opinion would be a 
 great fupport to mine, I wrote to him from 
 Hackinfack, ftating the cafe, and my reafons, and, 
 I think, urging him to join me in fentiment 
 
 at
 
 C 53 ) 
 
 at the clofc of my letter ; and, alluding to the 
 particular fubjecl then before me, to the bed of 
 my recollection, I added this fentencc : " With 
 a thoufand good and great qualities, there is a 
 \vant of decifion to complete the perfect military 
 character." 
 
 Upon this fcntence, or one to this effect, wrote 
 in hafte, in full confidence, and in great anxiety 
 for the event, is this ungenerous fentimcnt intro- 
 duced into the world. The event but too fully 
 juftified my anxiety ; for the fort \vas fuimnoned 
 that very day, and furrendered the next. I 
 abfolutcly deny that there is any other ground 
 but this letter ; and if there i% let it be produced. 
 I have now only to add, that though General 
 Wafhington foon after, by an accident, knew of 
 this circumftance, it never leiTcned the friend- 
 fhip which fubfifted between us. He had too 
 much greatnefs of mind to fuppofe himfclf inca- 
 pable of miftakes, or to diflike a faithful friend, 
 who fhould note an error with fuch cir cum fiances 
 of rcfpccr, and on fuch an occafion. I have 
 fince been with this great and good man, for 
 fuch he is, at very critical moments ; and I hope 
 I mail not be fufpecled of unbecoming adulation, 
 when I aflure my countrymen, (fo far as my 
 opinion is thought of any confequencc), that 
 they may repofe themfelves in pen'c.-ct confidence 
 on his prudence and i 'i, \\hich are equal 
 
 to any c ii\r,:..K.inces 5 and that repeated cxpcii- 
 
 ence
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 ence of the value of his opinions, have infpiredf 
 him with more dependence on them than his 
 modefty and diffidence would in fome cafes for- 
 merly admit. Time will mew, whether his ene- 
 mies will not find themfelves difappointed in their 
 attempts to make the public confidence, and 
 leffen a character of fo much worth, to gratify 
 private, violent refentments. 
 
 JOSEPH R.EED. 
 
 Philadelphia, July i4th, 1779. 
 
 TO judge of the propriety of General Reed's 
 performance, it will be neceffary to refer the 
 reader to his letter in page , which is a true 
 copy from the original, in his own hand writing. 
 
 Lee remained at his retreat, living in a ftyle 
 peculiar to himfelf, in a houfe more like a bam 
 than a palace. Glafs windows and plaiftering 
 would have been luxurious extravagance, and 
 his furniture confided of a very few neceflary 
 articles ; indeed he was now fo ruflicated, that he 
 could have lived in a tub with Diogenes : how- 
 ever he had got a few felet valuable authors, and 
 thefe enabled him to pafs away his time in this 
 i obfcurity.
 
 ( 60 ) 
 
 obfcurity. In the fall, 1782, he began to be 
 weary with the famcnefs of his fituation ; and ex- 
 periencing his unfitnefs for the management of 
 country bufmefs, he came to a determination to 
 fell his eflate, and procure a little fettlement 
 near fome fea-port town, where he might learn 
 what the 'world was doing, and enjoy the converf- 
 ation of mankind. 
 
 His farm, though an excellent traft of land, 
 rather brought him in debt at the end of the 
 year, and added to the difficulties he laboured 
 under. It is no wonder, then, he was inclined 
 to relinquifh his prefent fyftem of life. He left 
 Berkeley, and came to Baltimore, where he (laid 
 near a week with fome old friends, and then took 
 ?L- leave for Philadelphia. 
 
 It is prefumed he now found a difference be- 
 tween a General in command, and one deftitute 
 of every thing but the name ; for we do not 
 find him entertained at the houfe of any private 
 citizen, lie took lodgings at an inn, the fign of 
 the Conveftigoe waggon, in market flreet. After 
 being three or four days in the city, he was 
 taken with a lliivering, the forerunner of a fever, 
 \vhich put a period to his exiflence, October ad 
 1782. 
 
 A friend of the Editor's was at the inn when 
 be took his departure from this world. The fer- 
 vants informed him that General Lee was dying ; 
 upon which he went into the room j he was then 
 
 ftruggling
 
 flrugglmg with the king of terrors, and feemed td 
 have lofl his fenfes ; the lad words he heard him 
 fpeakwere, " Stand by me, my brave grenadiers I" 
 The citizens of Philadelphia, calling to remem- 
 brance his former fervices, appeared to be much 
 affected at his death. His funeral was attended 
 with a very large concourfe of people, the clergy 
 of different denominations, his excellency the pre- 
 lident of Congrefs, the prefident, and feme mem- 
 bers of the council of the commonwealth of Penn- 
 fylvania, his excellency the minifler plenipoten- 
 tiary of France, M. Marbois fecretary to the em- 
 baffy, the minifter of finance, General baron de 
 Viominil, duke de Laufam, the minifler of war, 
 and feveral other officers of diflinction both in the 
 French and American army. 
 
 From what hath been obferved in thefe me- 
 moirs, we may with juflice affirm, that General 
 Lee was a great and fincere friend to the rights 
 and liberties of mankind, and that it was this grand 
 principle which led him to take part on the fide of 
 America. It appears, that, from his youth, he was 
 bred up with the highefl regard for the. noble fenti- 
 ments of freedom ; his education and reading 
 flrengthened them ; the hiflorians and orators of 
 Greece and Rome, with whom he was confiderably 
 converfant, added to the facred flame; and his 
 travels in many parts of the world did not tend 
 to diminifh it. 
 
 When a boy, he was fent to an academy in Swit- 
 zerland,
 
 ( 62 ) 
 
 zerlnnd, and he has frequently faid to his friends, 
 that he was there ftruck with the general happi- 
 nefs, affluence and eafe diffufed throughout that 
 country, notwithftanding its natural diiadvantages 
 of foil and climate. In one of his letters, he ex- 
 preifcs himfclf in this manner : " When I was 
 quite young in Switzerland, I could not help com- 
 paring the rcbufl well clothed commonalty of this 
 country, with their miferablc neighbours of France, 
 a fpot upon which Nature fecins to have taken 
 pains to confer her favours. To France, Nature 
 has given the moft fruitful foil, which produceth 
 not only every neceflary, but every luxury of 
 life. She has given to its people a lively, active, eii- 
 terprifmg genius, a climate upon the whole the 
 befl of the world To the Swifs, me bequeathed 
 rocks, mountains, and, as it is thought, very infe- 
 rior mental faculties ; and yet the Swifs are rich, 
 happy and rcfpectable ; the French, flarving and 
 contemptible. In Italy, the contrail betwixt the 
 free, and thole who are not free, is (till more re- 
 markable; I know very well, that the republics of 
 Genoa and Venice arc not in general allowed to 
 to be free dates. Monfieur Montefquieu has dc- 
 nionftratcd that they are not free ; but there is 
 undoubtedly fome excellence in them, which has 
 efcaped this wife man mall I beg leave to hazard 
 a conjecture ? They have no king : They have 
 no court." 
 
 The General had read both men and books ; his 
 
 reading
 
 reading and travels were extcnfive, and of courfe 
 his manners eafy and free of embarraflment ; fo 
 that he was frequently accuftomed to deliver his 
 fentiments and feelings without difguife, from the 
 firil imprefiions, according to the nature of the ob- 
 jects which prefented. 
 
 This liberality of conduct, andopennefsof difpo- 
 fition, in a young country, caufed many to doubt 
 of his belief in revealed religion ; the common 
 people, at lafl, confidered him as an atheiil ; while 
 thofe of a higher clafs were more indulgent to his 
 principles. If we were to form a judgement on 
 this fubjecl:, from his private correfpondence, we 
 mould not accufe him as totally deftitute of reli- 
 gious notions, for it appears that he entertained 
 fome grand and fublime ideas of the Supreme Be- 
 ing, and was ftrongly perfuaded that no fociety 
 could exifl without religion. 
 
 He has often alferted, that he thought the Chrif- 
 tian religion, unincumbered of its fophiftications, the 
 moil excellent, as comprehending the moil divine 
 fyftem of ethics, confequently of a divine nature ; 
 but at the fame time he difapproved of the length 
 and tedioufnefs of the liturgies of the various fefts. 
 As to the dogmas, he confidered many of them ab- 
 furd, if not impious, and derogatory to the honour, 
 dignity and wifdom of the Godhead, or omnifcient 
 ruler and moderator of the infinity of worlds that 
 furround us. 
 
 The General, in his perfon, was of a gentesl 
 
 make,,
 
 C 64 ) 
 
 make, and rather above the middle fize ; his re- 
 markable aquiline nofe rendered his face fome- 
 what difngreeable. He was matter of a mofl gen- 
 teel addrcfs ; but, in the latter part of his life, be- 
 came exceflively negligent of the graces, both in 
 his garb and behaviour. A talent for repartee, 
 united with a quickncfs of penetration, created him 
 many tncmics. A character fo eccentric and 
 fmgular, could not fail of attracting the popular 
 attention* His fmall friends frequently paflcd 
 feverc criticifmsonhis words and actions. Narrowly 
 watched, every little flip or failure was noticed, and 
 reprcfentfd to his difadvantage. The objections 
 to his moral conduct were numerous, and his great 
 fbndnefs for dogs brought on him the diflike and 
 frowns of the lair ftx : for the General would 
 permit his canine adherents to follow him to the 
 parlour, the bed-room, and fometimes they might 
 be feen on a chair next his elbow at table. 
 
 As the ladies are commonly againfl any tranf- 
 grcrTionof the laws of decency and cleanlinefs, it is 
 no wonder a fhyncfs commenced between them and 
 the General. This hath given fome perfons an idea 
 of his being averfe to women, which in reality 
 was not the cafe ; for his life and pofthumous pa- 
 pers will furnifh feveral examples of his early at- 
 tachment to them ; and a letter to him, from a 
 Britifh officer in Montreal, in 1774, convinces the 
 Editor of his having been fufceptible of the fame 
 
 feelings \vith other men, and of his having fre- 
 5 quently
 
 quently indulged himfelf in gallantry with the la- 
 dies. " During the winter," fays this officer, who 
 was the General's intimate friend, " I took a trip 
 to Quebec, where I paffed feveral agreeable days 
 \vhhyottr queen, I delivered your compliments 
 to her, and me enquired particularly about you, 
 defiring me to return them moft fincerely when- 
 ever I wrote She is the fame amiable creature, 
 whofe difpofition neither climate nor country can 
 alter, and as ftrongly attached to you as ever.'* 
 And his letter from Warfaw to Louifa, de- 
 monflrates the fame fact. 
 
 There is great probability the General was the 
 firft perfon who fuggefted the idea that America 
 ought to declare herfelf independent. When he was 
 fent by the commander in chief to New- York, he 
 behaved with fuch activity and fpirit, infuling the 
 fame into the minds of his troops and the peo- 
 ple, that Mr. John Adams faid, " a happier expe- 
 dition never was projected; and that the whole 
 Whig world were bleffing him for it." About this 
 time Doctor Franklin gave Mr. Thomas Paine, the 
 celebrated author of Common Senfe, an introduc- 
 tory letter to him, in which were thefe words : 
 " The bearer, Mr. Paine, has requefted a line of 
 introduction to you, which I give the more will- 
 ingly, as I know his fentiments are not very dif- 
 ferent from yours." A few days after, the Doctor 
 writes again, " There is a kind of fufpenfe in 
 men's minds here at prefent, waiting tofee what 
 F terms
 
 ( 66 ) 
 
 terms will be offered from EnglandI expect 
 none that we can accept ; and when that is gene- 
 rally fcen, we mail be more unanimous and more 
 decifive. Then your propofed folemn league and 
 covenant will go better down, and perhaps mod of 
 your other Jlrongmeafures adopted." In a letter to 
 Edward Rutlege, Efq. in the fpring of 1776, then 
 a member of the Continental Congrefs, the Gene- 
 ral thus exprefles himfelf. " As your affairs prof- 
 per, the timidity of the fenatorial part of the 
 continent, great and fmall, grows and extends it- 
 felf. By the Eternal G d, unlefs you dec/art 
 jourfefocs independent, eftablifli a more certain and 
 fixed legislature than that of a temporary cour- 
 tefy of the people, you richly deferve to be enflav- 
 ed, and I think far from impoflible that it mould 
 be your lot; as, withe Lit a more fyftematic inter- 
 courfe with France and Holland, we cannot, we 
 have not the means of carrying on the war." 
 There are other epiflics of his, of a fimilar fpirit 
 and diction. 
 
 The more we inveftigate the General's character 
 and conduft, the more confpicuous his fervices 
 will appear. In the infancy of the American dif- 
 pute, we ail find him continually fuggefling and 
 forwarding plans for the defence of the country; 
 and though he \vas a profefied enemy to a (landing 
 army, he was ahvays recommending a well regu- 
 lated militia. This he confidered as the natural 
 ilrength of a country, and abfolutcly neceflary 
 
 .1 prefcrvatioru 
 
 He
 
 He has frequently aflerted, that a more perni- 
 cious idea could not enter into the heads of the ci- 
 tizens, than that rigid difcipline, and a ftrict fub- 
 jection to military rules, were incompatible with 
 civil liberty ; and he was of opinion, that when the 
 bulk of a community would not fubmit to the or- 
 dinances necefTary for the prefervation of military 
 difcipline, their liberty could not be of long con- 
 tinuance. 
 
 The liberty of every commonwealth muft be 
 protected ultimately by military force. Military 
 force depends upon order and difcipline : without 
 order and difcipline, the greateft number of armed 
 men are only a contemptible mob ; a handful of 
 regulars mufl difperfe them. It follows then, that 
 the citizens at large mufl fubmit to the means of 
 becoming foldiers, or that they muft commit the 
 protection of their lives and property to a diftincl: 
 body of men, who will naturally, in a fhort time, 
 fct up a profeffional interefc, feparate from the com- 
 munity at large. To this caufe we may attribute 
 the fubverfion of every free State that hiftory pre- 
 fents to us. The Romans were certainly the 
 firft and moft glorious people that have figured on 
 the face of the globe ; they continued free longeft. 
 Every citizen was a foldier, and a foldier not in 
 name,but in fad ; by which is meant, that they were 
 the moft rigid obfervers of military inftitutions. 
 The General therefore thought it expedient that 
 every State in America mould be extremely care- 
 
 F 2 'ful
 
 ( 68 ) 
 
 ful to perfect the laws relative to their militia; 
 and that, where they were glaringly defective, they 
 (hould be made more efficient; and that it mould 
 be eftablifhed as a point of honour, and the crite- 
 rion of a virtuous citizen, to pay the greatefl de- 
 ference to the common neceffary laws of a camp. 
 
 The mod difficult tafk the Editor met with in 
 collecting and arranging thefe Poflhumous Papers, 
 arofe from his defire of not giving offence to fuch 
 characters as had been the object of the General's 
 averfion and refentment. Unhappily his difap- 
 pointments had foured his temper ; the affair of 
 
 Monmouth, feveral pieces of fcurrility from the 
 prefs, and numerous inflances of private flander 
 and defamation, fo far got the better of his philo- 
 fophy, as to provoke him in the higheft degree, 
 and he became, as it were, angry with all man- 
 kind. 
 
 To this exafperated difpofition we may impute 
 the origin of his political queries, and a number 
 of fatirical hints thrown out both in his converf- 
 ation and writing, againft the Commanderin Chief. 
 Humanity will draw a veil over the involuntary 
 errors of fenlibility, and pardon the fallies of a 
 fuffering mind, as its prefages did not meet with 
 an accomplifhment. General Waihington, by his 
 retirement, demonflrated to the world, that power 
 was not his object ; that America had nothing to 
 fear from his ambition ; but that (he was honoured 
 with a fpecimen of fuch exalted patriotifm as 
 i could
 
 could not fail to attract the attention and admi- 
 ration of the rooft diftant nations. 
 
 The reader will not wonder that General Lee, 
 difappointed in his career of glory, fhould be con- 
 tinually inculcating an idea of the extreme dan- 
 ger of trufting too much to the wifdom of cne, for 
 the fafety of the whole ; that he mould confider 
 it as repugnant to the principles of freedom and 
 republicanifm, to continue for years, one man as 
 commander in chief; that there mould be a rota- 
 tion of office, military as well as civil ; and 
 though the commander of an army poflefled all 
 the virtues of Cato, and the talents of Julius 
 Csefar, it could not alter the nature of the thing ; 
 fince, by habituating the people to look up to one 
 man, all true republican fpirit became enervated, 
 and a vifible propenfity to monarchical government 
 was created and foflered ; that there was a charm 
 in the long pofleffion of high office, and in the 
 pomp and influence that attended it, which 
 might corrupt the beft difpofitions. 
 
 Indeed it was the opinion of Marcus Aureliu.s, 
 whofe virtues not only honoured the throne, but 
 human nature, that to have the power of doing 
 much, and to confine that power to doing good, 
 was a prodigy in nature. Such fentiments of this 
 divine prince, who was not only trained up in the 
 fchools of auflere philofophy, but whofe elevated 
 fituation rendered him the mofl able judge of the 
 difficulty there is in not abufmg extenfive power, 
 
 F 3 when-
 
 ('70 ) 
 
 when we have it in our hands, furnifli fubftanrial 
 arguments for not entrufting it to any mortal 
 whatfoever. But \vliilc \ve are convinced of the 
 juftnefs of thefc fcntiinents, we are led the more to 
 refpecl and rcv^r_-:cc tuir mofl difinterefled Com- 
 mander in Chief, wiio (lands confpicuous, with un- 
 rivalled glory, i o the fafcinations which 
 have overthrown many a great and noble mind. 
 
 The Editor conceives his prcfcnt labours, in the 
 compilation of this work, \vi!lbe ufeful, and throw 
 fome light on the hi (lory of the late revolution 
 a monument cf the arduous fbruggle, exhibiting 
 .ithi'ul and valuable colleclion of military Lnd 
 poliiical con -nee. 
 
 EDWARD LANGWORTHY. 
 
 Baltimore, March loth, 1787. 
 
 M1SCEL-
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, 
 
 FROM THE PAPERS OF THE LATE 
 
 Major General Charles Lee, 
 
 P 4

 
 A SKETCH OF A PLAN 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 Formation of a Military Colony* 
 
 I WILL fuppofe the number to confift of ten thou- 
 fand men, with their full proportion of offi- 
 cers of different ranks, and children. There fhall 
 be no diftinction made in the diftribution of lands, 
 betwixt the general officers and colonels ; but as 
 it appears that there fhould, for the fake of order, 
 be fome difference of property in the different 
 claffes of men, I would propofe the following plan 
 of diftribution. When the capital is once fixed, 
 immediately round it by lot Every colonel to have 
 two thoufand five hundred acres ; every lieutenant 
 colonel two thoufand ; major fifteen hundred ; cap- 
 tain one thoufand : lieutenants and enfigns feven 
 hundred each ; each ferjeant three hundred ; 
 every rank and file two hundred. Another cir- 
 cle drawn round it, containing the fame number 
 of acres, fhall be in common, for the ufe of the 
 whole community; where cattle mall have the 
 
 liberty
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 liberty of ranging beyond this circle. Another fhall 
 be drawn, of an equal number of acres, with the 
 fains proportion of acres for r of 
 
 the community. So th; olonJ \viil, .n ict, 
 
 be matter of f: , , r . iieutcnaTit- 
 
 colonel of four, e /ery major of three, every cap- 
 tain of two th .ind L'rry rank and file of 
 four hui: -!;\.J ; cr>. . Itliia thj capital pre- 
 cinct, r.rJ the other I v.hat I call the 
 pomoerium of the ~i<itc: the intermediate fhall be 
 allotted to the rearing of horfcs for the public fer- 
 vice, and cattle, to form magazines for war. 
 Th e lots in the porn :re intended for 
 the children of the State, \vhen they are of an age 
 to fettle and marry. As the coloiiy is iniiii-ry, 
 (as every colony ought to be, if they intend to be 
 free), a conflant exerciied militia fhall be kept up, 
 but by annual rotation : for which purpofe, the 
 fifth part "of the men lit to bear arms, from fcven- 
 teen to forty-five, fhall be embodied for tv.o 
 months of the year, th-jir manuuvres as (unple 
 as can be devifed : but no fubftitutes are to be al- 
 lowed, onany pretence, but abfelute infirmity ; and 
 even thofe who are not embodied, mall, in their 
 certain diftricls, be obliged to affemble every week, 
 praclife fome fimple evolutions, fuch as inarching 
 in front, retreating and rail) ing by their colours, 
 imd all firing at marks. 
 
 A flanding final! body of horfe, and of artillery, 
 fhall be conftantly kept up at the public expence, 
 
 as
 
 ( 75 ) 
 
 as thefe fpecies of troops are not to be formed In 
 an inflant. An Agrarian law mall be pafled, and 
 rigidly obferved, retraining abfolutely every mem- 
 ber of the community from poifeffing more than 
 five thoufand acres of land, not only within the 
 precincts of the community, but any where elfe. 
 No member of the community, unlefs he comes 
 into the world deformed, or too weak to undergo 
 the manly labours, mall be fuffered to exerciie 
 fedentary trades, fuch as taylors, barbers, fhoe- 
 makers, weavers, &c. &c. Thefe effeminate and 
 vile occupations fhall be allotted to women, to the 
 weak, deformed, and to flaves. Agriculture, 
 hunting, and war, to be the only profeffions of the 
 menj to which maybe added, the trade of fmiths, 
 carpenters, and thofe which do not emafculate. 1 
 
 But as there is reafon to apprehend, that a nation 
 merely of warriors, hunters, and agriculturers, may 
 become extremely ferocious in their manners, 
 fome method mould be devifed, of foftening, or 
 counteracting this confequential ferocity : I know 
 of none equally efficacious with a general culti- 
 vation and ftudy of mufic and poetry j en which 
 principle, I would propofe, that mufic and poetry 
 mould be the great regimen of the two mod impor- 
 tant articles of government, religion and war ; 
 all other good qualities might follow of courfe : 
 for, without religion, no warlike community can 
 exift; and with religion, if it is pure and unfophif- 
 ticated, all immoralities ate incompatible. Mufic 
 
 and
 
 and poetry, therefore, which ought to be infepa- 
 rably blended, are the grand pivots of a real, 
 brave, aclive, warlike and virtuous fociety. This 
 doctrine I am confcious may (hock quakers, puri- 
 tans, and rigid fe&arifls of every kind ; but I do 
 not fpeak to quakers, puritans, and rigid feftarifts. 
 At the firft, and from the bottom of my heart, I 
 deteft and defpife them. I fpeak to men and fol- 
 diers, who wifli and are able to aflert and defend 
 the rights of humanity ; and, let me add, to vin- 
 dicate the character of God Almighty, and real 
 chriflianity, which have been fo long difhonoured 
 by fectarifts of every kind and complexion ; ca- 
 tholics, church of England men, prefbyterians, 
 and methodifls. I could wifh, therefore, that the 
 community of foldicrs (\vho are to be all chrif- 
 tians) mould eftablifh one common form of wor- 
 fhip, with which every member muft acquiefce, at 
 leaft in attendance on divine worfhip, and the ob- 
 fcrvation of the prefcribed ceremonies ; but this 
 fo contrived as not to mock any man who has 
 been bred up in any of the different feels. For 
 which reafon, let all expofitions of the fcripture, 
 and all dogmas, be for ever banifhed. Let it be 
 fufficient that he acknowledges the exiftence, pro- 
 vidence, and goodnefs of God Almighty ; that he 
 reverences Jefus Chrift : but let the queftion never 
 be afked, whether he confiders Jefus Chrift as only 
 a divine perfon, commiiTioned by God for divine 
 purpofes, as the fon pf God, or as God himfelf, 
 
 Thefc
 
 ( 77 ) 
 
 Thefe fophiftical fubtilties only lead to a doubt of 
 the whole : let it be fufficient therefore that he 
 believes in God, in his providence, and in the 
 mediation of Jefus Chrift, whether a real God, or 
 only a divinely infpired mortal ; for which reafon, 
 to prevent 'the impertinence and ill confequences 
 of dogmatifing, no profeffional prieflsofany fort 
 whatever mall be admitted in the community. But 
 ftill I am of opinion, that a facred order, or hier- 
 archy, mould be eftablifhed, and in the following 
 manner: that this hierarchy are not to be expofi- 
 tors of the divine law, which ought to be under- 
 ftood by every member of common capacity ; but 
 as the fervitors, or adminiflrators of the folemn 
 ceremonies to be obferved in the worlhip of the 
 Supreme Being, of his Son, or miffionary. 
 
 The grand hierophant, pontifex maximus, or 
 iupreme fervitorof the ceremonies of divine wor- 
 mip, is to be chofen out of the community, and 
 to be not under the age of fifty ; the principal quali-* 
 fication requifite in him, to be fan&ity of manners, 
 a reverend afpect, but, above all, a diftinct and me- 
 lodious voice. A body, or rather chorus of under 
 priefts, is to be felected like wife, for then-integrity of 
 manners, and (kill in mufic; for as all dogmas, and 
 of courfe all expofitions, are banifhed, ifuperior 
 learning, or what is improperly underftood to be 
 learning arnongft the theologians of the modern 
 world, will be fo far from a qualification, that it 
 willratherbeadifqualification,particularlyas the ce- 
 remonies
 
 remonies r.re to confift in poetical hymns of pralfe 
 and thankf^iving, fetto muficj fuch for inftance 
 as Pope's Univerfal Prayer, part of the Common 
 Prayer, and many pieces felecled from the Pfalms 
 of David ; for thefe long prayers \vith which all 
 the churches of the different feds are infefled, 
 entering into fuch minute details with God Al- 
 mighty, as if he was your factor in a foreign 
 .country, have been juflly deemed by many wife 
 men, not only tirefome, but impious irnpertinen- 
 cies. 
 
 Ablutions, fuch as are practifed in the religions 
 of the Eaft, feem to me to be really a divine infti- 
 tution. Thefe Eaflerns wifely fay, that a pure foul 
 cannot inhabit a filthy body ; that a purified bo- 
 dy is the bed fymbol of a clean fpirit ; that it is 
 indecent and wicked to prefcnt yourfelf before 
 your Creator in a dirtier condition than you ought 
 to appear in before an earthly fupu ior. Admit- 
 ting thefe figures to be hyperbolical, the inflhution 
 certainly is extremely \viie, as it contributes fo ef- 
 fentially to health, and the agreements of fociety. 
 Baths, or little fountains, at leaftfuch as are in 
 ufe amongft the Turks, to be e(!:ablimed near the 
 temples of worfhip ; and every communicant to 
 warn his hands, face, feet and teeth, before he en- 
 ters the facred abode. The temples to be as mag- 
 nificent as the circumftances of the fociety will 
 admit. A grand religious concert of tbankfgivlngs 
 to be performed every Sundry j and two other 
 
 davs
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 days in the week, we will fuppofe Ttiefdays and 
 Fridays, but morter,and with lefs pomp ; for there 
 is nothing fo impolitic, as to make pomp and cere- 
 mony too frequent they entirely lofe their effecl, 
 The tharikfgivings or hymns', therefore, on thefe 
 common days, to be extremely mort, but fen- 
 fible and energetic : long prayers, fuch as the 
 morning fervice of the church of England, with 
 the addition of a long unmeaning fermon, hum. 
 med through the nofe perhaps of a crop-rick par- 
 fon, who can fcarcely read his own writing, or the 
 full more infufferable cant of the puritan preach- 
 ers, muft be the bane of all religion ; and I verily 
 believe there is fcarcely any one perfon, if they had 
 the honefly to confefs it, man, woman, or child, 
 who would not rather fufferconfiderable inconveni- 
 ence than go either to a church, or a prefbyterian 
 rneeting-houfe. In mort, the ceremonies of divine 
 worfhip mufl be made folemn, pompous and ele- 
 vating but we will quit the fubject of religion, 
 and pafs to the law. 
 
 As an Agrarian law is to be eftablifhed, and 
 rigidly obferved, retraining every member of the 
 community to the poifefljcn of five thoufand acres ; 
 and as the children of both fexes are to inherit an 
 equal portion (for this is to be a fundamental 
 maxim), the mod fimple code may be cxiracled, 
 for civil cafes, from the common laws of England, 
 or from thofe of Denmark, which appear to be 
 excellent. A profejjisnal lawyer therefore will be 
 
 totally
 
 totally tmneceflary; indeed, I mould as foon thmfe 
 of inoculating my community for the plague, as 
 admitting one of thefe gentlemen to refide among 
 us : all requifite knowledge of the law will be 2 
 common accomplifliment of every gentleman. 
 The Romans, in the ages of their fimplicity, vir- 
 tue and glory, had certainly none ; the fame men 
 were their confuls, pontifkes, generals, and jurif- 
 confuls. With refpeft to criminal matters, I 
 would adopt Beccaria's fcheme; its excellencies 
 have been demonftrated in the Tufcan dominions. 
 When the prtfent Grand Duke acceded to the 
 ducal throne, he found Tufcany the mod aban- 
 doned people of all Italy, rilled with robbers and 
 aflafiins. Every where, for a feries of years pre- 
 vious to the government of this excellent prince, 
 were feen gallows, wheels and tortures of every 
 kind ; and the robberies and murders were not at 
 all lefs frequent. He had read and admired the 
 Marquis of Beccaria, and determined to try the 
 effects of his plan. He put a flop to all capital 
 punifhments, even forthegreateft crimes ; and the 
 confequences have convinced the world of its 
 Tvholefomenefs. The galleys, fiavery for a certain 
 term of years, or for life, in proportion to the 
 crime, have accomplished witat an army of hang-* 
 men, wi-'h their h<>-i;s;, wheels and gibbets, could 
 not. In fhort, Tufcany, from being a theatre of 
 the greatdt crimes and villainies of every fpe- 
 
 cies,
 
 ( Si ) 
 
 cies, is become the fafeft and beft ordered State 
 of Europe. 
 
 It is a known fact, that fmce the adoption of 
 this plan, there have been but two murders com- 
 mitted : one by a little boy of eleven years old, 
 in a flroke of paffion ; and the other, not by a na- 
 tive Italian fubject, but by an Irilh officer. But 
 if we had not this example, and that of the Em- 
 prefs Elizabeth, (who adopted the fame plan, 
 which had the fame good effect) before our eyes, 
 the inculcating an idea in a military people that 
 death is the moft terrible of all punifliments, is 
 certainly the moft abfurd of folecifms. Nothing 
 great can be expected from a community which 
 is taught to confider it as fuch. On the contrary, 
 death ought, as far as human nature will admit, to 
 be made a matter of indifference ; or, if pofTible, 
 (and I think it very poffible), of comfort. 
 
 I have often laughed at the glaring contradiction 
 in the proceedings, in this article, in the Britifh 
 armies, and others, in which I have ferved. I have 
 feen two or three wretches who had the misfortune 
 to be detected in marauding, or attempting to de- 
 fert, taken out with awful form, encircled by a 
 multitude who had been guilty of, or had intend- 
 ed to have committed the fame crimes, but hap- 
 pily had not been difcovered ; the chaplain, in his 
 canonicals, telling them how dreadful a thing it 
 was fortheir fouls to be divorced from their 
 bodies, and to be urged on to the tribunal of their 
 
 G Maker,
 
 Maker,with thefe horrid fins on their heads. A few 
 hours afterwards, fome defperate expedition or- 
 dered to be executed by the very men who had 
 been prefent at the execution,who had committed, 
 or had intended to commit, the very fame horrid 
 crimes: and the officer appointed to command the 
 expedition, as ufual, harangues the foldiers; aflures 
 them that death is not a ferious affair; that, as all 
 men mufl fooner or later die, it is of little moment 
 when it happens. Thus it may be faicl, we blow 
 hot and cold \vitli the fame breath. I am there- 
 fore abfolutely and totally againft capital punifli- 
 ments, at lead in our military community. Let 
 the lofs of liberty, and ignominy, be inculcated as 
 the extreme of all punifliments : common culprits 
 therefore are, in proportion to the degree of their 
 delinquency, to be condemned to flavery, for a 
 longer or fhorter term of years ; to public works, 
 fuch as repairing high ways, and public buildings, 
 \vithfomeignonriniousdiftincUon of habit, denoting 
 their condition. As to thofe who have been guilty 
 of crimes of a very deep dye, fuch as wanton 
 murder, perjury, and the like, let them be muti- 
 lated, their ears cut off, their faces (tamped with 
 the marks of infamy, and whipped out of the 
 State. 
 
 Ipafs now t The perfuafion that exten- 
 
 five trade is the fource of riches, ftrength, hap- 
 pinefs and glory, is perhaps one of the greatcft 
 miftakes and misfor ,uch modern focieties. 
 
 labour
 
 ( 83 ) 
 
 labour under. Without doubt certain cities," 
 both of antiquity and the prefent world, from 
 their peculiar fituation and circumftances, owed 
 their exiflence entirely to their commerce ; fuch 
 as Tyre, Venice, and Holland : but I cannot con- 
 ceive how a community of foldiers and agricultors, 
 who have lands enough to cultivate, not only for 
 their own fubfiftenee, but in a great meafure for 
 others, mould have occafion for what is called 
 great and extensive commerce. I think, on the 
 contrary, that it muft emafculate the body, narrow 
 the mind, and in facl: corrupt every true repub- 
 lican and manly principle ; nay, I think it muft 
 deflroy all fenfibility for real pleafure and hap* 
 pinefs. Let any man of tafte or fenfibility afibciate 
 only for a few months with commercial men, or 
 refide in a commercial city, he will find their 
 converfation dull, languid, and ftupid ; their plea- 
 fures confined to grofs eating and drinking ; theHr 
 only idea of mirth, to the roaring of fome \ile 
 hoarfe finger ; and of wit, to the ftory-teller of 
 the club, or fome wretched punfler, who lives on 
 catches and crotchets. True mufic, elevating 
 poetry, liberal hiftory, and all polite literature ; a 
 competent acquaintance with thefe, is neceffary 
 for thofe who have any mare of the legislature : I 
 mean thofe who are immediately entrufted with 
 the executive or judicial powers. It is abfolutely 
 requifite to qualify every man of a liberal commu- 
 nity for focial converfation. But although I ob- 
 
 G 2 jsct
 
 ( 84 ) 
 
 to profeflional merchants being permitted to 
 refide in our government, it is certain that fome 
 degree of commerce or barter mull be carried 
 on, or agriculture and hunting (land dill, and of 
 courfe idlenefs and all its attendant evils enfuc. 
 
 I would therefore propofe, that on the frontiers 
 of the State, at leafl once in the year, a great fair 
 fhould be eftablifhed, to which merchants and ped- 
 lars of all forts and nations mould be encouraged 
 to refort. This fair to continue three weeks or 
 a month. 
 
 AN
 
 AN ESSAY 
 
 COUP d'OE I L. 
 
 TT is the general opinion, that the coup d'ceil 
 -- does not depend upon ourfelves ; that it is 
 a prefent of Nature ; that pra&ice will not give 
 it to us ; in a word, that we mufl bring it into 
 the world with us, without which, the moft pierc- 
 ing eyes fee nothing, and we mufl grope about 
 in utter darknefs. This is a miflake : we have 
 all the coup d'csil in proportion to the degree of 
 underflanding which it has pleafed Providence 
 to give to us. It is derived from both ; but what is 
 acquired, refines and perfects the natural, and 
 experience infures it to us. It is manifeft from 
 the aftions and conduct of Amilcar, that he had it 
 to a great and fine degree ; for he poflefled all the 
 qualities requifite for it, and in the greatefl point 
 of perfection that perhaps ever any general carried 
 them ; as may be remarked in the war of Eryce, 
 and that of the rebels of Africa. 
 
 G 3 Before
 
 C 86 ) 
 
 Before I enter into the explication of the me- 
 thod that mould be purfued to acquire this talent, 
 falfely thought to be a gift of Nature, it is necef- 
 fary to define it. The military coup d'ceil, then, 
 is nothing elfe than the art of knowing the nature 
 and different fituations of the country where we 
 make and intend to carry the war ; the advan- 
 tages and difadvantages of the camp and pods 
 that we mean to occupy ; as likewiie thole which 
 may be favourable or difadvantageous to the 
 enemy. By the pofition of our army, and the 
 confequences drawn from it, we may not only 
 form with precifion our defigns for the prefent, 
 but judge of thole we may afterwards have. It 
 is alone by this knowledge of the country into 
 which we carry the war, that a great Captain can 
 forefee the events of the whole campaign, and, 
 if it may be fo exprcfled, render himfelf matter 
 of them ; becaufe, judging from what he him- 
 felf has done, of what the enemy mufl necef- 
 farilj do, forced as they are, by the nature 
 of the places, to regulate their movements to 
 oppofe his defigns, he conducls them from poft 
 to pod, from camp to camp, to the very point 
 he has propofed to himfelf to infure victory. Such, 
 in a few words, is the military coup d'ail, with- 
 out which it is impoflible that a General fhould 
 avoid falling into a number of faults of the greatefl 
 confequence. In a word, there are little hopes 
 of victory if we are deflitute of what is calUd the
 
 coup d'-ail of war ; and as the military fcience is 
 of the fame nature with all others that require 
 practice to poflefs them in all the different parts 
 that compofe them, this which I treat of, is, of 
 all others, that which requires the greateft practice. 
 
 Philopcemen, one of the greateft Captains that 
 Greece produced, and whom an illuftrious Roman, 
 has called the laft of the Grecians, had the coup 
 d' osil in an admirable degree ; but we ought not 
 to confider it as a gift of Nature, but as the 
 fruit of ftudy, application, and his extreme paf- 
 iion for war. Plutarch informs us of the method 
 he ufed to enable himfelf to fee with his own eyes, 
 rather than thofe of other people, when he was 
 at the head of armies. The paifage deferves to 
 be quoted. 
 
 " He willingly liftened," fays the Greek au- 
 thor, " to the difcourfes, and read the treatifes 
 of the philofophers ; not all, but only thofe which 
 could aid him in his purfuit of virtue ; and of 
 all the great ideas of Homer, he fought for, 
 and retained thofe alone which could whet his 
 courage, and animate him towards great aclions : 
 and of all other leclures, he preferred the treatifes 
 cf Evangelus, called the Tactics, that is, the 
 art of ranging troops in order of battle ; and the 
 hiftories of the life of Alexander ; for he thought 
 that language was of no further ufe than its refer- 
 ence to aftion, and that the only end of reading 
 was to learn how to conclud: ourfelves j unlefs 
 (J 4 Vc
 
 we chufe to read merely to pafs the time, or 
 to furnilh ourfelves with the means of keeping 
 up idle and fruitlefs chat. 
 
 When he had read the precepts and rules of 
 the tacYics, he did not trouble his head about fee- 
 ing thj demonflration of them by plans on paper, 
 but made the application of them in the very 
 fcenes of aclion, and in open field ; for, in his 
 marches, he accurately obfervcd the eminences 
 and low places, the breaks and irregularities of 
 the ground, and all the forms and figures which 
 battalions and fquadrons are obliged to take in 
 confequence of rivulets, ravines, and defiles, 
 which force them to clofe or extend themfelves. 
 In general, it appears, that Philopcemen had a 
 very ftrong paflion for arms ; that he embraced 
 war as a profeflion that gave greater play to his 
 virtue:, ; in a word, he defpifed all thofe as idL> 
 and ufelefs members of the community, who did 
 not apply themfelves to it." 
 
 Thefe, in abridgment, are the mod excellent 
 precepts that can be given to a prince, the gene- 
 ral of an army, and every officer who wiflies to 
 arrive at the higheft degrees of military rank. 
 This is the only method; and, as the tranflator has 
 very judicioufly obferved, renders the putting the 
 precepts into practice, on occafion, more eafy than 
 by ftudying the plans on paper. Plutarch accufes, 
 and even feverely cenfures Philopcemen for having 
 carried his paffion for arms beyond the bounds 
 
 of
 
 ( 89 ) 
 
 of moderation. Monf. Dacier does not fail to 
 chime in with him ; but, both the one and the 
 other, without well knowing what they fay, have 
 paifed an unfair judgment on this great Captain ; 
 as if the fcience of war was not hnmenfe, and did 
 not comprehend all others in its vortex ; and as 
 if, to acquire a perfect knowledge of it, a long 
 and laborious application \vas not necefiary. Plu- 
 tarch was no foldier ; his tranflator lefs fo : it 
 efcaped both the one and the other, that Philopce^ 
 men was as learned as the greatefl part of the 
 Grecian Generals, and that he applied himfelf 
 to the ftudy of philofophy and hiftory, fo necef- 
 fary for military men. Why, then, be offended 
 that a man mould apply and give himfelf entirely 
 up to the ftudy of the fciences which have a rela- 
 tion to his profeffion ? That of arms is not only 
 mod noble, but the mod extenfive and pro- 
 found ; confequently it demands the greatefl 
 application. What this great Captain did to 
 acquire the coup /'<//, is extremely neceflary and 
 important for the command of armies, on which 
 depend the glory and fafety of the State. 
 
 There is no doubt but that tactics, or the art of 
 ranging armies in the order of battle, of encamp- 
 ing and righting them, is a mod royal attainment. 
 What could be the reafon that Hannibal ranked 
 Pyrrhus king of the Epirots, before Scipio, and 
 immediately after Alexander, although the latter 
 was certainly the ablefl man ? It was, doubtlefs, 
 
 becaufe
 
 ( 90 ) 
 
 becaufe the firft excelled all mankind in this gutat 
 part of war, although Scipio did not yield to 
 him in this point, as he made appear at the battle 
 Lama. HanniLvl was lc!s prauiied in this branch 
 than the two others. Philopuemen faw that the 
 ftudy of tactics, and the treatifes of Kvangelus, were 
 of no ufe to him, unlefs he joined to them the 
 foup tl'ce;/, fo necefTary to the general of an army. 
 His method always pleafed me, and it is what I 
 have ever practifed in my journeys, and in the 
 camp ; for we ought not to wait for the oppor- 
 tunity of war to acquire the coup d'ai/, but it may 
 be learnt and obtained by the exercife of hunting. 
 To attain this fcieiice, many things are necef- 
 fary. Severe application to our profefllon is the 
 bafis ; then a certain method is to be adopted : 
 Although that of this Grecian Captain is good, 
 I think I have improved upon it, or at lead dif- 
 covered that which the Greek author has omitted 
 to teach us more particularly. V\ r e are not always 
 at war, nor is it to be fuppofed that we can render 
 ourfelves able by experience alone, on which 
 indeed the capacity of the greater part of military 
 men in thefe ages is founded : it fervcs to per- 
 fect us, but is fcarcely of any ufe unlefs the 
 iludy of the principles accompany it ; becaufe, 
 war being a fcieiice, it is irnpoilible to make any 
 progrefs without beginning with the ftudy of the 
 priacip! , Tv.o ages of perpetual war would 
 fcarcely fufficc to furniih lights for our condiM : 
 
 from
 
 ( 9' ) 
 
 from the experience of fads, this ought to be 
 left to fouls of an ordinary ftamp, and more 
 compendious methods be provided for great Cap- 
 tains to mount to the fummit of glory, without 
 being indebted for it to the capacity of others, 
 which is not always to be met with. It is, then, 
 neceflary to (tudy war before we engage in it, 
 and to apply ourfelves inceffantly after we are 
 engaged in it. I have before faid, that we are 
 not always at war ; and I may add, that armies 
 are not always drawn together in a body, or in 
 motion. They are for fix months at leail quiet 
 in winter quarters ; and fix months are not fuf- 
 ficient to form the coup d'ccil of war. It is true, 
 that a great deal more is to be learnt in marches, 
 in forages, and in the different camps and pofts 
 which armies occupy : the ideas become more 
 clear and capable to judge of, and reflect on, the 
 country w r e fee ; but this does not prevent us 
 from making ufe of it, by the affiftance of good 
 fenfe, on other occafions than when in armies ; 
 or from refining our judgment and eye, either 
 by hunting, or on our journeys : this I can fpeak 
 of from experience. 
 
 Nothing contributes more to form the coup 
 d'tti!, than the exercife of hunting ; for, befides 
 giving us a thorough knowledge of the country, 
 and of the different fituations, which are infinite, 
 never the fame, it teaches us a thoufand ftra- 
 
 tagems
 
 ( 9* ) 
 
 tagcras and other things relative to war. But 
 the principle is the knowledge of the objects that 
 form the coup d'ccil* without our being fenfible of 
 it; and if we practife it with this intention, we 
 may, with the addition of a very few reflections, 
 acquire the greated and mod important quali- 
 fication of a general of an army. 
 
 The great Cyrus, in giving himfelf entirely up 
 to hunting, in his younger years, had the pleafure 
 of it lefs in view than the defign of qualifying 
 himfelf for war and the command of armies. 
 Xenophon, who wrote his life, does not leave us 
 in the lead doubt on this head. He fays, that this 
 great man, on his preparing for war with the 
 king of Armenia, reafoned upon this expedition 
 as if the quedion had been of a party of hunt- 
 ing in a mountainous country. He explained him- 
 felf thus to Chryfantes, one of his general officers, 
 whom he had detached into the roughed parts, 
 and the mod difficult vallies, in order to gain the 
 entrances and iflfues, and to cut of all retreat to 
 the enemy. " Imagine," fays he, ' that it is a 
 chace we are engaged in, and that it is allotted to 
 to watch at the toils, whilft I beat the country. 
 Above all, remember not to begin the chace be- 
 fore all the pafiages are occupied, and that thofc 
 who are placed in ambufcade be not feen, led they 
 ihould frighten the game. Take care not to en- 
 gage thvfelf too far in the woods, from whence 
 
 thou
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 them mighteft find it difficult to extricate thyfelf ; 
 andcommand your guides, unlefs they could in deed 
 morten the diftances, to conduct you by the beft 
 roads, which, with refpecl: to armies, are always 
 the morteft." 
 
 Whether or not Xenophon, in his hiftory of 
 Cyrus, has run into romance in order to give us 
 an abridgment of the military fcience treated hifto- 
 rically, is a matter of no great importance, pro- 
 vided that all it contains relative to this fcience 
 bejuft and folid. His intention is to convince us 
 that hunting leads us to the knowledge of many 
 things necefiary to be known that it is a becom- 
 ing amufement, and extremely neceflary to thofe 
 who are either born to command or to obey; be- 
 caufe it enures us to bear the fatigues of war, 
 ftrengthens the conftitution, and forms the coup 
 d'ttil ; for an exact knowledge of a certain ex- 
 tent of country, facilitates that of others, if he but 
 fees it in the flighted manner. It is impoflible, 
 although they are widely different, that there 
 mould not be fome conformity betwixt them ; and 
 the perfect knowledge of one (fays Machiavel in 
 his political difcourfes) leads to t h atof another. 
 On the contrary, thofe who are not trained in this 
 pradice, have the greateft difficulty to acquire it ; 
 whilft the others, by a fingle glance of the eye, 
 can afcertain the extent of a plain, the height of 
 a mountain, the depth, breadth, and termination of 
 a valley, and all the circum fiances of the nature 
 
 2 fo
 
 C 94 ) 
 
 of the different grounds to which they are accuf- 
 tomed by habit and experience. 1 do not believe 
 that any other author, than this I have quoted, 
 has treated of this matter. The remainder i* 
 excellent : I fliall beg leave to tranfcribe it. 
 " Nothing is more true," continues he, " than 
 ;t I here advance, if \ve may give credit to Titus 
 ^ivius, and the example he preients to our eyes in 
 the perfonot PubliusDecius,who wasTribune in the 
 Roman army, commanded by the Conful Corne- 
 lius, againft the Samnites. It happened that this 
 General uiflered himfelf to be puflied into a vul- 
 ky, where the enemy might have pent him up. 
 In this cxtix-mitv, Dccius fays to the Conful, 
 ' Don't you perceive yonder eminence, which com- 
 mands the enemy ? This is the poil that alone 
 can extricate us, if we do not lofe a fmgle mo- 
 ment in making ourfelves mailer of it, as the 
 Samnites have been fo blind as to abandon iu* 
 But before Decius addreflcd himfelf in this man- 
 ner to the Conful, he had difcovered through the 
 wood, a hill which commanded the camp of the 
 enemy ; that it was ik-jp, and of pretty dif- 
 ficult accefs for heavy armed troops, but practi- 
 cable enough to the light infantry. That the Con- 
 ful ordered the Tribune to take poffefiion of it 
 with three thoufarid men that he had configned 
 to him ; which having happily executed, the 
 whole army retreated in order to put themfelves. 
 in a phice of fafety. That he ordered fome few 
 
 of
 
 ( 95 ) 
 
 of his people to follow, \vhilft there was yet fome 
 remains of day-light, in order to difcover the paf- 
 fes guarded by the enemy, and thofc by which 
 a retreat might be made ; and he went to recon- 
 noitre, difguifed in the habit of a common foldier, 
 that the Samnites might not perceive that it was 
 a general officer who was on the fcout," 
 
 " If we reflect," continues Machiavel, C{ upon 
 what Titus Livius here fays, we mail fee how 
 neceflary it is for a good General to be able to 
 judge of the nature df a country ; for if Decius 
 had not porTefled this talent, he would not have 
 known how advantageous the pofieffion of this 
 hill muft have been to the Romans ; and he 
 would have been incapable of difcovering at a 
 diftance, whether it was of eafy or difficult accefs. 
 When, afterwards, he had made himfelf mafter 
 of it, and when the point was to rejoin the Con- 
 ful, he would not have been able, at a diftance, 
 to difcover which pofts were guarded by the 
 enemy, and thofe by which a retreat was practi- 
 cable. Decius, therefore, muft certainly have 
 been very intelligent in thefe fort of matters ; for 
 otherwife he could not have faved the Roman 
 army by pofleffing himfelf of this hill, and after- 
 wards extricated himfeif from the enemy, who 
 had furrounded him." 
 
 . There are very few military men who are ca- 
 pable of drawing, from an hiflorical fact, fuch 
 obfervations as thefe I have cited from Machiavel : 
 i the
 
 the mod confummate mafler in the profeffion could 
 do no more. I am not at all furprized at it ; a pro- 
 found and well-digefled ftudy of hiftory necefia- 
 rily leads us to the knowledge of an infinity of 
 things, \vhich enables us to judge foundly and folidly 
 of all. The ftudy of politics, of which hiftory is 
 the bafis, is a powerful means of perfecting our 
 unclerftanding and judgment. 
 
 political and military difcourfes of this 
 author, on the Decades of Livy, are an immor- 
 tal work. I think them worthy the curioilty of 
 all military men of being attentively read and 
 well digefled. His life of Caftrucciom, one of 
 the greateft Captains of his age, though not very 
 much known, is not lefs admirable. It iseverywhere 
 ornamented with curious and very inflruclive fads; 
 and filled with military reflections and obferva- 
 tions which few people are capable of making. So 
 happy a turn had this man for the profeflion of 
 arms, (excepting his book on the article of war, 
 which does not do him a great deal of honour, 
 although it is pillaged from Vcgetius), he is admir- 
 able in all. He lived at a time when Italy was fo 
 agitated with trouble inteftine and foreign wars, 
 that we muft not be furprized if a man of fenfe 
 and judgment, and learned befides, was equal to 
 fo noble a performance ; becatife, as he was on 
 the fcene of action, he had the means of obtaining 
 the moft excellent materials, and of converfing 
 with officers who had ferved in thefc wars. 
 
 A PIC-
 
 A PICTURE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 COUNTESS of 
 
 Countefs has, what we fee feldom united 
 -*- in the fame woman, vivacity and tendernefs, 
 dignity of perfon and feminine foftnefs. She is 
 tall, and exquifitely fhaped. She is of an amiable 
 and commanding afpecl:. Her eyes are of the 
 languifhing Englifh blue, but of the Grecian 
 largenefs and contour. Her forehead is of a 
 polifli and formation not to be matched. Her 
 lips are full and ripe, from which iffues a breath 
 which would create defires in age and coldnefs. 
 Her neck is of fuch a colour and fymmetry as to 
 make us curfe invidious cuftom for preventing 
 us gazing on the whole of fo admirable a piece 
 of workmanfhip. Her fkin is of a fmoothnefs that 
 the flighted contact of it thrills through every 
 pore, and beats alarm to a thoufand wifhes. 
 Her perfon is rather ample j but we could not 
 H confent
 
 C 98 ) 
 
 confent to its diminution, left feme grace or 
 beauty fliould be loft. 
 
 No (man has feen her laugh; but fhe fmiles 
 frequently. Her fmiles feem rather to be the 
 refult of an inclination to make thofe about her 
 cheerful and happy, than of any inherent gaiety 
 of difpofition in herfelf. She has, at times, a clafh 
 of melancholy in her countenance, which is more 
 becoming than her fmiles. Thefe fhort fymptoms 
 of melancholy I mould attribute to her vacancy 
 of heart, to her want of fome one objecl; upon 
 which fhe may fix her affections ; a neceffity 
 which Nature has impofed upon Woman for a 
 wife purpofe the perpetuation of the human 
 race. 
 
 She has faults ; but her faults feem to be ac- 
 quired her virtues a native inheritance. She 
 is fo general, that it almoft amounts to coquetry. 
 She makes too little diftinction betwixt the men 
 of merit and fenfe, and the foolifh and undeferv- 
 ing. She can cruelly fuffer the fincere re- 
 fpeclful lover to languifh without a glimmer of 
 hope, and give encouragement to the affured, in- 
 different coxcomb, who would boaft of favours 
 which fhe is, perhaps, determined to confer on 
 no man. She has the appearance of being fo 
 fatisfied with thefe reptiles, that you would fufpect 
 her underftanding, did not every fentence which 
 fhe utters correct this miftake. She may be accufed 
 in this, of ingratitude towards her benefaclrefs 
 2 Nature,
 
 ( 99 ) 
 
 Nature, who beftowed on her fuch uncommon ta- 
 lents, not to be hebetated by the galimatias of fools, 
 but, by a proper application of her time, to be 
 perfected into mental endowments proportionable 
 to her perfonal charms. She acts wifely in being 
 cautious of a fecond marriage, as the great for- 
 tune which me is pofieffed of, muft render it diffi- 
 cult for her to diftinguifh who courts her riches, who 
 herfelf. But the man who fhall be happy enough 
 to obtain her, will do well to hurry his prize to 
 fome retreat from the great world, as the facility 
 which I complain of might create him much un- 
 eafmefs ; for it is an eternal truth, that great 
 love, and fome degree of jealoufy, are infeparable. 
 There thou mighteft, O envied mortal ! enjoy 
 perpetual happinefs j if candour, franknefs, good 
 nature, underflanding and beauty could make 
 thee happy. 
 
 H2
 
 CONVERSATION, 
 
 CHIEFLY RELATIVE TO THE ARMY. 
 
 OOMF time ago, I rnHe one of a company of 
 *-* officei .s not confined, as 
 
 is too much the cuflom of gentlemen of our pro- 
 fefiion, to buckles , buttons , garters, grenadier caps , or, 
 what is little better, the figure that fuch or Jucb a 
 regiment made in their puerile reviews for the amufc- 
 ment of royal mafters and miffl's^ great and final/, in. 
 Hyde Parky or on Wimbleton Common ; our dif- 
 courfe fell upon the hiftory of England, and the 
 refpedive merits of the different hiftorians. 
 
 A young fubaltern, who feemed to have great 
 fire and fentiment, and with more reading than 
 young fubalterns are generally matters of, was ex- 
 tremely bitter on Mr. Hume : he loaded him 
 with a thoufand opprobriums ; he flyled him a fo- 
 phift, a jefuit, a theiftical champion of depotifm, 
 who had dethroned the God of Heaven, and dei- 
 fied the fceptered monfters of the earth. The 
 young man was taken up by a grey-headed field- 
 officer,
 
 officer,who was fo warm a partizan of Mr. Hume's, 
 that he leaned not only towards abfolute (or in his 
 favourite author's terms) pure unmixed monarchy, 
 but vifibly towards jacobitifm. He fpoke of 
 Charles the Firft with an idolatrous reverence, and 
 of all his opponents with the greateft horror and 
 indignation : this led him to a great deal of 
 abufe on Mrs. M'Cawley ; he lamented that a 
 compofition of this rature was fuffered to be 
 publifhed, which muft inftil the mod damnable 
 republican p; hiciples into the minds of our youth ; 
 that it already had diminifhed that refpecl: to roy- 
 alty fo neceifary to be kept up; and that the young 
 gentlemanwho fpoke laft, had furnifhed us with an 
 inftance, that the army had not efcaped the conta- 
 gion a moft alarming confideration ! as their 
 difrefpect to crowned heads was not manifefled 
 alone by opinions injurious to the royal martyr, 
 but that feveral of them had frequently in their 
 converfations declared their difappro cation of 
 fome parts of the prefent reign; that fuch fen- 
 timents, and fuch language, were not only repug- 
 nant to thtfpirit of our military laws, but indecent 
 and ungrateful in thofe who eat his Majejly's bread. 
 This he uttered with fo much emphafis, that the 
 greateft part of the company was terrified into fi- 
 lence ; and the young fubaltern began to think he 
 had been guilty in fome meafure of treafon, and I 
 believe would have prevaricated himfelf into 
 other lentiments than thofe he had profefled, had 
 
 H 3 I not
 
 ( 102 ) 
 
 I aot taken up his caufe, juflified all he had ad- 
 vanced, and encouraged him to fofter the noble 
 principles he had imbibed. 1 demanded of our 
 veteran to explain his meaning in faying that ice 
 eat his Majefty's bread ; whence had his Majt-fty 
 drawn funds to feed fo many mouths ? Were 
 coffers of gold tranfported from his perfonal eftates 
 in Germany ? or, had he difcovered in his gardens 
 at Kew, treafures fufficient for fuch prodigious 
 munificence ? Were the officers of the army for- 
 lorn and ftarving in the llreets, without patri- 
 mony, relations and friends ; cut off by their coun- 
 try, from all means of fupporting themfelves ; 
 in a word, precluded from all the poffibilities, 
 prefented to other members of fociety, of pro- 
 curing a livelihood ? Had his Majefty found the 
 whole body of us in this wretched defperate 
 fituation, and out of the vaft benevolence of his 
 foul, and at his own individual expence, without 
 the leaft incumbrance to the nation, redeemed us 
 from hunger and nakednefs, fed us comfortably, 
 clothed us in fmart red coats, put fwords by our 
 fides, and erected us into the condition of gentle- 
 men ? 1 faid, if thefe things could be proved, but 
 on no other terms, I would agree with the gentle- 
 man who fpoke lalt, that ive really did eat the 
 king's bread, and that we were perhaps in duty 
 bound to approve all his meafures, and all thole 
 of his miniflers, whether right or wrong, glorious 
 or inglorious, falutary or pernicious. But, on the 
 
 other
 
 ( 103 ) 
 
 other hand, if we confidered ourfelves, ,as we 
 really were, only as a clafs of one great free peo- 
 ple, fegregated from the reft into this diftincl clafs, 
 and fubje&ed to particular laws necefiary for the 
 maintenance of military order and difcipline, 
 without which we could not anfwer the ends of 
 our inftitution, that is, the immediate defence of our 
 mother country againji foreign invaders, and the pre- 
 Jervation of our colonies and external pojfijfions, the 
 great bafis andfupport of our commerce, ivealth, and 
 marine, confequcntly our national Importance and inde- 
 pendance : \ faid the King might be confidered, partly 
 in the fame predicament with the officers of the ar- 
 my ,or the fleet, viz. agreatfervantofthe community , 
 or map of the people, ordained and fubfifted for the 
 public fervice ; with this difference, that each indi- 
 vidual of the army, or fleet, contributed as a citi- 
 zen, and one of the people, to his fubfiftence, as a 
 foldier, or fervant of the great aggregate, of which 
 he himfelf, in another fenfe, formed a part; whereas 
 the king was fnnply a receiver; in norefpect a con- 
 tributer ; fo that it might in facl be faid with more 
 propriety, that the king eat the officer of the ar- 
 my's bread, than that the officers of the army eat 
 the king's. I confeifed t hat his Majefty, as one 
 branch of the legiflature, and executive magiflrate, 
 was entitled to a very high degree of reverence 
 from foldiers as well as other citizens, as long 
 as he fulfilled the duties of his {lation ; but that 
 ftill a higher degree of reverence and attachment 
 
 H 4 was 

 
 C 104 ) 
 
 was due to the freedom, laws, profperlty and glo- 
 rv of our country, than perfonally to the firfl ma- 
 giftrate, let him fill his office ever fo worthily. 
 When it was remembered, I added, that the prefent 
 reigning family had been taken from a German 
 electorate, not the mofl confiderable, exalted to 
 the head of a mighty empire, endowed with ade- 
 quate revenues, and inverted with the godlike pow- 
 ers of executing juftice, but foftening its rigours, 
 of dealing out mercy, but retrained from evil ; 
 I faid, wlicm thefe things were remembered, mould 
 his prelent Majefly, or any of his fucceflbrs, per- 
 \\rt the power granted by the generofity and con- 
 fidence of the people, to the prejudice or difho- 
 n our of the people, the officers of the army, no 
 more tlun any other clafs of citizens, could not be 
 taxed with ingratitude, or indecency, in cenfuring 
 their prince, but the prince in furnifhing matter of 
 cenfure. The old field officer began to foften : he 
 confefled that his expreffion with refpet to the 
 officer's eating his Majefly's bread was improper ; 
 but flill infifted, that the army ought to be more 
 referved in their cenfure than any other order of 
 men, as they feemed to be held in higher efteem 
 by the prefent Court than any other order. In 
 this again I totally differed from the old gentle- 
 man. I aflcrted it was the reverfe : that the ar- 
 my had been treated through the whole prefent 
 reign, both individually, and collectively, with 
 more contempt and ingratitude than in any reign 
 
 ftf
 
 of any age or any country ; that the ill ufage of 
 the army had not been confined to the living, it 
 had extended to the dead. To begin with Mr. 
 "Wolfe, to whofe valour and conduct we owed the 
 acquifition of a mighty empire, how irreverently 
 had his ames been treated by government ! The 
 nation had indeed gratefully and generoufly voted 
 a monument to their hero ; the nation had paid 
 the money, but unfortunately his Majefty's minif- 
 ters were the truftees : to this day therefore we 
 fee no monument erected ; the money raifed on 
 the people for this purpofe, having probably been 
 converted to the ufe of fome living worthies, not 
 very far diftant from Weftminfter Abbey. But 
 they were not fatisfied with depriving the hero of 
 thefe trophies ; they had piqued themfelves in add- 
 ing every infult to his memory. The man \vho 
 had ferved, or rather diflerved, under him ; who 
 had fhewn activity only in embarraffing his coun- 
 fels, impeding his meafures, and labouring to de- 
 feat his purpofes ; who had ftrained his hard- 
 bound wit to throw a ridicule on his conduct ; 
 who, whenever he could find an audience paffive 
 and bafe enough to his mind, had poured forth 
 torrents of abufe, and endeavoured to raife a fpi- 
 rit of faction and mutiny in others, equal to that 
 ftirred up in his own breaft, by the daemon of 
 envy ; who, after his glorious death, had not paid 
 the flighted tribute of refpect to his memory, or of 
 ceremony to his remains j who had attempted to 
 
 filch
 
 ( 106 ) 
 
 filch his laurels offthefuelf, and put them in his pocket : 
 This man, I faid, had been loaded with the higheil 
 preferments, and the greateft honours, (if any 
 thing which flows from fuch a court can be deem- 
 ed honours), which our court has to beflovv. Let 
 us next obferve how the brave Band, who con- 
 quered under him, and indeed the whole American 
 army, had been recompenfed, officers and foldicrs. 
 The firft inflance of gratitude exhibited by our 
 government, was> the depriving them of their pro-, 
 vifion, without which it is almoft impoflible that 
 an American foldier mould fubfift : the vafl con- 
 fumption of neceflaries occafioned by the nature 
 of that hard fervice, from clearing communica- 
 tions, building bridges and forts, but above all 
 from tranfporting provifions, ammunition and ar- 
 tillery up the rivers, and the enhanced price of 
 thefe neceflaries, as they all come from England, 
 by the freight and profit of the merchants, put an 
 American foldier, although allowed provifion, in 
 a worfe condition than an European without it ; 
 particularly when we confider, that an European 
 foldier is paid for all king's or public works, which 
 in America was not the cafe. But the cruelty of 
 this meafure was not all : it was flagitious ; it was 
 a breach of compact, at lead with refped to a great 
 part of that army the volunteer drafts from 
 England, the whole body of royal Americans, and 
 every man recruited in America, were engaged on 
 abfolute exprefs conditions of being allowed pro- 
 vifion.
 
 vifion. Travelling from North America to the 
 Weft Indies, the tendernefs of the prefent reign 
 difplayed towards the foldieryis ftill more ftriking ; 
 the diftribution of the plunder of the Kavannah 
 is fo notorious that it would be impertinent to men- 
 tion it ; but the motives of this diftribution are fo 
 curious, that it is difficult not frequently to recur to 
 them. They were thefe : The Earl of Bute and 
 his great adjunct lived in perpetual apprehenfions 
 of the late Duke of Cumberland ; the firmnefs of 
 the man, his known courage, his good fenfe, but 
 above all his principles and attachment to the wel- 
 fare and honour of his country, rendered him an 
 obje6t of terror to thofe who were determined to 
 facrifice every thing to the maintenance of their 
 own power and authority after having revolved 
 in their minds what was the moft probable me- 
 thod of foftening this bar to their fchemes into fome 
 complacency, it was concluded, that to win his 
 favourite, was the plan of the moft promifing af- 
 peft. 
 
 The expedition againft the Havannah was at 
 this time refolved upon ; the troops and fleet were 
 in readinefs ; my lord of Albermarle was on" this 
 principle appointed to the command, and on this 
 principle fo enormoufly enriched at the expence of 
 the labour, health, and blood of the moft noble 
 deferving army that this, or perhaps any other 
 country, has been ever ferved by. His lordlhip and 
 his family were indeed aggrandized ; but the great 
 
 views
 
 r 
 
 views of the diftri^rters wcr< ' 'Vdifappointed. 
 The Duke of Cumberland ptrfifled in his inte- 
 grity, and continued an honeii zeuious citizen, un- 
 til the fatal moment when he was matched away 
 from his country. I think, without rant or exag- 
 geration, it may be termed a fatal moment : he 
 was indifputably a valuable true Englifhman : he 
 had in the early parts of his life, through an over 
 zeal for reforming the army from the miferahle 
 condition in which he found them, projected 
 fchemes not unexceptionable ; but thismuft be af- 
 cribed to a deference which he paid to the opinion 
 of men infinitely inferior to himfelf, both in vir- 
 tue and talents ; but in his latter years, his great 
 and good qualities demonftrated themfelves fo 
 fully, that we may fairly conclude, had fate fpared 
 him, he might at leaft have checked the torrent of 
 thofe bitter waters broke in upon us from their 
 accurfed fource of Carleton-Houfe. But before 
 I take leave of America, I cannot help obferving 
 the extraordinary attention paid to the officers 
 and foldiers in the allotment of lands ; it would 
 be endltfs to enter into the detail of the royal or 
 mimflerial (for thefe terms have been of late fo 
 confounded together that it is puzzling to diflin- 
 guimthem) bounty in this particular; I (hall in- 
 flance one or two which may fuffice for the whole. 
 It had long been fuppofed that the ifland of St. 
 John's, in the gulph of St. Lawrence, would 
 have been a profitable poflellion. A fet of officers 
 
 of
 
 of the land and fea fervice, laid out a plan for the- 
 fettlement of it. They prefented it to Govern- 
 ment, and petitioned a grant of it, The grant 
 was promifed. The officers dangled from day to 
 day for the fulfilling of this promife. They were 
 fhuffled from the Admiralty to the Board of Trade, 
 from the Board of Trade to the Admiralty, from 
 an Egmont to an Hilfborough, from an Hilfbo- 
 rough to an Egmont, for the fpace, I believe, of 
 three years. Egmont accufes Hiliborough as the 
 caufe of this delay; Hilfborough accufes Egmont; 
 his Majefty (lands neuter betwixt thefe two righ- 
 teous perfonages. 
 
 The officers danced attendance until they found 
 themfelves on the thremold of a jail ; but at 
 length it is decided : The officers who were the 
 original petitioners, got half a lot. Mr. Touchit, 
 or Touchat, (for I have not the honour of know- 
 ing how he fpells his name), fome court furgeons, 
 and every kind of court retainer who thinks it 
 worth his while to hint that he has no objection 
 to an American poflefiion, is gratified with a 
 whole lot. 
 
 Another fociety of officers had follcited a grant 
 of lands on the river St. Lawrence, which tiiey 
 undertook to fettle , ;.h.is was flatly refufed. 
 
 Another fociety folicited for lands on the lower 
 
 parts of the Illinois Ohio, or on the Mifliffippi : 
 
 this was likewife rejected ; but from what motives 
 
 it is impomble to define, unlefs they fuppofe that 
 
 3 foldiers
 
 C no ) 
 
 foldiers invefted with a little landed property, 
 would not be fo readily induced to ad as the in- 
 ftruments of the oppreffion of their fellow fubjects, 
 as thofe \vhofe views are folely turned, if not re- 
 duced, to farther promotion ; and if reduced, to 
 full pay. And here I am afraid the underftand- 
 ings of our profeflion mufl appear dreadfully low, 
 when they can be dupes to the hopes of pro- 
 motion. 
 
 Let them reflect for a moment on the mode of 
 beftowing, fmce the peace, the only commiflion 
 which by military men can be efteemed objedts ; 
 I mean regiments, and lieutenant-colonelcies ; and 
 I will venture to affirm, that not four of each 
 have been bellowed on men who, in the opinion 
 of thofe who have ferved with them, have the 
 fcmblance of a title. That the army on the En- 
 glifh and on the Irifh eftablifhment, and the fleet 
 on the home and foreign flations, have been con- 
 fi tiered by our court as the precious means of 
 corrupting us from our duty as citizens ; that a 
 plea of merit in general, or any particular action, 
 of wounds, lofs of health or limbs by a courfe of 
 hard fervices, has been confidered as a fymptom 
 of lunacy. And I have heard fay, our incom- 
 parable Secretary at War values himfelf not a 
 little for his humanity in not fuing for fbtutes to 
 confine the wretches who can pufh their extra- 
 vagance to fuch a height as to make thefe pleas. 
 It will perhaps be faid, that jobs are not the 
 
 growth
 
 ( III ) 
 
 growth of this reign ; that jobs ever were, and 
 ever will be, in a government like ours. But al- 
 lowing jobs to have been, I cannot think iniquity 
 is to be juftined by precedent ; and furely iniqui- 
 tous precedents are very ungracefully quoted in 
 a reign which was announced from its commence- 
 ment to be that of virtue, purity, and righteouf- 
 nefs. 
 
 As to the army that ferved in Germany, it is 
 true they have not been fo very grofsly treated 
 as the American. There were moments when 
 Lord Granby would not cede to our gracious 
 Secretary at War. There were moments when, 
 as our ingenious court termed it, he was obftinate 
 and impracticable ; that is, there were moments 
 when he infilled on feme regard being paid to 
 thofe who had deferved of their country ; but 
 thefe moments unfortunately occurred but too fel- 
 dom. His facility and complacence to the 
 wickeclnefs of the Court, preponderated over his 
 natural love of juftice. In fhort, the patronage 
 of the army was left to a Barrington, by whom 
 valour, fenfe and integrity muft naturally be 
 profcribed, as he muft fufpecl: that no man can 
 poffefs them without being an enemy to their 
 contraries, which are the undifputed attributes of 
 his Lordlhip. 
 
 From this long digreffion on the obligations 
 of the army to the prefent Court, on the extraor- 
 dinary efleem in which the military has been held 
 
 through
 
 through the whole courfe of the prefent reign, 
 we returned to our original topic, the merit of the 
 different hiflorians. 
 
 I joined the young fubaltern in his encomiums 
 on Mrs. M'Cawley. I challenged the old field- 
 officer to point out a fufpicious authority that 
 flie had quoted ; to produce a fingle comment 
 which did not correfpond with the fafts. I af- 
 ferted, that her inferences were fairly drawn from 
 her premifes ; and that there could not be traced 
 the ihadow of partiality in the long feries of her 
 hiftory, unlefs a zeal for true liberty, and the 
 rights of her country and of mankind, may be 
 termed partiality. I aflerted, that Hume was the 
 reverie in all refpects; that he produced little, 
 and that very fufpicious, authority j that his com- 
 ments did not agree with his fafts, the effeds not 
 deducible from the caufe upon the whole, 
 what I faid on the fubjecl of James's hiftory, and 
 of the character of his favorite Charles, was fo 
 fatisfadory to the company, that they requefted 
 me to digeft what I offered, and to prefent it to 
 the public. 
 
 AN
 
 T O 
 
 I 
 
 SI R, 
 
 N reading hiflory, nothing has fo frequently 
 {hocked me as the difrefpectful and irreverent 
 manner in which divers writers have fpoke of 
 crowned heads. Many princes, it mull be owned, 
 have acted, in fome inftances not altogether as we 
 could wifh j but it is the duty of every honeft 
 man, and friend to royalty, the great fource of 
 human happinefs, to draw a veil over their weak- 
 nefs ; and if not able entirely to juftify fome 
 parts of their conduct, he may at lead, by the aid 
 of certain managed terms, and decent foftenings 9 in 
 a great meafure prevent the evil effects which a 
 coarfe, and I may fay barbarous relation of facts 
 is apt to have on weak and vulgar minds. The 
 paffion, prejudice, and party heat of feveral who 
 ityle themfelves hiftorians, have, I make no doubt, 
 
 I been
 
 ( "4 ) 
 
 been the principal caufes of the numberlefs mur- 
 murs, infurrcctions, rebellions, dethronements, 
 cxpulfions, regicides, which have difgraced the 
 hiftory of mankind, and more particularly of this 
 infatuated country. 
 
 On this principle, Sir, you will readily believe,, 
 that the fatisfaclion I have received from your in- 
 comparable Hiftory of the Houfe of the Stuarts, 
 is of the higheft kind ; that I have perufed it, 
 and re-perufed it a thoufand times, and always 
 with frem pleafure ; and that I ardently wifh the 
 youth of our country were never fuffered to 
 read any other ; a rule which I am charmed to 
 hear is obferved by the moft exalted perfonage in 
 the kingdom, as well in virtue as in rank, when- 
 ever he condefcends to unbend his mind from his 
 fevere ftudies and occupations by dipping into 
 the annals of his predecefibrs ; and it is to this 
 rule, perhaps, that we are indebted for the pro- 
 digious enlargement of his mind in fo tender an 
 age that all Europe (lands aftonifhed at it. 
 
 How complaifant, how gentle, how guarded, 
 how humane, how polite are your phrafes, in lay- 
 ing before us the tranfaclions of thofe good, though 
 perhaps mifguided, princes ! How calculated are 
 your comments to mitigate the feditious fpirit of 
 the mad multitude ! Had you written an hundred 
 years ago, I am perfuadcd you would not only 
 have prevented the growth of thofe horrible 
 opinions, (alas ! too prevalent), That kings are 
 
 not
 
 ( "5' ) 
 
 not only refponfible, but punimable for their 
 delinquences toward their people ; That Charles 
 the Firft met with no harder fate than he deferved, 
 and that his two fons ought, in juftice, to have 
 made the fame exit. I fay, Sir, had you written 
 an hundred years ago, you might not only have 
 prevented the growth of fuch monftrous notions ; 
 but, probably, have checked thofe furious principles 
 which ended in driving from the throne of his 
 anceftors, to the indelible difgrace of thefe nations, 
 a prince replete with every royal virtue. 
 
 In fhort, Sir, I am fo much in love with the 
 fcheme of your hiflory, I am fo convinced that 
 no tafk can be equally laudable in a philofopher, 
 an hiftorian, and a gentleman, as to endeavour 
 to eradicate from the minds of our youth all pre- 
 judices and prepofleffions againft the memory of 
 deceafed, and the character of living princes ; and, 
 by obviating the cavils and malice of republican 
 writers, to infpire mankind with more candour 
 in judging of the actions and government of 
 fovereigns, that I am determined to follow fo 
 bright an example, and exert the utmofl of my 
 zeal, fkill, and abilities, (indeed far fhort of yours,) 
 to refcue from the unmerited odium under which 
 they lie, two much injured characters in hiftory j I 
 mean the Emperor Claudius Casfar and his immedi- 
 ate fucceflbr Nero, whofe foibles and indifcretions 
 have been fwelled up into vices by the aufterity 
 and malevolence of Tacitus, Suetonius, and others, 
 
 I 2 (the
 
 (the Rapins, Ludlows, and M'Cauleys of thofe 
 daysj, who wrote under fucceeding monarch s 
 of a different family ; but as the motives for fuch 
 virulent proceedings are no\v rc.ifcd, and as men's 
 minds ought to be a little cooler, we may ven- 
 ture to pronounce the difpofition of thefe priih 
 (though 1 do not think they were faultlefs, or al- 
 together well-advifed,) to have been good. 
 
 Should the ungenerous and bigots in party raife 
 a clamour, mould they exclaim that its being a 
 pander to defpotifm, and an enemy to the rights 
 of humanity, the endeavouring to glofs over vices 
 and enormities fo manifeft, as they pretend, by a 
 concurrence of facts, vouched by the mofl authen- 
 tic records, I (hall confole myfelf, Sir, with your 
 approbation, and that of the generous few who 
 think with you, and mail natter myfelf that the 
 attempt, whatever may be the merit of the execu- 
 tion, will recommend me, along with the Smol- 
 lets, Scotts, Murphys, and Johnfons, to the no- 
 tice of a Court which feems to pique itfelf in 
 rewarding the champions and apologifts of un- 
 popular men and meafures, in proportion as their 
 labours are unfuccefsful with the narrow-minded 
 public. 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 A PO-
 
 leaving fchool, I thought it right to get 
 fome acquaintance with the hiftory of -En- 
 gland ; for the fchool where I was brought up 
 was guilty, in common with all other fchools, of 
 the mameful neglect of fuffering the boys to re- 
 main in utter ignorance of the laws, confhitution, 
 and tranfaclions of their own country; fome know- 
 ledge of which is certainly of more importance, 
 at leaft in a government like ours, than the being 
 able to fcan the flattering verfifyers of Auguftus's 
 age. 
 
 Rapin, accidentally, was the firft hiftorian that 
 fell into my hands. Notwithftanding his length, 
 I read him through with great attention, which 
 was more particularly engaged when I came to 
 thofe parts which treat of our feveral civil wars ; 
 tut the great one of the year 1640, interefted 
 
 1 me
 
 ( "8 ) 
 
 me more fenfibly than the antecedent. And I 
 cannot exprcfs how much I was amazed in finding 
 the character of Charles the Firfl fo little agree 
 with the notions I had conceived of him, from 
 his being flyled a Martyr ; from the folemn ob- 
 fervance of the 3cth of January, in order to avert 
 wrath of the Almighty for that horrible parri- 
 cide ; from the epithets of goo , virtuous, pious, 
 bleffed, which were perpetually beflowed on 
 him, not only by the old houfe-keeper, the inaid- 
 fervants, but by the matter, ufher, and all the 
 clergy who happened to diicourfe on this fubjecl: in 
 my hearing. In the holidays, when we went 
 home, my mother, grandmother, and all their 
 female acquaintance, rung the fame in my ears. 
 
 On the perufal of Rapin I was, therefore, 
 flrangely puzzled and confounded to find this vir- 
 tuous, pious, blciTed, holy martyr, metamor- 
 phofed into an obflinate, diflembling, perfidious 
 tyrant ; and that the men whom I had been 
 taught to execrate as rebels, tray tors, parrickijs, 
 mould, for the greater part, appear the cham- 
 pions of the laws of their country and the rights 
 of mankind, fraught with truth, valo..r, integrity, 
 and every attribute which can render murua men 
 the objecls of veneration. 
 
 I had no method of accounting for this, 
 but by concluding my hiftorian guilty of the 
 moft egregious partiality, "that he mufl have mif- 
 ftated, or difguifed the facts to an enormous de- 
 gree j
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 gree ; for as to his comments, they appeared judi- 
 cious, natural, and fair, allowing the fads to 
 be juftly dated. I defired all thofe whom I 
 thought more knowing and wife than myfelf, to 
 folve thefe difficulties. Some few of them averred 
 that Charles was not at all better than what he 
 was reprefented by Rapin ; but far the greater 
 number aflured me, that Rapin was a lying 
 French Preibyterian, partial, unjuft, malicious, 
 that no credit was given to him by men of judg- 
 ment and knowledge, and that he was never fpoke 
 of with common patience by thofe who have any 
 generous fentiments. They advifed me, by all 
 means, to go to the fountain-head of information 
 on this fubject, the great Clarendon ; that there 
 I mould fee the facts related clearly and honeftly, 
 the comments fenfible and candid, the caufes 
 and effects congruous, the fpring of every action 
 laid open, the views and characters of the actors 
 painted in their proper colours by one who had 
 himfelf played a principal part, or, at leaft, feea 
 every thing that had palled behind the fcenes; one, 
 whofe authority was inconteftable from his cha- 
 racter for truth and integrity. 
 
 I accordingly procured a Clarendon, not only 
 read him with attention, but fludied him with 
 accuracy: and, behold the refult ! it was an entire, 
 complete difappointment in every circumftance : 
 inftead of carrying the conviction which I ex- 
 pected, it appeared to me one eternal periphrafis, 
 1 4 fubdivided
 
 ( 120 ) 
 
 fubdivided into afiertions without authority, child- 
 ifh ifs, without probable fuppofitions, and tortured 
 inferences from miitated or defalcated ith 
 
 endlefs begging the queflions. The epithets can- 
 did, fmcere, virtuous, pious were very liberally 
 flowed on him. ,.d ; 
 
 and not a fmglc inftance of candor, fnuui'.v, or 
 virtue is given through the whole courfe of his 
 hiftory, unlefs excelTive bigotr. opacy and 
 
 a fpirit of perfecuting all ol Defiant ilcts is 
 
 to be conltrued p'u-ty. la fuort, my averfion to 
 Charles was rather confirmed than transferred to 
 the other party by the perufal of Lord Clarendon. 
 I hcredifcerned very plainly, why the epifcopal 
 clergy fhould have made a Saint and a Martyr of 
 him. His exceflive attachment to their order, and 
 the great facrifices he made to them, are undoubt- 
 edly very fubflantial titles to canoni/ation, and th'j 
 crown of martyrdom ; but the zeal and reverence 
 with which a multitude of others who are quite 
 indiirerent to modes of worfhip, and fome who 
 feem defirous there mould be none at all, flill con- 
 tinue to fpeak of this prince, and the indignation 
 and horror with which they fpeak of his oppo- 
 nents, I confefs is with me a matter of wonder. 
 I know very well, that the imprefiions we receive in 
 our childhood fink deep, and that thefe imprefiions, 
 whether we receive them from our nurfes, grand- 
 mother, or the parfon of the parifli ; whether they 
 concern ghofts, or hobgoblings, a devil, or a faint, 
 
 a tyrant,
 
 a tyrant, or a martyr, are with difficulty effaced ; 
 but that thofe who have got rid of thofe narrow 
 fuperftitious prejudices, mould ftill retain, in their 
 utmoft force, their prepoifeffions with refped to 
 their royal mafter is fomething fupernatural. I 
 have long endeavoured to account for this, and 
 am apt to conclude, that it muft be afcribed to the 
 Singularity of his fate. A king tried and con- 
 demned by his own fubjeds is certainly a fingu- 
 lar cafe, the fingularity of his fate has created pity, 
 and pity ever generates love and affedion. The 
 Marquis of Beccaria, in his incomparable treatifa 
 on Crimes and Punifliments, is of opinion, that a 
 community ought to punilh with death fuch cri- 
 minals only whofe exiftence is abfolutely perni- 
 cious to the community ; if his reafoning is juft, 
 a criminal king is almoft the only criminal on 
 whom death ought to be inflided, as his exiftence, 
 (if not always abfolutely deftrudive,) is undoubt- 
 edly highly dangerous to fociety. Tarquin was 
 only expelled ; Tarquin's exiftence was nearly 
 deftrudive to Rome ; an eternal war and confpi- 
 racies within the walls which brought Rome into 
 *he extremeft peril, were the confequences of the 
 tyrant's exiftence ; and the death of the tyranty//;2/>/p, 
 imlefs it had been accompanied with thatof his fons, 
 would not have injured the tranquillity and fecurity 
 of Rome. 
 
 On this principle, fome of the Grecian States 
 had laws levelled, not only againft the lives of 
 
 thofe
 
 C '22 ) 
 
 thofe who fhould erect themfelvcs into the tyrants 
 of their country, but enjoining the extirpation of 
 their whole race ; and thefe were wife and humane 
 laws, hecaufe they were necefiary for the good of 
 the whole, for the facrifice of a fmgle family for 
 the prefervation of millions is indifputably huma- 
 nity. James the Second was expelled like Tarquin, 
 but he and his fons were fufrered to efcape with their 
 lives ; the confequences of their being fuffered to 
 efcape were three rebellions, which not only threa- 
 tened immediate deftruclion to thefe nations, but 
 endangered the liberties of Europe. It is true, 
 thefe rebellions were defeated in their immediate 
 purpofcs, but the exigence of the Stuart r:\ce 
 hath laid, too certainly, I am afraid, the feeds of 
 our deftruclion. Their exiflence has furnifhed 
 theminiflers of the family, which was called in for 
 our prefervation, with pretexts for arming the 
 family of our prefcr-cers, with the means of de- 
 ft roy ing us ; for it is impoflible to fuppofe that 
 the nation could have been brought to acquiefce 
 in mortgaging the national property, without 
 any vifible national purpofes, unlcfs they had 
 imagined that national debts were a fecurity 
 againft the return of the dreaded Stuarts ; and it 
 is impoflible to fuppofe that the people could have 
 teen fo far impofed upon, as to fufFer their repre- 
 fentatives to vote themfelves feptennial from tri- 
 ennial, unlefs they had been perfua<led that a fep- 
 tennial parliament formed a ftronger barrier againft 
 
 the
 
 ( I2 3 ) 
 
 the return cf the Stuarts than a triennial ; and 
 it is iiiil a greater 3.u.".irdity to fuppofe, that a 
 majority of Lin.!;! gentlemen, of really well 
 meaning honelt Engliihmen, could be infatuated, to 
 fo great a degree, as to fit dcxv r n contentedly under 
 the eilablifiiment of a (landing army, the gradual 
 augmentation of it to an enormous bulk, the in- 
 terweaving of it (as it may be faidjinto our con- 
 ftitution, had not the fpeclre of the Stuarts re- 
 turn continually danced before their eyes. Hence, 
 I think, without draining, it in -y be inferred, that 
 the pecuniary influence of the crown, feptennial 
 parliaments and a (landing army, (which unlefs 
 fome great national calamity falls out to draw us 
 back to our firfl principles, before the minds of 
 our foldiery are totally debauched,) muft inevitably 
 end in the deflruction of our liberties ; and per- 
 haps national independence, have been the fruits 
 of our miflaken cruel moderation, in fuffering a 
 fmgle individual of the expelled family to remain 
 in exiftencc. But to return from this long digref- 
 fion to the queflion, whether the fmgularity of 
 Ch; rles the Phil's fate, tryed and condemned by 
 his own iV.bjccls is not one of the principal caufes 
 Df his memory's being treated with fuch tender- 
 ne. > :v J - ,-verence. We will fuppofe a cafe : but 
 firft ;. a 'lilting Beccaria's pofition to be juft, thai a 
 co '"> '." /.';/ w.^bt not to pun II) ^i'b death any crimi- 
 na: wh TS is not abfolutcly pernicious , or high- 
 
 ly dangerous to the community \ and further admit-
 
 ( 124 ) 
 
 ing that a criminal king is the only criminal 
 exigence can be pernicious or highly dangerous. We 
 will fuppofe, then, that there fhould hereafter be 
 formed a community, one of \vhofe fundamental 
 laws mould be, That capital punifhments fhould 
 be confined to delinquent kings alone ; that ail 
 other delinquents, let their crimes be \vhat they 
 \vill, mould be fent into exile ; their eflatcs, mo- 
 ney, and goods confifcated to the ufe of the com-' 
 munity. I will venture to affirm, that an hun- 
 dred kings, lefs guilty than Charles the Firft, put 
 to death on the fcaffold, would not mock the 
 humanity of the tendered na; 
 
 We will farther fuppofe, that after a feries of 
 years adherence to this law, they mould at length, 
 from a concurrence of accidents, on fome very 
 great emergency, deviate from it, and inflict the 
 punifhment levelled againft royal delinquents 
 alone, on delinquents of an inferior order, I will 
 venture to affirm that the fpeclacle, from its no- 
 velty, of a Jonathan Wild, a S h, or a * * *, 
 
 dangling on a gallows, would affedt the paflers- 
 by with companion, and prompt their ingenuity 
 to devife apologies for the poor fuffercrs ; though, 
 provioufly to their execution, the whole world 
 had agreed on the tranfcendency of their flagiti- 
 oufnefs, the incorrigibility of their natures, and 
 that no fate could be too fevere for their merits. 
 But, although the fingularity of Charles's deftiny, 
 the prejudices fettered by the pious care of our 
 
 nurfes
 
 iiiirfes and the clergy, have greatly contributed 
 to the falfe light in which his conduct, morals, 
 and general character are feen, it could not have 
 operated fo wonderfully alone : the addrefs and 
 fophiftry of a fucceffion of our corrupt citizens have 
 been fet at work, to co-operate in miileading our 
 judgment and blinding our underflandings ; and 
 of this tribe the pre-eminence muft indifputably 
 be given to Mr. David Hume ; for the pompous 
 anility (as I think it may be termed) of Claren- 
 don, the more than prieftly fury of Caite, much 
 lefs the pert patchwork of Smollet, or the drivel- 
 ling of poor Goldfmith could not have wrought 
 any mighty miracles : but with Hume, the cafe 
 is different ; the philofophical, or rather fceptical 
 character of the man, antecedent to his appear- 
 ance as an hiftorian, and a fpecioufnefs of ilyle 
 render him fo infinitely more dangerous than his 
 fellow labourers, that it is much to be lamented 
 that fome perfon, (for inftance, a Lord Littelton,) 
 eminent for parts and learning, has not thought 
 it worth his while profeffedly, (but I would have 
 it compendioufly, for a reafon I mall hereafter 
 give,) to expofe to public view the incongruities, 
 artifices, and pernicious intention of this fophift. 
 But when I lament that no man of a fuperior 
 (lamp has fet himfelf the tail?:, I do not mean 
 that extraordinary learning or talents are abfo- 
 lutely neceflary : on the contrary, I think an at- 
 tentive
 
 C is ) 
 
 tentive per.ufal mail qualify every man of common 
 fenfe full as well for the purxrfe, if we could 
 fuppofe that an equal degree of regard would be 
 paid to him ; but it is certain, that the name 
 and fignature of a pcrfon in high repute gives, 
 to manfteft eternal truths, greater force than 
 when uttered by a common or unknown writer, 
 although the efience of truth cannot be altered 
 by the greater or lefler reputation of him who 
 utters it. 
 
 It is true, a more effectual antklote to the poifon 
 of Hume's hiftory cannot be defired than Mrs. 
 M-Cauley's, if they are but read and compared 
 together with their refpedive authorities ; but the 
 misfortune is, the perufal and comparing of two 
 fo bulky writers cannot be expected from the 
 lazinefs of modern readers ; and it is on the no- 
 tions and principles of the lazy clafs of readers 
 that the prefent welfare of our country and the 
 fate of poflerity, in a great meafure, depend. In 
 facl, of what importance would it be to the com- 
 munity, if thole very few, who have inclination 
 and perfeverance to work through volumes, fhould 
 enlarge their minds to even the ilandard of an an- 
 cient Roman, when the young nobility, gentry, 
 and men of property, who compofe the lazy clafs, 
 ftill remain perverted, uncorrecled, and unin- 
 formed ? 
 
 For thcfe reafoni, I think that fome work fo 
 
 com-
 
 compendious as not to terrify by its bulk, con- 
 fined limply, and bearing the import of fuch in its 
 title, to a refutation of Hume's tenets, and de- 
 monllration of his partiality and pernicious prin- 
 ciples, would be more beneficial than a full, com- 
 plete body of hillory, digefted methodically, fup- 
 ported by the befh authority, and animated by the 
 nobleft fentiments. But until fome eminent per- 
 fon will be perfuaded to take up the employment, 
 it is the duty of every common citizen to exert 
 whatever force he has in the common caufe. 
 
 A jealous fpirit in the people, of thofe who go- 
 vern and the principle of refi (lance, form the 
 palladium of liberty, particularly in a limited 
 monarchy. An abhorrence of tyrants, or even of 
 thofe who have a femblance of tyrants, (and it 
 will fcarcely be difputed that Charles had a femb* 
 lance,) is infeparable from this jealous fpirit and 
 principle of refiflance : whoever would extinguifh 
 the one, would extinguifh the other. When we 
 fee, therefore, a junto of notorious court-retainers^ 
 clubbing their labours to reconcile us to the de- 
 fpotic admmiftration of Charles, to his duplicity, 
 to his breach of faith, and violation of the moft 
 folemn compacts, we may fafely conclude, that 
 a defign is lodged to extinguifh the nece/ary jea- 
 lous fpirit of liberty and inculcate the principles 
 of non-refiftance. It may be faid, that a too gieat 
 jealoufy of liberty is equally dangerous with a 
 3 two
 
 two great confidence ; that as the latter ; 
 plunge us : cry, the former may into anar- 
 
 chy. I fhould ailov !it to this objection, 
 
 In the whole courfe of our hillory, a refutation, 
 in a fmgle inftance, could be product. d of thefe 
 pofitions ; That the Jpint cf libirty is Jkw to aft % 
 even again/I tbcjvorfe princes , and exerts itjdf in 
 favour of the beft with more cjjirf tb<m any c. 
 fpirit ivhatci-ir. I muft therefore repeat, that the 
 keeping alive the jealous fpirit of liberty is a com- 
 mon cauie ; That a tion of tynmis, or even 
 of thofe who lean to tyranny, i> infeparable from 
 this fpirit ; That Charles the Firfl \vas a tyrant 
 in principle and in action ; That thofe who la- 
 bour to reconcile us to his conducl and character, 
 would deftroy the fpirit of liberty, and ultimately 
 eftablifh the principle of non-refiftance ; That 
 a junto of mercenaries and court-retainers do la- 
 bour to thefe purpofes ; That it is, therefore, the 
 duty of every common citizen, \vho has the in- 
 tereft of his country at heart, to exert continually 
 whatever force he has to defeat their purpofes ; 
 or, at lead, weaken their influence ; for, in me- 
 chanicks, the fmalleft force continually applied 
 \\ill overcome the mod violent motions commu- 
 nicated to bodies. 
 
 From thefe confiderations, I purpofe to offer 
 to the public, hereafter, fomc curfory remarks 
 on Mr. Hume's Iliflory of the two fir/t Stuarts : 
 
 through
 
 ( "9 ) 
 
 If they are well received, I fhall continue them 
 through the reigns of the two laft. If they have, 
 in any degree, the effects which I could wifh, I 
 fhall think myfelf amply recompenfed, the only 
 recompence which I can promife myfelf. 1 can- 
 not hope for any glory from the competition ; the 
 little reading which a foldier can fnatch up at 
 intervals will fcarcely qualify him to reap laurels 
 in the field of literature ; and it will eafily be 
 believed, that the fentiments which 1 avow, will 
 not procure a place or a penfion. 
 
 K A BREAK-
 
 A BREAKFAST 
 
 FOR 
 
 R I V I N G T O N. 
 
 Mr. H , 
 
 A S Mr. Rivington^has given the public to undei- 
 ** (land, that he does not chufe to deal with any 
 writers, but thofe of the moft accurate and elegant 
 kind, and who have pafied through a regular 
 courfe of education ; and as I cannot flatter my- 
 felf, that I am one of this clafs, I do not prefume to 
 offer this little performance to him, though it is in- 
 tended for his vindication ; but, as I underftand 
 from the fame authority, that you admit into your 
 paper even the lowed trafh, I find myfelf under 
 the neceflity of applying to you. Mr. Rivington 
 has, I know, like other great men, his calumnia- 
 tors and enemies ; envy and malice ever were 
 attendant on exalted genius and merit. It is in- 
 conceivable, what numbers are endeavouring to dc- 
 2 tract
 
 tra& from this wonderful perfonage ; how they 
 ftrain their little wits to throw a ridicule upon his 
 talents, his flyle, his integrity, and even his erudi- 
 tion. This laft) one ihould imagine, if any thing 
 of human attainment can, is unquestionable, as he 
 has given fuch eminent and manifold proofs of it : 
 however it does not efcape them. I found my- 
 felf the other night, (for as a ftudier of men and 
 characters I aflbciate with all forts,) amongft a fet 
 of the mod flaming factious enemies to all order 
 and government ; where the moft refpe&able cha- 
 racters of the age were treated with fcandalous 
 freedom. Lord Mansfield was a Jeffries, Lord 
 Bute a folemn empty pedantic Jacobite, and Mr. 
 Rivington a ridiculous pragmatical flip-flop cox- 
 comb : they faid, that he had not decency enough 
 for the porter of a bawdy-houfe, learning enough 
 for a barrack wafher- woman, nor imagination fuf- 
 ficient for a Chriftmas-bellman : that at the age 
 of fifteen he was turned out of the blue^fchool, 
 where he had been bred, as too incorrigible a dunce 
 to make a fcavenger of ; that they had, by way of 
 jocular experiment, for fome time tried him in this 
 capacity ; but that he always, in windy days, fwept 
 the duft up againft the wind. By perfifting in this 
 practice he was very near lofmg his eyes, and that 
 you may obferve they are ftill extremely weak 
 from its effects. At this, Sir, I own my blood 
 boiled. I faid, they muft be driven to great {traits 
 indeed, if they could object nothing worfe to a 
 
 K 2 gemle-
 
 gentleman's character than his having been bred at 
 a charity fchool ; for that it had been the cafe of 
 fome of the mod illuflrious men the nation had 
 produced ; the late Lord Hardwicke, and Mr. Prior, 
 had been educated in the fame manner. As to the 
 {lory of the weaknefs of his eyes, proceeding from 
 fv/eeping the duftagainft the wind, I knjw it to be 
 a falfhood ; for that it had been contracted, to my 
 knowledge, by poring into a Johnfon*s dictionary 
 of his own printing, late at nights, to find out de- 
 cent pollyfyllables, of fufficient found and dignity, 
 to drefs up an advertifement of Scotch herrings, 
 lumber, and pickled oyfters. 
 
 I afllrted, that his compofitions were incompre- 
 henfibly fine, his language fonorous and mufical ; 
 although, perhaps, he did not always apply words 
 to their legitimate meaning ; as who does in fuch 
 an immenfity of bufmefs ; and that he fhould 
 round a period with any bookfeller in Chriflen- 
 dom : That he was a Latin fcholar, 1 thought mufl 
 be allowed by all unprejudiced men, when iheycon- 
 fidered his numberlefs and apt quotations from Ho- 
 race. Upon my mentioning his knowledge of 
 Latin, the whole company burfl out into a horfc- 
 laugh, which I thought was very indecent, and, 
 when the uproar fubfided, demanded the expla- 
 nation. They infilled upon it, that he was fo 
 'totally ignorant of it, that he did not know the 
 meaning, nor could he conjugate the verbs wcnf/cr, 
 nor vaj>u!o, though he fo generally practifed the 
 
 former,
 
 ( 133 ) 
 
 former, and had fo often experienced the latter : 
 that his patches of Horace were always furniflied 
 by his friend the Doctor {hat when he had finimed 
 one of his pieces, he always applied to the Doctor 
 for a motto to dignify his performance ; that, for 
 inflance, the four lines from Horace, prefixed to 
 his late Epiftle to Mr. Sears, (which I really think 
 one of the fmarteft things I ever read,) were 
 pointed out by the Doctor ; and that a blunder 
 whimfical enough had happened on this occafion, 
 though it was fortunately rectified in time for the 
 prefs. They related, that when he went as ufual 
 for his motto to the Doctor, the Doctor wrote him 
 down thefe lines : 
 
 While you alone fuftain the weighty cafes 
 Of all the world, and manage peace and wars ; 
 The Roman State by virtue's rules amend, 
 Adorn with manners, and with arms defend ; 
 To write a long difcourfe, and wafte your time, 
 Againft the public good, wou'd be a crime. 
 
 faying " Rivington, you may tranfcribe the Latin 
 at your leifure, as you have Horace in your mop ; 
 remember, it is the firft epiftle." Rivington went 
 home vaftly happy, but unluckily miftook the firft 
 fatire for the firft epiftle. When the Doctor went 
 to revife it the next morning, he found thefe lines 
 very fairly written Quiftt M arenas ut nemo quam, 
 &c. and under, the above tranflation. They added, 
 that though the Doctorwas that morning in an hor- 
 rible ill humour, (as he hadjuft bsen reading the 
 K 3 Bifhop
 
 ( '34 ) 
 
 Bimop of St. Afaph's fpeech,) he could not refrairt 
 from laughing ; but, however, after having be- 
 ftowed fome anathemas on the fkull of his friend, 
 he, for the honour of the common caufc, took the 
 pains to tranfcribe the lines with his own hand, to 
 prevent any further blunders. They then proceed- 
 ed to fall foul upon his Englifh ; they faid that 
 \vhen he firft fet up his prcfs, and before he was 
 under the correction of theDoftor, he ufed always 
 to write mufketeers, mufk cat-cars dragoons, dra- 
 gons battalions, battle lions ; and that he really 
 thought thefe ftrange things were made ufc of in 
 \var ; that all the words ending in lion, as Jlj^^l- 
 latlon, caftigation, falii-aikn, words he is beft ac- 
 quainted with, he fpeh with an//\ I hate the ftory 
 they told of him, which, although I was curfully 
 enraged, I confefs made me fmile ; that writing to 
 his niece, who was going to be married to an emi- 
 nent pawnbroker in St. Martin's Lane, he began 
 his letter thus: " My dear Kitty, as you are going 
 to be married, and are fo very young a girl, I 
 would advife you, by all means, at leaft, at fnft,to 
 act with a little cujhion" meaning it for caution. 
 Now I would appeal to all mankind, who are not 
 totally blinded by party and faclion, \\hcther it is 
 credible, whether it is poflible, that u gentleman, 
 who has, from his cradle, been in fomc fort a re- 
 tainer of the Mufes, mould be guilty of fuch grofs, 
 fuch ridiculous blunders. When I fay Mr. Riving- 
 ton has been a retainer of the Mufcs, t do not 
 
 mean,
 
 ( '35 ) 
 
 mean, Sir, in your paltry fphere, a meer dealer in 
 indexes and title pages. No, Sir, his fphere has 
 been more enlarged. It is notorious, that when he 
 hadfinifhed his ftudies, he was invited Into a fociety 
 of eminent itinerary comedians ; I know very 
 well, that his enemies give out, that he only am- 
 putated the luminaries betwixt the acts ; but I 
 could bring authentic proofs of his diftinguiming 
 himfelf in fome important characters. 
 
 K 4 A PAM-
 
 Fcbruaty 3, 177-5. 
 
 A PAMPHLET*, 
 
 ENTITLED, 
 
 " A friendly Addrefs to all rcafonablt Ame- 
 " ricans, on the Subjeft of our Political Con- 
 " f"f lons " gave birth to the following 
 Performance, addrcfled TO THE PEOPLE 
 OF AMERICA. 
 
 " Let's canvas him in his broad cardinal's hat." 
 
 To the PEOPLE of AMERICA. 
 
 A PAMPHLET, entitled A friendly Addrefs t9 
 -*** all reafonable Americans, advertifed and fold 
 by Mr. James Rivington of New York, is of fa 
 extraordinary a nature, that it is difficult for any 
 man who is interefted in the welfare of the com- 
 munity (whatever contempt he may have for the 
 performance) to remain filent. I know not whe- 
 ther the author is a layman or ecclefiaftic, but he 
 
 It isfaid to have been written hy the Reverend Dr. Miles 
 Cooper, prcfident of King's College, at New- York. 
 
 bears
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 bears ftrongly the characters of the latter : he has 
 the want of candour and truth, the apparent fpirit 
 of perfecution, the unforgivenefs, the deadly hatred 
 to diflenters, and the zeal for arbitrary power which 
 has diftinguifhed churchmen in all ages, and more 
 particularly the high part of the Church of Eng- 
 land. I cannot help, therefore, confidering him 
 as one of this order. 
 
 The defign of his Reverence's pamphlet, is ma- 
 nifeftly to diffolve the fpirit of union, and check 
 the noble ardour, prevailing through th conti- 
 nent ; but his zeal fo far outruns his abilities, that 
 there is the greateft reafon to think that he has 
 laboured to little effect. His difcretion feems to be 
 fiill lefs than his genius; a man of common judge- 
 ment would not fo wantonly have attacked the ge- 
 neral reigning principle and opinions of the peo- 
 ple, whom he intends to intimidate or feduce out 
 of their rights and privileges. For inflance, I 
 believe there are at lead ninety-nine Americans in 
 a hundred, who think that Charles the Firfl was an 
 execrable tyrant ; that he met with no harder fate 
 than he deferved ; and that his two fons ought, in 
 juftice, to have made the fame e::it. 
 
 To defcant, therefore, on the criminality of the 
 refiftance made to that tyrant ; to affect, on every 
 occafion, giving the title of rebellion to the civil 
 war which brought him to juftice, is a degree of 
 weaknefs which no man, who is not blinded by 
 the daemon of Jacobitifm could poffiWy be guilty of. 
 
 But
 
 r 138 ) 
 
 But to preach up in this enlightened age,ashe does, 
 in almoft exprefs terms, paffive obedience, is a 
 mark of lunacy, or at lead it proves that the mo- 
 ment a head begins to itch for a mitre, it lofes the 
 faculty of reafoning ; for if the principle of paf- 
 five obedience is admitted, the gracious prince, for 
 whom his Reverence profefles fo great a devotion, 
 is a downright ufurpcr, and the parliament, of 
 \vhich he fpeaks fo refpe&fully, Lords and Com- 
 mons, are rebels and traitors. 
 
 The doclrines he aims to inculcate are as fol- 
 low : That the parliament has a right to tax you 
 without your confcnt ; that the duty upon tea is no 
 tax ; that this duty if your only grievance ; that the 
 caufc cf Bojhn is their own concern ; that it is not 
 your caufc ; that the punijhmcnt of Bojlon is a jujl 
 punijhment ; that it is lenient ; that it is not equal to 
 their crimes ; that the Eojloniam are rebels , traitors, 
 end pampered fanatics ; that the Congrefs are little 
 better ; that no mifconducl of adminijlration can jujlify 
 or cxcufc open difrefpcft ; that fubmiffion is to be paid 
 to tl} higher powers, -whatever character they be ; 
 that an apo/llc enjoined fubmijjion to the tyrant Nero ; 
 that, of all people under heaven, the king's American 
 fubjfcls have the leajt caufe for complaint ; that the 
 prefcnt confufion of the Colonies has been occajtoncd by 
 falfc alarms ; that none cf your legal rights have been 
 invaded ; no injury has been done you ; and, confe- 
 qticntly, that you can never be jujlified in refenting that 
 of which you have no rcafon to complain ; that you are 
 
 no
 
 ( 139 ) 
 
 no judges of the rights of Parliament ; that the Par- 
 liament ought to aft according to their own judgement ', 
 not according to yours, even in things which concern 
 you principally orfolely ; that they ajfert they have the 
 right in queftion ; that you have never proved they 
 have not ; that you have always believsd or allowed 
 they have, until the prefcnt occajion ; that the 
 Quebec Bill is a juft and constitutional bill ; that the 
 Canadians are likely to prove the beft -and moft loyal 
 fubjeds in his Majejly's American dominions ; that 
 there is too much reafon to believe, that ihs minds of 
 the Americans are unprincipled, and their hearts dif- 
 pofed for rebellion ; that, Jlnce the reduction of Ca- 
 nada, they have been bloated with a vain opinion of 
 their own power and importance ; that the ijland of 
 Great Britain is able to govern, (that is y to dragoon,} 
 ten Americas ; that the moment it is known that 
 America is no longer under the protection of Great 
 Britain, all the maritime powers of Europe would 
 join to ravage your fca-ports, plunder and feize your 
 Jhips, merely for the pleqfure of ravaging * j that all 
 
 the 
 
 * This is perhaps the mod prepofterous idea that ever was 
 hatched in a diftempered brain. America (more particularly 
 fince the detractions in Poland have taken place) has been the 
 great granary, or cella penaria of Europe. Is it poffible to con- 
 ceive, that the different maritime powers fhould unite to deprive 
 themfelves of the chief means of fubfrftence, merely for the fun's 
 fake ? la it not more natural to fuppofe, that they would outbid 
 each other for your friendship and commerce, on which fo much 
 depends ? When the Low Countries withdrew themfel-.es from 
 
 the
 
 ike maritime pc-i'crs r.f tic :;;//./ :; :://,/ not difpcffefr 
 Great Britain cf lie entire r.f the fca, cirn icben 
 America is her. Now I challenge 
 
 the world to produce fo many wicked fentiments, 
 ftupid principles, audacioufly falfe afiertions, and 
 monftrous abfurduies, crouded together into fo 
 fmall a compafs. All his pofition?, indeed, are fo 
 felf-evidcntly abfurd and falfe, that it would be an 
 infult to American underftanding, fcrioufly to at- 
 tempt refuting them. I mail only beg leave to 
 take notice of the curious argument he ufes to 
 prove the duty on tea to be no tax, it is, that 
 J fent to the tax, we arc not to pay the duty ; 
 iue vwj :t if we pkafc. The 
 
 fame logic would demonftrate that a duty on beer, 
 candles, or foap would be no tax : as we are not 
 abfolutely obliged to drink beer, we may drink 
 water ; we may go to bed before it is dark, and 
 we are not forced to wafh our fhirts. His aflfertion 
 that Great Britain, when divorced from her colo- 
 nies, will dill hold the empire of the feas, in fpite 
 
 the dominion of Spain, did England, France, and the other 
 powers, immediately fct about ravaging their fea-ports and fciz- 
 ing their (hips I Did they not, on the contrary, exert them- 
 felves, directly and indirectly, to affift them 1 The cafe is fimilar; 
 the event would be fimilar, and that Great Britain would not be 
 powerful enough at fea, when feparated from her Colonies, to 
 prevent this afMance, Ifhall refer my readers to Maflie's Efti- 
 mates, the authority of \vMch h;is never been diiputed, and 
 which demonitrate that more than half the naval power of Great 
 Britain ilands on her American foundation. 
 
 3 of
 
 of all the powers of the world, is (till more inge- 
 nious. It amounts to this, that without the poffible 
 means of procuring timber, iron, plank, majis, pitch, 
 tar, or hemp, tofurniflo out a Jingle frigate, they may 
 build more Jhips than all the world put together ; 
 that when her nurfery for fe amen is deftroycd, and 
 nil the commerce on which the exigence offeamcn de- 
 pends is annihilated, they will then be able to man 
 more fleets than the whole imiverfe put together. 
 But I am amamed of trefpaffihg on the public pa- 
 tience, in making ftriclures on fuch ridiculous ar- 
 ticles, I mall therefore pafs to fome queftions which 
 have not been fo much agitated, and on which, 
 if I miftake not, his Reverence lays the greated 
 ftrefs ; for, as he modeftly declares, that he has no 
 opinion of your courage, it was natural for him 
 to confider intimidation and terror, as the mod 
 powerful figures of rhetoric. Regular armies from 
 Great Britain, Hejjlans, Hanoverians, royal Jland- 
 ards erefted, Jkilful generals, legions of Canadians^ 
 and unnumbered tribes of favages, f words flaming in 
 the front and rear, pejlilence, defolation, and famine, 
 are all marfhalled in a mod dreadful order by this 
 church militant author. But let us fomewhat mi- 
 nutely examine the picture, and fee whether, drip- 
 ped of its falfe colouring, it has any thing really 
 terrifying. His Reverence begins with affuring 
 us, that there is no room to doubt but that fuch 
 an army as was employed in the redudion of Ca- 
 nada (that is, an army of 7000 men) would be 
 
 more
 
 ( n* ) 
 
 more than fufficient for the conqued of all the 
 dilaffeded American colonies, which are, in fact, 
 all the colonies, mould ywr/j a refolution become 
 neceflary in order to reduce them to obedience. 
 For my own part, I think there is very great rea- 
 fon to doubt that 7000, even or the bed troops, 
 are able to conquer 200,000, of the mod difor- 
 derly peafantry upon earth, if they are animated 
 in defence of every thing they hold mod dear and 
 facred ; and there is dill greater reafon to doubt 
 that 7000 very indifferent troops, complied of the 
 refufe of an exhauded nation, few of whom 1 
 feen action of any kind, mould be able to conquer 
 2oo,cco active vigorous yeomanry, fired with the 
 noble ardour we fee prevalent through the conti- 
 nent, all "armed, all expert in the ufe of arms, 
 aimed from their cradles. The fuccefs of Quebec, 
 it is true, does infinite honour to the Englifh aims; 
 the army was, 1 believe, only 7000 ; the enemy 
 were perhaps more than double, but 16,000 men 
 are not 200,000. The fate of Canada depended 
 upon one decifive action, but it is impofliblc to 
 calculate how many victories mud be gained before 
 thefe Colonies could be fubdued ; whereas a fingle 
 victory gained by the Colonies mud decide the 
 conted in their favour. In the affair of Quebec, 
 there is another circumdance to be confiderul ; 
 it was Wolfe who commanded, a man of the mod 
 r.derful talents, formed to level all difficulties, 
 to render the mod defpicable foldiery almod in- 
 
 ^antaneoufly
 
 ( '43 ) 
 
 ftantaneoufly an army of heroes. In fhort, the 
 genius of the man was fo extraordinary, the event 
 was fo extraordinary, that no inferences can be 
 drawn from it ; but this, without prefumption, 
 may be alferted, that no general, now exifting in 
 the Britifh fervice, would, with double or treble his 
 number, have fucceededin the fame circumftances. 
 
 One thing more I mull add in honour of that 
 illuftrious perfonage, that the fame greatnefs of 
 foul which qualified him to conquer the natural 
 hereditary enemies of this country, would have 
 made him rejecl with horror the hangman's office ; 
 which others, who are not endowed with con- 
 quering attributes, will, with readinefs, accept. 
 
 It is notorious, that Mr. Wolfe was not only the 
 firft of foldiers, but that he was a niofl liberal vir- 
 tuous citizen ; that he was paffionately attached to 
 the liberties of his country, and of mankind ; and 
 that he was particularly an enemy to large ftand- 
 ing armies, in time of peace. It is, on the other 
 hand, remarkable, that all the advocates for {land- 
 ing armies, all thofe who are the fondefl of the fad- 
 dling and parade of war, are the moft aclive in 
 avoiding real fervice. 
 
 This tremendous foothfayer, on the fuppofition, 
 that fo great a miracle mould happen in our fa- 
 vour, as that the trifling body of 500,000 men, 
 though firmly united (for every man in America, 
 firmly united, would not amount to lefs) mould be 
 able to withitand his 7000, goes on to rattle in our 
 
 ears
 
 ears armies of Heffians and Hanoverians, txvifli 
 to Heaven he had for once deviated into probabi- 
 Iky and truth. I \viih 10,000 of them could pof- 
 fibly be tranfported to-ir.<.m>w. The purpofe they 
 would anfv. .1 purpofc devoutly to be \vi 
 
 for, they would be an addition to this comi: 
 of juft fo many ufeful and excellent citizens ; lor 
 I \vi!l rm, affirming is infectious, 
 
 that in Icfs than four months not two of thele 
 10,000 would remain with their colours. But 
 does not t'. * ,:itleman know, that in 
 
 the year 1764, a convention was formed by i: 
 of the princes of the empire, at the head of which 
 convention were the emperor himfelf and the king 
 ofPruflia, to prevent the alarming emigrations 
 which threatened depopulation to Germany : 1 
 he not know that no troops can march out of the 
 empire without the confent o! ih Emperor r Does 
 he not know that the Elector of Hanover and the 
 Emperor are upon ex c ! unn ? Does he 
 
 Ele&or of Hanover and the 
 King of Prufiia arc Hill upon \\orfe? \* he fure 
 that the. would fell his troo 
 
 Fjr, as not one man would reiurn back to their 
 country, he rnufl confider them as for ever fold. 
 Is he fune that, as the finances of Great Britain 
 ftand, the vaft fum r. for this purchafe 
 
 would be convi: Is he fure that the 
 
 flate of Hanover would confent to fuch a drain; 
 oft'. -try : I know not how it is j but his 
 
 molt
 
 ( '45 ) 
 
 mod excellent Majefty George the Third, who in 
 England is juftly efteemed the mod gracious of 
 fovereigns, the wifeft, greateft, and bed of kings, 
 is not very popular in the Electorate of Hanover. 
 Thefe people feem to think it hard, that 270,000!. 
 fhould annually be drawn from them, for the pur- 
 pofes, as they conceive it, of corrupting the mem- 
 bers of St. Stephen's Chapel, in order to fupport 
 the power and authority of a fet of men, who, 
 from the beginning, have been enemies to the fuc- 
 ceflion of the Hanover line, and who (hewed a 
 particular animofity to their laft and favourite 
 prince George the Second. But thefe difficulties, 
 (great and unfurmountable as to a common mortal 
 they appear,) our divine exorcid has, in an inflant, 
 conjured down ; and by a fingle motion of his en- 
 chanted wand, has tranfported whole armies in 
 fpite of their refpeclive princes, and without the 
 confent of their refpeftive dates, from the interior 
 parts of Germany, acrofs the Atlantic into the 
 plains of New England and Pennfylvania ; but he 
 does not confine himfelf to the introduction of his 
 Germans. He proceeds next to erect the royal 
 flandard, to which he tells us, that all who have 
 the courage to declare themfelves now friends to 
 government, will undoubtedly refort ; and thefe, 
 he fays, in a good caufe, will be of themfelves 
 formidable to their oppofers. Dreadfully formi- 
 dable they muft be indeed ! There would refort to 
 it ; let me fee, for the refpe&able town of Rye, 
 
 L
 
 ( 146 ) 
 
 hare declared themftlves n kind of neutrals, 
 iban friends to . there would rcfort to 
 
 it, Mr. Juftice Sewcll, the honourable Mr. Paxton, 
 Brigadier Kuggles, and about eight or ten more 
 ir.andamus council- men, with perhaps twice their 
 number of expectants, and not lefs than twenty of 
 the unrtcanted Ilutchinfonian addreflers : thefe the 
 four provinces of T ,land alone would fend 
 
 forth. New York would furnifh fix, feven, or 
 probably eight volunteers, from a certain knot, 
 who are in poiTcflion or expectation of contracts, 
 and the fourth part of a dozen of high-flying 
 Church of England Romanifed priefts. I repre- 
 fent to myfelf the formidable countenance they 
 will make, when arranged under the royal or mi- 
 niflerial ftandard j but what will add to the ter- 
 ror of the appearance will be their Reverend Pon- 
 tifex himfelf, whom I conceive marching in the 
 front, an inquifitorial frown upon his brow, hi; 
 bands and canonicals floating to the air, bearing a 
 crofs in his hands, with the tremendous motto, 
 in hocfigio vinces, flaming*upon it in capital letters 
 of blood, leading them on and exciiing them to 
 victory. It is impoflible that men, who are not 
 under an infatuation by the judgment of Heaven, 
 fliould flatter themfelves, that forty thoufand Ame- 
 rican yeomanry ; for we are aflured by the fame 
 great authority, that more than forty thoufand 
 cannot be brought to action, fliould ftand die 
 ihock of this dreadful phalanx. 
 
 But
 
 But I mould beg pardon for attempting to be 
 ludicrous, upon a fubjecl which demands our 
 utmoft indignation. I (hall now, therefore, on 
 the prefumption that the people of England mould 
 be fo loft to fenfe, virtue, and fpirit, as to fuiTer 
 their profligate mif-rulers to perfevere in their 
 prefent meafures, endeavour to ftate to you what 
 is their force, and what is yours. I (hall endeavour 
 to remove the falfe terrors which this writer would 
 hold out in order to intimidate you from the de- 
 fence of your liberties and thofe of pofterity, that 
 he and his fimilars may wallow in fmecures and 
 benefices heaped up from the fruits of your labour 
 and induftry. Great Britain has, I believe, of 
 infantry at home, comprehending Ireland, and ex- 
 clufive of the guards, fifteen thoufand men. They 
 find the greatefl difficulty in keeping the regiments 
 up to any thing near their eftablifhment : what 
 they are able to procure are of the word fort. 
 They are compofed of the mod debauched weavers, 
 apprentices, the fcum of the Irim Roman Catho- 
 lics, who defert upon every occafion, and a feW 
 Scotch, who are not ftrong enough to carry packs. 
 This is no exaggeration ; thofe who have been 
 lately at Boflon, reprefent the foldiers there (one or 
 two regiments excepted) as very defective hi fize, 
 and apparently in ftrength. But we (hall be told 
 they are ilill regulars, and regulars have an irre- 
 fiftible advantage. There is, perhaps, more im- 
 pofition in the term regular troops, than in any 
 L 2 of
 
 of the jargon which ifiues from the mouth of a 
 quack doctor. I do not mean to infmuate, that a 
 diforderly mob are equal to a trained difciplincd 
 body of men ; but I mean, that all the efientials, 
 neceflary to form infantry for real fervice, may be 
 acquired in a few months *. I mean, that it is 
 very poflible for men to be clothed in red, to be 
 expert in all the tricks of the parade, to call them- 
 felves regular troops, and yet, by attaching thein- 
 felves principally or folely to the tinfel and mow of 
 war, be totally unfit for real fervice. This, I am 
 told, is a good deal the cafe of the prcfent Britiih 
 infantry. If they can acquit themfclvcs tolerably 
 in the puerile reviews, exhibited for the amufe- 
 mcnt of royal mafters and inifles in Hyde Park, or 
 Wimbledon Common, it is fuflicient. 
 
 In the beginning of the late war, fomc of the 
 
 * There cannot be a ftrongcr illuftration of the truth Lcc 
 advanced, than the Pruflian army. They arc compofed ol about 
 one-third of the King's fubjecU, two-thirds foreigners. Th<- 
 third contorting of his own fubjedts are, when the - 
 f^afon is over, which lulls fix or feven week:., differed tu r- 
 turn to their families, and attend to the bufmefs of huftxmdry. 
 Tl.ilfof the other two-thirds, confifting of foreigners, are not 
 only permitted, but encouraged to work at their trades in the 
 garrifon towns, and never toiu-h a mufquet for the reft of the 
 year. So that, in faft, only one-third are, in the modern lan- 
 guage, to be called regular fddiers : thefe generally make their 
 ;>e the iirlt opportunity. It may be faid, therefore, that 
 the King of Pruflia ha? gained all his victories with a fort of 
 militia. 
 
 mod
 
 ( 149 ) 
 
 inoft adeemed regular regiments were fent over to 
 this country ; they were well drefled, they were 
 well powdered, they were perfect matters of their 
 manual exercife, they fired together in platoons ; 
 but fatal experience taught us, that they knew not 
 how to fight. While your militia were frequently 
 crowned with fuccefs, thefe regulars were defeated 
 or baffled for three years fucceflively, in every part 
 of the Continent. At length, indeed, after re- 
 peated lofles and difgraces, they became excellent 
 troops, but not until they had abfolutely forgotten 
 every thing which, we are allured, muft render re- 
 gulars quite irrefiflible. The corps fent from this 
 country under General Monkton, was, I believe, 
 for its number, one of the befl armies that ever 
 was led to conquefl ; and yet, if I have been rightly 
 informed, there was not a fmgle regiment of them 
 that could go through the manual exercife, or, at 
 bed, they performed it moil wretchedly. It is 
 Hkewife faid, that when, after their glorious and 
 rapid conquefl of Martinico, they were joined by 
 the fpruce regiments from Europe, fuch was their 
 uncooth appearance, that they were fcarce honour- 
 ed with the title of foldiers by thofe gentlemen. 
 Upon the whole, it is mofl certain that men may 
 be fmartly dreffed, keep their arms bright, be called 
 regulars, be expert in all the anticks of a review, 
 and yet be very unfit for real aclion. It is equally 
 certain, that a militia, by confining themfelves to 
 eflentials, by a fimplification of the necefiary ma- 
 
 L 3 nceuvres,
 
 C '50 ) 
 
 nceurres, may become, in a very few months, a 
 mod formidable infantry. The yeomanry of Ame- 
 rica have, befides, infinite advantages over the 
 peafantry of other countries ; they are accuftomed 
 from their infancy to fire arms ; they are expert in 
 the ufe of them : whereas the lower and middle, 
 people of England, are, by the tyranny of certain 
 laws, almoft as ignorant in the ufe of a mufquet, 
 as they are of the ancient catapulta. The Ame- 
 ricans are likewife, to a man, fkilful in the ma- 
 nagement of the inftruments ncceflary for all mi- 
 litary works ; fuch asfpades, pick-axes, hatchets, 
 &c. Taking, therefore, all circumftances into 
 confideration, there will be no ramnefs in affirm- 
 ing, that this continent may have formed for ac- 
 tion, In three or four months, one hundred thou- 
 fand infantry ; for as to the afTertion of one friend- 
 ly advifer, that no more than forty thoufand could ad 
 1o advantage, I confefs I do not understand it, nor 
 does he, I believe, underftand it himfelf. If he 
 means that fixty thoufand men cannot be ranged 
 in a field, capable of containing only forty thou- 
 fand, we fliall all agree with him ; but how, in 
 the operation of a war, upon a vaft continent, 
 double this number mould be a difadvantage, \ 
 can have no conception. 
 
 Let one fimple general plan be adopted for the 
 formation and fubdivifion of your battallions ; 
 let them be inftructed only in fo much of the 
 manual exercife as to prevent confufion, and ac- 
 
 cidenu
 
 cidents in loading and firing ; let them be taught 
 to form, to retreat, to advance, to change their 
 front,. to rally by their colours ; let them be taught 
 to reduce themfelves from a line of fire to a line of 
 impreffion, that is, from t^o deep to four, fix, or 
 eight. This is all fo eafy and fimple, that it may 
 be acquired in three months. Let fome plan of 
 .this fort be adopted, I fay, and there is no 
 doubt but that, in the time I have afcribed, you 
 may have an army on foot of feventy, eighty, or 
 an hundred thoufand men, equal to all the fervices 
 of war. 
 
 Should this be admitted, it will be (till objected 
 that you have no able officers to conduct you. I 
 do not know that you have, but is h certain that 
 thofe fent to dragoon you have better ? I have 
 taken fome pains to inform myfelf what methods 
 thefe gentlemen, faid to be bred to arms, take to 
 qualify themfelves in a fuperior degree for the pro- 
 fefiion. What is their rotine of mftruction ? Do 
 they read much? I am allured that they do not. 
 From books alone the theory of war can be ac- 
 quired, and the Englifh fervice, in times of peace, 
 affords them no practical leflons ! for mounting 
 guard once or twice a week, or the preparation for 
 the review of a fmgle regiment, can never be 
 cfteemed as fuch *. 
 
 Another 
 
 * It is much to b: lamented that the gentlemen of the 
 army do not apply more of the many kifure hours they have 
 
 L 4 upon
 
 Another circumftance, Americans, may be 
 added for your comfort j it has been allowed by 
 fome of the mod candid of the regulars themfelves, 
 that during the laft war upon this continent, your 
 countrymen, the provincial field officers, were in 
 general more understanding and capable than their 
 own of thefame rank. But thehiftory of the civil \\ ar 
 in the year 1641, furnifhes us with the Ptrongeft in- 
 ftances that excellent officers may be foon formed 
 from country gentlemen, citizens, lawyers, and far* 
 
 upon their hands, to reading. The majority of them arc of 
 a generous diipofition, which, did they cultivate, by convcrf. 
 ing with the great hiflorians and orators of antiquity, and the 
 more liberal political writers of our own country, a {landing 
 army would be fomcthing Icfs an objeft of jealoufy to all vir- 
 tuous citi/cns. Wr might perhaps fee them, iuftead of being 
 advocates and paitizansof the prefent miniltry, a check upon 
 their wickednefs. I am inclined to think that few, or none of 
 the officers have condefcended to inform therafelves of the 
 merit of the prefent contefh Let me conjure them, for once, 
 to read cooly and candidly the whole procefs ; afterwards to 
 lay their hands upon thtir hearts, and anfwor, whether the 
 people of America in general, and of Boflon in particular, 
 are more finned againft, or finning ? 
 
 Now I am upon the fubjeft of the officers of the army, I 
 take the opportunity of mentioning, with the refpeft due to 
 him, ne gentleman of high rank among them. His general 
 conduct while in command was fo liberal, and his letters quo- 
 in the Houfe of Commons, were fo fair, candid, and 
 friendly to the Continent, that he is entitled to the thanks of 
 America. He- is indeed of a country that owes not only its 
 pyufpcrity, but its exiftence, to the fame principles, which, 
 te America. 
 
 2 mers.
 
 ( '53 ) 
 
 mers. The parliament's army, or, as our prieftly 
 writer would call them, the rebellious republicans, 
 were chiefly compofed of this clafs of men. In the 
 beginning of this war, they were treated with the 
 fame affected contempt, and almoft in the fame 
 opprobious terms as you, the people of America, 
 are by your friendly and decent advifer. 
 
 Whoever would infer from the tenor of thefe 
 papers, that the writer is defirous of precipitating, 
 or could look with indifference upon the calamities 
 of a civil war, does him great injuftice. He con- 
 fiders them with all the horror natural to a feel- 
 ing man and honefl citizen. He execrates the me- 
 mory of thofe men, to whom they may be juflly 
 attributed; but he is perfuaded that they never ori- 
 ginated, at lead in dates of any confiderable ex- 
 tent, in the turbulent difpofitions of the people, 
 nor in the arts of demagogues, but in the oppref- 
 fion of their rulers, in the wantonnefs, folly, pride, 
 or avarice of kings, minifters, or governors. The 
 Griflers of Switzerland, the Granvels of Holland, 
 the Lauds andStraffords of England, were the un- 
 doubted authors of the tragedies, acted in their 
 refpe&ive countries ; and if this continent mould 
 be ftained with the blood of a fmgle citizen, it 
 can never be charged to the unreafonable preten- 
 fions of the people, but to the Barnards, Hutchin- 
 ons, and fome other traitors of a fnnilar (lamp. 
 
 He is convinced, that being prepared for a civil 
 war is the'fureft means of preventing it j that to 
 
 keep
 
 C 154 ) 
 
 keep the f words of your enemies In their fcab- 
 bards, you muli -ur own. He is convinced, 
 
 that remonftrances, petitions, prayers, and fupplica- 
 tions, will make no impreflions on our callous 
 court, and abandoned parliament. England, lie- 
 land, America, even Guernfty, Jcrfey, andM'norca, 
 are witnefles of their inefi : cacy. He is convinced, 
 that fear alone can operate ; there are fymptoms 
 
 t it already begins to operate. The monfler 
 Tyranny already begins to pant ; prcfs her now 
 
 h ardour, ;.::d fhe is down. Already the mi- 
 niftry have exprefied in their letter an inclination 
 to make fome conceffions, to meet you hall-way, 
 which, I fuppofe, may be conftrued ;hu>, " that as 
 they find they have it not in their power to eftab- 
 lifh, by force, the defpotifm which they aimed at, 
 they mall be very well fatLfied if you will juft cede 
 fo much of your rights and privileges as will 
 enable them, by extending their pecuniary influ- 
 ence, and fapping your virtue, to take away the 
 reft at their leifure." 
 
 There now remains, people of America, one 
 confideration, which, however it may be taken, 
 I think it my duty to offer. Hiftory tells us, that 
 the free States of Greece, Thebes, Sparta, Athens, 
 and Syracufe, were all, in their turns, fubjugated 
 by the force or art of tyrants. They almofl all, 
 in their turns, recovered their liberty and deflroy- 
 ed their tyrants. The firft act, upon the recovery 
 f their liberty, was to demolifli thofe badges of 
 
 5 flavery,
 
 ( '55 ) 
 
 flavery, citadels, ftrong-holds, and military tene- 
 ments ; the Switzers did the fame ; the people of 
 England, loft in corruption and lethargy as they 
 are, could never be prevailed upon to fuffer bar- 
 racks amongft them ; even the courtly Blackflone 
 is ftartled at the idea. No feparate camps, no 
 barracks, no inland fortreffes, fays he, mould be 
 allowed ; in fact, wherever barracks are, freedom 
 cannot be faid to exift, or fhe exifts fo lamely, as 
 fcarcely to deferve the name. 
 
 It is worth your confideiation, Americans, whe- 
 ther thefe badges mould remain or no. I mail 
 now conclude, brave citizens, with invoking the 
 Almighty God, from whom all virtues flow, to 
 continue you in that fpirit of unanimity and vi- 
 gor which muft enfure you fuccefs, and immorta- 
 lize you through all ages, as the champions and 
 patrons of the human race. 
 
 TO
 
 TO THE 
 
 GENTLEMEN 
 
 Provincial Congrcfs of Virginia. 
 
 'TTMIE addrefies prefented to their lieutenant go- 
 
 -*- vernor by the Council, and eleven polluted 
 
 members of the Afiembly of New- York, are, to 
 
 ry fcnliblc thinking American, of infinitely 
 a more alarming nature, than the threats of the 
 miniftcr, the brutum fulmen of the king's fpeech, 
 
 that can properly be termed the king's fpeech,) 
 which the minifler has publicly avo\ved to be his 
 
 n compofition*, or the echoing back this fpeech 
 by a hireling majority of the peers to their pay- 
 
 ler ; for as long as a fpirit of union 
 fubfiils through this continent ; and as long 
 
 * The affected frit nds to Government often complain, that 
 his Miijclly is not treated with the refpeft due to his character 
 ^nd ftation ; but it appears to me, that a minifter s declaring 
 in an open ftnate, that the fpeech from the throne is not the 
 king**, but hi-, own, is going beyond difrcfpcft : It is a mod 
 outrageous infult ; it is representing his Majcfty as a mere 
 , that fqaeaksjuft as the prompter breathes. 
 
 as
 
 ( '57 ) 
 
 as the people at home have reafon to think 
 that this fphit does fubfift ; thefe threats of the 
 rninifter, although vibrated from the founding- 
 board of the throne, and the echoing it back by a 
 hired chorus of peers, muft caft more ridicule 
 upon thofe by whom they are uttered than give 
 terror to thofe at whom they are levelled. But 
 the fufpicion or report of any defection amongft 
 ourfelves, is a matter of moft ferious concern \ 
 it behoves you, therefore, gentlemen, it behoves 
 every Provincial Congrefs of the continent, to 
 confider immediately of fome effectual means to 
 prevent the mifchievous confequences, intended by 
 thefe abandoned and fenfelefs men. Have we 
 then formed a general affociation of our provin- 
 ces ? Have we pledged ourfelves to each other, to 
 our pofterity, to mankind ? Have we made fo 
 great, temporary at leaft, facrifices in the glorious 
 caufe of liberty ? Have we confounded our ene- 
 mies by a flrain of virtue, fcarcely credible in 
 thefe modern ages, and with a fpirit of harmony 
 that has furpaffed ^the moft fanguine expectation ? 
 Have we acted this noble part? And mall the 
 council, and eleven contemptible AfiQinbly-men of 
 New- York, attempt to render all we have done 
 abortive ? Contemptible in all refpects, in num- 
 bers, in underftanding, in knowledge, and in prin- 
 ciples ! For what other tendency can their ad- 
 drefles to their lieutenant governor poffibly have, 
 but to counteract the refolves of the Congrefs, and 
 
 render
 
 C '5 ) 
 
 render every thing you have done", abortive ? 
 Thefe compofitions of pufillanitnity, abject fer- 
 vility, and difgufting folly, amount fimply to this : 
 57? at ibe utmojl exertion of this united contin nt, con- 
 Jlfting of half a million of fighting men, can have n9 
 fffifl; that all the refrjlance, civil or military, which 
 ihey can make, mujl b; in vain ; but that redrefs alone 
 muft be fought i and can be expc ft<. d frotn the magnet" 
 ftimity of the BritiJJj nation > and the known goodn'fs 
 and virtue cf the King. Gracious Heaven ! grant 
 us patience to be told, that we are to expect any 
 thing from the magnanimity of a people who, 
 for twelve years fucceflivel; . i them- 
 
 felves to be infulted, difgraced, trampled upon, 
 plundered, and butchered \vith impunity ! Or to 
 be told, that \ve are to look up to the goodnefs and 
 virtue of a king, who for the fume number of years 
 has been influenced to m?.kc incefTant \var upon 
 the property, rights, privileges, laws, honour, 
 and integrity of his people, in every part of the 
 Empire, is enough to drive moderation itfclf into 
 violence. 
 
 But, continue thefe admirable fenators, what 
 cpens Jlill a furer profpecJ of redrefs is, that his excel- 
 lency governor Try on is now near the throne j fo it 
 feems, that what the petitions, fupplications, remon- 
 ftrances of the whole colonies, of the city of Lon- 
 don, of the great commercial towns, of the lead- 
 ing counties of England, what the voice of policy, 
 reafon, jaflice, and humanity, could not affect, 
 
 Colonel
 
 ( '59 ) 
 
 Colonel Tryon's being in England will acconv 
 plifh. 
 
 I know not whether this Colonel Tryon is a 
 man of fo extraordinary talents, eloquence, and 
 influence, as to work thefe mightly miracles : I 
 never underftood that he was ; but I am fure, if 
 he has common fenfe, and any manly feelings, he 
 cannot help being fomewhat difgufted, at this ill- 
 timed impertinent flattery ; and that he mufl con- 
 ceive the greateft contempt for the parafites who, 
 regaf dlefs of the mod important concerns of their 
 country and humanity, and at the very crifis which 
 is to determine whether tbemf elves and their pofte- 
 rlty are to be freemen or Jlaves^ could ftep out of 
 their way to offer up incenfe to an unimportant 
 individual. It may by faid, this is all declamation ; 
 it may be fo, but it is a declamation which 
 an honeft zeal in the public caufe has forced 
 me into. It is now time, gentlemen, to devife 
 fome means of putting a flop to this cancer be- 
 fore it fpreads to any dangerous degree. You, 
 gentlemen, of Virginia, and your neighbours of 
 Maryland, have perhaps thefe means in your hands. 
 I would propofe then, that after a fpirited mani- 
 fefto expreffing your abhorrence of the council*, 
 
 and 
 
 * I cannot perfuade myfelf that the council were unani- 
 mous in this infamous addrefs ; there are individuals arnongft 
 them of known probity, tenfc, and patriotism. But thefe gen* 
 
 tlernen,
 
 C 
 
 and proftitutc eleven of New- York, you fhould 
 proceed to punifli the individuals of this wicked 
 junto who are in your power. Some of them 
 have great contracts for wheat, and corn in thefe 
 provinces, from Norfolk, Alexandria, Chefter, 
 Baltimore, and other parrs. They export prodi- 
 gious quantities, and enrich themfelves confidc- 
 rably by this commerce. I would propofe, that all 
 commerce with thefe affaflins fhould be laid imme- 
 diately under an interdict ; that not a fingle win 
 belonging to a counfellor of New- York, unlefs he 
 purges himfelf by oath from having confented to 
 the addrefs, or of one of the proftitute eleven 
 Ihould be furnifhed with a freight within the capes 
 Henry or Charles ; and 1 have that opinion of 
 the virtue of thefe provinces, to think your in- 
 junctions would be efficacious. But here I mult 
 beg leave to paufe for aninftant, and afk pardon 
 of the public for my apparent prefumption. An 
 individual who offers his thoughts to fo refpcclable 
 a body, as a Congrefs, delegated by the voice of 
 a whole people, has certainly the air of prefump- 
 tion. It is in fome meafure attributing to himfelf 
 fuperior lights and abilities ; but, on the other 
 hand, it is allowed, that an individual has fre- 
 quently been fortunate enough to chalk out lines 
 in which the moft fagacious and refpectable bodies 
 
 tlemen, fo far from obje&ing to the obligation of purf; 
 themfelve* by oath of having any fliare of the guilt, will re- 
 joice in the opportunity of acquitting themfclvct. 
 
 have
 
 have not difdained to walk. If his propofals, or 
 hints, be weak and abfurd, they will naturally be 
 laughed at ; but if his intentions be honeft, the 
 confcioufnefs of having acted from motives "of rec- 
 titude, and the love of his country, will fuffici- 
 ently compenfate for any ridicule which his fcheme 
 can incur. I would therefore wifh, that what I 
 offer ihould rather be imderftood as hints than ad- 
 vice. If thefe hints are attended to, I mall reap 
 no perfonal glory ; if they are defpifed, I mail be 
 no perfonal fufferer,as my name will probably never 
 be known. But to proceed with my propofals, or 
 hints, in which latter light I am moft defirous they 
 mould be confidered, I could wifh, to the above- 
 mentioned manifefto, was fubjoined, the warmed 
 letter of thanks to the virtuous ten of the Alfembly 
 of New- York, for their endeavours to ftem the pro- 
 fligacy and wickednefs of the majority, and for the 
 noble part they have acted as true Americans and 
 excellent citizens ; that another addrefs, no lefa 
 warm, mould be prefented to the gentlemen and peo- 
 ple of New-York at large, expreffing your opinion 
 of their honefty and public fpirit, and lamenting 
 their peculiar circumftances ; which, to thofe who 
 are flrangers to thefe circumftances, may inculcate 
 a belief that they alone are exceptions to the cha- 
 racter of patriotifm, which the Americans are now 
 indifputably entitled to. But above all, I could 
 wifh that it were recommended to every province 
 of the continent, more particularly to their imme- 
 
 M diate
 
 cliate neighbours of Pennfylvania, the Jerfeys, and 
 Connecticut,- not to fuffer one of this depraved un- 
 deeemvirate to fet his foot on their territories, un- 
 til he invokes the forgivenefs of his country, and 
 fokmhly engages, that his future life (hall be em- 
 ployed in making compenfation for his prefent 
 conduct, of fo obvioufly a michievous tendency. 
 The epithets proftitute, profligate, c. which I 
 have fo freely made ufe of, may probably appear 
 illiberal ; but, when we confider the mifchievous 
 confequences which the conduct of thefe Council 
 and Aflembly-menof New-York are fraught with, it 
 muft be allowed, that no languagecanfurnifh oppro- 
 brious terms adequate to their delinquency. I am 
 far indeed from apprehending that their weight and 
 influence are fufficiem to make the virtue of the 
 continent, or occafion any defection. 1 do not 
 believe that an individual, much lefs a fet of 
 niLii, will be found who will be ftupid and wicked 
 enough to tread in their fleps ; the infamous * * * 
 of Philadelphia, and a fmall perverfe drivelling 
 knot of Quakers, who form his Senate and Court 
 cxcepteJ. 
 
 This Worthy fixed his refidence at New-York, 
 with theprofefled intention of xvorking, with fome 
 congenial fpirits in that city, towards the ruin of 
 the whole fabric which the Congrefs had been 
 raifmg. Indeed, it is moft probable, that he was 
 the principal compiler, if not the dictator, of thefe " 
 wretched aJdrelTcs. The- ft vie and fentiments arc' 
 
 cer-
 
 (.-163 ) 
 
 certainly his : the fame mift, fog, and darknefs, 
 which overcaft all his productions, envelope thefe 
 addrefles ; and the fame narrow, crooked politics, 
 low cunning, malignancy, and treachery, difcover- 
 able through the mift, fog, and obfcurity of all 
 his works and actions, betray themfelves in thefe 
 addrefles. 
 
 It may now 'be afked, as I have reprefented the 
 character, weight and credit of thefe eleven Af- 
 fembly-men, of the majority of the Council of 
 New- York, and their Philadelphian coadjutor, or, 
 more properly, dictator, in fo defpicable a. light, 
 wherefore mould I found the alarm ? What mif- 
 chiefs can poffibly refult from the uttnoil fuch 
 men can do ? I anfwer, that although they can 
 neither occafion any defection, nor prefent the 
 leaft profpett of fuccefs to the enemies of America 
 and liberty, they can do very considerable mi- 
 chief : they can procraftinate the iiTue ; they can, 
 and moft probably will, prolong the inconve- 
 niencies which we muft, more or lefs, feel during 
 the conteft. There is nothing more certain than 
 that the miniftry have proceeded to the enor- 
 mous lengths they have done upon the prefumption, 
 that the attacks upon Bofton would not have been 
 taken up by the other provinces as the caufe of 
 the whole *. There is, therefore, nothing more 
 
 * That this is the principle they afted upon, is now put out 
 of difpute by the condu& of Lord North in the Houfe of 
 Commons, and fome fpeeches directed to him. 
 
 M 2 cer-
 
 ( 1*4 ) 
 
 certain, than that the appearance of our firmncfs 
 and unanimity, muft foon have overthrown them, 
 or forced them into a total change of meafures ; 
 but^the lead appearance, that this firmnefs and 
 unanimity no longer fubfifts, will encourage them 
 to perfift, and will enable them to keep their 
 ground fome time longer. Thefe addrefies of 
 New- York will give this appearance ; fo that 
 whatever the gentlemen, the merchants, the tradef- 
 men, the mechanicks, and the people of America 
 at large, fuffer from the prolongation of the 
 conteft, whatever (hall be added to the diftrefles 
 and burden of the people at home, whatever mail 
 further impair the commerce, ftrength, credit, and 
 reputation of the mother country, and bring her 
 flill nearer to total bankruptcy and ruin j whatever 
 mall farther alienate the affections of the child 
 from the parent, may juftly be imputed to this 
 abjed Council and eleven proftitute Aflembly-men 
 of New- York. 
 
 ON
 
 ON A 
 
 FAMOUS TRIAL 
 
 IN THE 
 
 COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, 
 
 BETWEEN 
 
 GENERAL MOSTYN, 
 
 INHABITANT OF THAT ISLAND. 
 
 TT is a maxim with the Emperors of China, 
 * when the people of any of their provinces 
 offer up complaints of their governors, immedi- 
 ately to recal them, to hear the charges brought 
 againft them, and, if they are found guilty, to 
 punifh them in proportion to their delinquency; and 
 fuch is the parental complacency of thofe eaftern 
 monarchs for their fubjects, that even when the 
 grievances complained of prove ill-founded, the 
 governor who has had the misfortune, though 
 innocently, to incur the ill-opinion of the people, 
 is never more employed, in the fame capacity, 
 over that or any other province, his having been 
 M 3 fufpefied
 
 ( i66 ) 
 
 
 
 fufpefted of mal-adminiflration being deemed a 
 total difqualification. Though the juflice of this 
 maxim may not be univerfally admitted, it cer- 
 tainly is a wife one, as it is founded on a refpect 
 and deference of the public wifhes ; to which, 
 when it can be done compatibly with the public 
 fafety, the prince ought to pay the greateft regard. 
 But, how different has been the rule of conduft 
 obfervetf through the whole prefent reign ! Does 
 a governor, render himfelf completely odious to 
 the people over whom he is fet to prefide ? he is 
 that initant adopted a favourite at court. The 
 infamous Bernard, who was not only arraigned, 
 but ftands convicted, in the opinion of all man- 
 kind, of one continual feries of mifreprefentation, 
 falfehoods, treachery, and every fpecies of treafon 
 to the people of his government, was continued un- 
 til the lafl poflible moment ; and, when recalled,, 
 fa far from meeting with the cenfures he had me- 
 rited, that, he was exalted to the rank of a baronet, 
 and had an ample provifion made for him in 
 Ireland. And this public reward for delinquency 
 has had the effedl which muft naturally be ex- 
 peeled ; for his fucceflbr in office, it is reported, 
 pitches many bars beyond him in perfidy and 
 wickednefs, for which he probably expeds an 
 Irifh peerage. And, to fay the truth, if our court 
 ats confidently with irfelf, they are obliged, as 
 his merits are Hill greater, to confer on him a 
 2 higher
 
 ( i6 7 ) 
 
 fiigher title, and a more ample provifion than- on 
 the baronet his predeceffor.. 
 
 If we turn our eyes towards Ireland, the decen- 
 cy and kindnefs exhibited by the court for that 
 people is ftill more finking. The late viceroy, 
 by talents peculiar to himfelf, almoft ci\ his firfl 
 landing, incurred the contempt and deteftation 
 of the whole kingdom, to a man. This was. a 
 fufficient, and, apparently, the only motive of his 
 being continued for a long five years in his fta- 
 tion j for, what other motive can be conjectured ? 
 As it is agreed, on all hands, that even the 
 wretched expedients from day to day, little jobs 
 and larcenies, as well as the more fubftantial plun- 
 dering, called, in the cant of courtiers, bufmefs 
 of government, were never fo miferably bungled 
 through as by this ridiculous mock-majefly. At 
 length, however, a fucceflbr is appointed : at 
 length, under the protection of the whole mili- 
 tary, he is withdrawn from the juft refentment 
 of the people whom he had opprefled, beggared, 
 and infulted ; at length, thus circumftanced, he 
 is prefented to his fovereign, by whom he is 
 careffed, fmiled upon, and preferred in fo diftin- 
 guifhed a manner, that a ftranger who had been 
 prefent, would have been apt to imagine him 
 returned loaded with the fpoils of fome ancient 
 inveterate enemy of his country, and not with 
 the injuries and execration of a whole nation of 
 loyal and affectionate fubjedis. 
 
 M 4 Such
 
 C 
 
 Such has been the mode of treating the griev- 
 ances of our natural brethren of Ireland and the 
 Maflachufet's Bay, and a flill more comfortable 
 profpeft is opened to our fellow fubjects who are 
 not of Britifh extraction. The Canadians, the 
 inhabitants of the ceded iflands, and of Minorca ; 
 thefe people are told, that if their property is in- 
 vaded, or their perfons infulted, they are to feek 
 redrefs from the King and Council. Are fome 
 late occurrences calculated to give them confidence 
 in thofe from whom they are to feek redrefs ? 
 Let us, without exaggeration or perverfion, (late 
 the cafe of General Moftyn and Mr. Fabrigas. 
 General Moftyn is accufed by Fabrigas of vio- 
 lently and illegally throwing him into prifon, 
 and afterwards banifhing him the ifland, for no 
 other crime than petitioning againft a regulation 
 which he conceived to be prejudicial and grievous. 
 The caufe is tried : the allegation not only proves 
 juft in its full extent, but aggravated with a 
 variety of wanton, cruel circumftances. Fabrigas, 
 a fubflantial farmer, is thrown into the dungeon 
 appropriated to felons convicted of capital crimes ; 
 the fentinels receive ftri& orders not to allow the 
 lead refrefhment to be conveyed to him ; even 
 the air-hole is guarded, left fome of his children 
 or friends fhould drop a loaf of bread, or bunch of 
 grapes. 
 
 Having lain in this miferable dungeon for fome 
 days, he is at length hand-cutlcd and pinioned, 
 
 drawn
 
 drawn forth, and, by the fimple fiat of this fmar*, 
 lively miniature of God's vicegerent on earth, 
 John Moftyn, Efq. hurried on board a fhip * pre- 
 pared for the purpofe, and interdicted from the 
 fire and water of his native iiland, until it fhould 
 pleafe the faid little, mighty John Moftyn, Efq, 
 to fufpend the interdict. And it was thought a 
 wonderful aft of clemency, not only by his 
 vifier, the moft accurate, judicious, liberal, ve- 
 racious Mr. Wright f, but by another illuftrious 
 member of the divan, in thus committing the 
 bow-ftring or hatchet into the gentle fentence of 
 banifhment ; for thefe worthy minifters gave it 
 as their opinion, openly in an Englifh court, that 
 ftrangling and beheading was a part of his High- 
 nefs's prerogative. But I mould beg pardon for 
 attempting to be ludricrous upon an occafion fo very 
 ferious, not indeed becaufe a man of Mr. Moftyn's 
 ftamp, a contemner, and, as far as a very little 
 wit will enable him, a ridiculer of all public fpirit 
 
 * He was banifhed for a year to Carthagena. His wife, 
 as they were carrying him on board, appeared on the beach 
 with a matrafs, but the guard was ordered to drive her away 
 with their bayonets ; this convenience of a matrafs being 
 thought too great an indulgence. 
 
 f His fecretary. This gentleman was afked in court, whe- 
 ther it was a part of the governor's privilege to behead or 
 hang ? and replied, ingenioufly, he believed it was. The chief 
 -engineer, efteemed a man of fome fcnfe aqd learning, feemed 
 to be of the fame opinion, 
 
 and
 
 ( -'7 ) 
 
 and fentiment, a deferter of his noble friend and 
 patron J, on the firfl appearance that he no longer 
 pofiefied the power of ferving him farther. 
 
 That a man of this (lamp mould be intoxicated 
 with authority, and run into violence and abfur- 
 dity, when removed from immediate checks, is 
 not to be wondered at, nor that fuch a governor 
 mould be furnifhed with a dull mercenary fecre- 
 tary, ready to execute the mandates of his prin- 
 cipal, be they ever fo iniquitous and prepoflerous ; 
 but that there mould be found a fingle officer of 
 rank, of no defpicable parts, and fome reading, to 
 encourage, advife and juflify meafures fo repug- 
 nant to the fpirit of our conftitution and the rights 
 of mankind, is aftonifhing, and in the higheft de- 
 gree alarming : for, if fuch notions become faftrion- 
 able amongft the military, our laws are but a pa- 
 rapet of paper, which the fword is ready to cut 
 through on the firfl hint from a dictator. The 
 idea, I fay, of fuch principles becoming fafhion- 
 able in the army, mufl give the mofl ferious alarm 
 to every individual who does not wifh annihilation 
 to the prefent liberties of thefe iflands, and enflave- 
 ment to their pofterity. But what follows, is more 
 particularly a matter of melancholy concern to our 
 fellow fubjefts, the colonifts of America, the Ca- 
 nadians, and the people of Minorca. They are, 
 
 t Lord Rockingham ; to whom Mr. Moftyn owed all his 
 great preferments : he oppofed his patron when miniftcr, bc- 
 caufe he knew it would pleafc the cabinet. 
 
 it
 
 C i7 ) 
 
 it feems, if aggrieved, to feek redrefs from the 
 king and council; but if they have reafon to 
 'think that their redreflers will become partifans 
 of thofe who opprefs them, what mud be the 
 fituation of their minds ? Will they not naturally 
 defpair, and refign themfelves paffively to the 
 hand of power, or bravely attempt to redrefs 
 themfelves ? To one of thefe alternatives, a cir- 
 cumftance immediately fubfequent to Mr. Moftyn's 
 trial, muft tend to reduce them. Reeking with 
 the infamy of being convicted by an honefl jury of 
 his country, he dared to prefent himielf at the 
 levee of her firft magiftrate, where he, who is the 
 head, and in fact creates and uncreates this court 
 from which redrefs and equity are to flow, he, 
 who mould confider himfelf as the corrector of 
 abufes, and avenger of wrongs, could attempt to 
 be facetious on the occafion. Well, General, fays 
 the King, fo you have been caft ; and who were 
 the counfel employed by your doughty adverfary ? 
 The General, a veteran courtier, long accuflomed 
 to royal waggery, fmartly replied, the learned 
 ferjeant Glynn, and the profound duke of Rich- 
 mond. This was prodigioufly witty, that the 
 whole circle, lords of the bed-chamber, maids of 
 honour, and privy-council, all buril into a loud 
 laugh *. 
 
 This may be a very excellent joke at St. James's; 
 
 * It is to be obferved, that the Treafury paid General Moftyn's 
 damages. 
 
 but
 
 but I can aflure Saint James's, that in other places 
 it favours but of fhallow wit, and that it only ferves 
 as a proof, for which there was no occafion, of 
 the weaknefs of the heads, and corruption of the 
 hearts, within thofe walls. And I can further allure 
 them, that did fuch noblemen, and fuch lawyers, 
 as the duke of Richmond, and ferjeant Glynn, 
 form the circle of the drawing room, it would be 
 more for the honour of his Majefly, and the fatis- 
 faftion and fafety of the nation, than one compo- 
 fed of the Grafton's, Sandwiches, Nortons, and 
 Wedderburnes. 
 
 A SHORT
 
 A 
 
 SHORT HISTORY 
 
 OF THE TREATMENT OF 
 
 MAJOR GENERAL CONWAY, 
 
 JLATE IN THE SERVICE OF AMERICA. 
 
 Philadelphia, December 3, 1778. 
 Monday the 23d of November laft, the 
 honourable Major General Conway fet out 
 from this city, on his return to France. The hif- 
 tory of the treatment this gentleman has received, 
 is fo fmgular that it muft make a figure in the 
 anecdotes of mankind. He was born in Ireland, but 
 at the age of fix was carried into France ; was 
 bred up from his infancy to the profeflion of arms ; 
 and, it is univerfally allowed, by the gentlemen of 
 that nation, that he has, in their fervice, the reputa- 
 tion of being what is ftiled un tres brave major 
 d'infanterie, which is no fmall character. It im- 
 plies, if I comprehend the term right, a man pof- 
 fefled of all the requifite qualities to fill the duties 
 of a general officer in the fecondary line, but by 
 no means ranks him among thofe favoured mor- 
 tals to whom it has pleafed God to give fo large a 
 portion of the ethereal fpirit, as to render reading, 
 theory and practice unnecefiary; but with the 
 fpe&acle of this phenomena Heaven entertains the 
 Earth but veryfeldomj Greece, as hiflorians re- 
 port,
 
 ( '74 ) 
 
 port, had but one * ; Rome none ; England and 
 France, only one each. As to this hcmifphere, I 
 finll be filcnt on the fubjecl, left I fliould be fuf- 
 pecled of i. But be this as it 
 
 may, it is paft doubt that General Con way is a 
 man of excellent underftanding, quick and pene- 
 trating, that he has feen much fervice, has read a 
 great deal, and digefted well what he has read. 
 Jt is not Icis certain, that he embarked, with the 
 u-ajmefl zeal, for the great American Caufe, and 
 it has never been infmuated, unlefs by thofe who 
 fcave the talent of confounding caufes, that his 
 zeal has diminifhed. His recompence has been, 
 What ? He has loft his commiilion ; he has b 
 refufed the common certificate, which every officer 
 receives at the expiration of his fen-ices, unlefs 
 his delinquencies have been very fubftantial indeed. 
 And for what crime? For none, by any law, or 
 the moil flrained conftruction that can be put on 
 any law. The reafons given are fo far from being 
 
 * Alexander ; Henry the Fifth ; and the Prince of Condc. 
 It may be difputed, ho & heroes were in- 
 
 debted to the gift of Heaven alone for their -glories. Alexan- 
 der ferved fome campaigns under his father Philip, had Arif- 
 totle for hit; mafter. Henry, before he became king, diflin- 
 guiihexl himfelf in the civil wars.a^niu.1 the lumfe of Northum-. 
 berlnnd, and, if I recolleft right, commanded in fome expedi- 
 tion agaiaft the Welih ; ami the Prince of Cojide had leflbns 
 from the ge-at mailers formed in the fchools of the wars in the 
 Low Country. 
 
 fubflan-
 
 fubflantial, that they really ought to reflect honour 
 on his character. It feems he has been accufed of 
 writing a letter, to a confidential friend, commu- 
 nicating an opinion, that the commander in chief 
 was not equal to the great tafk he was charged with. 
 Is this a crime ? The contrary. If it was really 
 his opinion, it was decent, it was honeft, it was 
 laudable, it was his duty. Does it come under 
 any article of war ? I may venture to affirm, that it 
 does not. God help the community that mould 
 be abfurd enough to frame a law which could be 
 conftrued into fuch a fenfej fuch a community 
 could not long fubfift. It ever has been, and ever 
 ought to be, the cuftom in all armies, not abfo- 
 lutely barbarians, for the officers of high rank mi- 
 nutely to canvafs the meafures of their comman- 
 der in chief ; and if his faults or miftakes appear 
 to them many and great, to communicate their 
 fentiments to each other ; it can be attended with 
 no one bad confequence ; for if the criticifms are 
 unjufl and impertinent, they only recoil on the 
 authors ; and the great man who is the fubject of- 
 them, mines with redoubled luftre. But if they 
 are all well founded, they tend- to open the eyes of 
 the Prince or State, who, from blind prejudice, 
 or fome ftrange infatuation, may have repofed 
 their affairs in hands ruinoufly incapable. Does 
 any man of feiafe, who is the lead acquainted with 
 hiftory, imagine that the great-eft generals the 
 
 world
 
 world ever produced have efcaped cenfure ? Hani* 
 bal, Caefar, Turene, Marlborough, have all been 
 cenfured ; and the only method they thought 
 juflifiable of flopping the mouths of their cenfors, 
 was by a frefh exertion of their talents, and a per- 
 petual ieries of victories. Laiffbns parlcr ccs bab- 
 kurs fcfpcrCy quc nous Icur fcrmerom la boucbs 
 a force dts vifloircs, was the anfwer of the king 
 of Pruflia to thofe worthy Gentlemen, who thought 
 to recommend themfelves by informing him, that 
 fome of his mca Cures were made very free with by 
 certain oilicers in his army. Indeed, it is obferv- 
 able, that in proportion to the capacity or inca- 
 pacity of the commander in chief, he countenan- 
 , or diCcountenances the whole tribe of tale- 
 bearers, informers, and pickthanki, who ever 
 have been, and ever will be, the bane of thole 
 courts and armies where they arc encouraged, or 
 even fufTered. Allowing General Wafhington to 
 be poflfefled of all the virtues and military talents 
 of Epaminondas, and this is certainly allowing a 
 great deal, for whether from our modern educa- 
 tion, or perhaps the modern ftate of human affairs, 
 it is difficult to conceive that any mortal in thefe 
 ages fhould arrive at fuch perfection ; but allowing 
 it to be fo, he would flill remain mortal, and of 
 courfe fubject to the infirmities of human nature : 
 ikknefs or other cafualties might impair his un- 
 derflanding, his memory, or his courage ; and, ia 
 confequence of the failure, he might adopt meafures 
 
 apparently
 
 ( -77 ) 
 
 apparently weak, ridiculous, and pernicious. Now, 
 1 demand, fuppofmg this certainly poflible cafe, 
 whether a law, the letter or fpirit of which fhould 
 abfolutely feal up the lips and reftrain the pens, of 
 every witnefs of the defection, would not, in fact, 
 be denouncing vengeance againft thofe who alone 
 have the means in their power of faving the pub- 
 lic from the ruin impending, if they mould dare 
 to make ufe of thefe means for its falvation. If 
 there were fuch a law, its abfurdity would be fo 
 monflroufly glaring, that we may hardly fay, it 
 would be more honoured in the breach than in the 
 obfervance. In the Englifh and French armies, the 
 freedom with which the conduct and meafures of 
 commanders in chief are canvaffed is notorious, 
 nor does it appear that this freedom is attended 
 with any bad confequences ; it has never been 
 once able to remove a real great officer from his 
 command. Every action of the Duke of Marl- 
 borough (every body who has read muft know) 
 was not only minutely criticifed, but his whole 
 conduct was diffe&ed, in order to difcover fome 
 crime, blunder, fault, or even trifling error ; 
 but all thefe impertinent pains and wicked in- 
 duilry, were employed in vain ; it was a court in- 
 trigue alone that fubverted him j the low military 
 cabals pafled as the idle wind. 
 
 General Wolfe, with whom to be compared, it 
 can be no degradation to any mortal living, was 
 not merely criticifed, but grofsly calumniated by 
 
 N fome
 
 fome officers of high rank under him ; brt that 
 great man never thought of having rec > the 
 
 letter or conftruclion of any law, in i-.ier to 
 avenge himfelf ; he was contented with informing 
 his calumniators, that he was not ignorant of their 
 practices, and that the only method he mould take 
 for their punifhment, would be an active perfeve- 
 rance in the performance of his duty, which, with 
 the afliftance of God, he made no doubt would 
 place him beyond the reach of their malice. As 
 to what liberties they had taken with him per- 
 fonally, he mould wait till he was reduced to the 
 rank of a private gentleman, and then fpeak to 
 them in that capacity. 
 
 Upon the whole, it appears, that it never was un- 
 derftood to be the meaning of the Englifh an 
 of war, which enjoins refpeft towards the com- 
 mander in chief; and of courfe it ought not to be 
 underftood, that the meaning of that aiiiclc of the 
 American code (which is a fervile copy from the 
 Englifh) is meant to profcribe the communication 
 of our fentiments to one another, on the capacity 
 or incapacity of the man on whom the fafety or 
 ruin of the flate depends ; its intention was with- 
 out doubt in part complimentary, and partly to lay 
 fume decent reflricuons on the licence of conver- 
 fation and writing, which othcrwife might create 
 a diffidence in the minds of the common foldiery, 
 detrimental to the public fervice. But that it was 
 meant to impofe a dead, torpid, idolatrous, filcnce, 
 
 in
 
 ( 179 ) 
 
 in all cafes whatever, on men, who, from their rank, 
 muft be fuppofed to have eyes and underftanding, 
 nothing under the degree of an idiot can perfuade 
 himfelf : but admitting, in oppofition to common 
 fenfe and all precedents, the proceeding to be cri- 
 minal j admitting Mr. Conway guilty of it, to the 
 extent reprefented, which he can demonflrate to be 
 falfe ; in the name of God, why inflict the higheft, 
 at leaft negative punifhment, on a man untried and 
 unheard. The refufal of a certificate, of having 
 honeftly ferved, is confidered as the greateft of ne- 
 gative punifhments j indeed in the military idea, 
 it is a pofitive one. 
 
 And I fmcerely hope, and do firmly believe, (fuch 
 is my opinion of the juftice of Congrefs,) that when 
 they have coolly reflected on the merits and for- 
 tunes of this gentleman, they will do him that 
 juftice, which nothing but the hafty mifconftruc- 
 tion of a law haftily copied from another law, 
 never defined nor underftood, has hitherto pre- 
 vented. 
 
 N 2 PROPOSALS
 
 PROPOSALS FOR THE FORMATION 
 
 OF A 
 
 BODY OF LIGHT TROOPS, 
 
 READY TO bk DETAC HI I) 
 
 ON AN EMERGENT OCCASION. 
 
 Polafki is certainly a good ibldier, or 
 he is not ; for my own part, I believe him 
 a very good one. In the firft place he is a Po- 
 lander, whofc genius is adapted to the light or ex- 
 pedite war. In the fecond place, he has had much 
 practice in the beft fchools, and is undoubtedly 
 brave and enterprifmg. If he is not a good foldier, 
 as his corps is expenfive, he ought not to be de- 
 tained ; therefore, it is expedient, either to fend 
 him about his bufmefs entirely, or to make the 
 proper ufe of him ; but on the fuppofition that he 
 knows his trade, I would propofe the following 
 fcheme That his legion fliould be immediately 
 completed to twelve hundred men, four hundred 
 cavalry, and eight hundred light infantry for 
 thefe eight hundred infantry, that a draft mould be 
 
 made,
 
 made, without lofs of time, from every regiment of 
 the continent, entirely of natives ; not fo young 
 as to be unable to refill the fatigues of this fort of 
 fervice, but of the proper age for violent exercife 
 and forced marches. Major Lee, who feems to 
 have come out of his mother's womb a foldier, 
 mould be incorporated in this legion, with the 
 rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and to command fpe- 
 cifically the whole cavalry. If Major Lee's corps 
 (for I know not their ftrength) will not, added to the 
 cavalry Polaiki already has, compleat them to four 
 hundred, let there be a draft made from the other 
 regiment of cavalry. Moilands, Blands, and Shel- 
 dons, all of natives, and the very youngefl men ; 
 becaufe on Polalki's principle of exercife (which 
 I verily believe to be the bed in the worldj none 
 but very young men are capable of being trained 
 to the manoeuvres ; but as it is not certain that 
 either Count Polaiki, or Major Lee underftand the 
 detail of cavalry, on which fo much depends ; let 
 fome Quarter-mafters or Serjeants, who have ferved 
 in the Britifli cavalry, (and there are many on the 
 continent,) be found out, encouraged with rank 
 and emolnment, and employed. A corps thus 
 compofed, with brave and underftanding officers at 
 their head, fuch as are Polaiki and Lee, with a 
 few fubordinate officers, knowing, in the detail, 
 will render more effectual fervice than any ten 
 regiments on the continent. It would likewife 
 put a flop, for the future, to that odious, perni- 
 
 N 3 cious
 
 ( 182 ) 
 
 cious practice of picking the bed men from every 
 battalion, on what are called extraordinary occa- 
 fions ; which practice has abfolutely no other 
 effect than difgufting the greater part of the officers 
 of the army, and rendering the whole difpirited 
 and unfit for a&ion. I could quote a ftrong in- 
 ftance of the bad confequences of this cuftom. 
 Some days before the affair of Monmouth, Gene- 
 ral Scott was detached with a corps of picked men 
 and officers, to the no fmall difguft of thofe who 
 were left behind, who could not help confidering 
 tt as a fort of fligma on their characters. After 
 this, the Marquis de la Fayette was detached with 
 another corps of one thoufand, picked out in the 
 fame manner. This body, now confiding of twenty- 
 five hundred men, inftead of falling on the enemies' 
 flanks, did, from fome fatality, abfolutely nothing 
 alt all. I was afterwards ordered to march to fuf- 
 tain them, with three fcanty brigades, compofed 
 entirely of the refufe ; and of this refufe I was 
 under the neceflity of forming my van-guard on 
 the day of the aftion of Monmouth ; for the 
 picked corps, by the blunders committed, were 
 fo fatigued that they could fcarcely move their 
 legs. 
 
 SOME
 
 Phiadelphia, July 6th, 1779. 
 SOME Q.UERIES, 
 
 POLITICAL AND MILITARY, 
 
 Humbly offered to the Confideration of the 
 Public. 
 
 i ft. TTTHETHER George the Firft did nor, 
 on his acceffion to the throne of Great 
 Britain, by making himfelf king of a party, inftead 
 of the w'hole nation, fow the feeds not only of the 
 fubverfiton of the liberties of the people, but of 
 the ruin of the whole empire ? 
 
 ad. Whether, by profcribing that clafs of men, 
 to which his miniftry were pleafed to give the ap- 
 pellation of Tories, he did not, in the end, make 
 them not only real tories, but even Jacobites ? 
 
 ^d. Whether the confequence of this diflinc- 
 tion, now become real, was not two rebellions; 
 and whether the fruit of thofe rebellions, although 
 defeated, were not feptennial parliaments, a large 
 {landing army, an enormous additional weight and 
 pecuniary influence thrown into the fcale of the 
 crown, which in a few years have borne down, 
 N 4 not
 
 ( 1 84 ) 
 
 not only the fubflance, but almofl the form of 
 liberty, all fenfe of patriotifm, the morals of the 
 people, and, in the end, overturned the mighty 
 fabric of the Britifh empire ? 
 
 4th. Whether the prefent men in power, in 
 this (late, do not tread exactly in the fteps of this 
 pernicious miniftry, by profcribing and disfran- 
 chifing fo large a proportion of citizens as thofe 
 men whom they find it their intereft to brand with 
 the denomination of Tories ? 
 
 5th. Whether liberty, to be durable, mould not 
 be conftructed on as broad a bafis as poffible j and 
 whether the fame caufes, in all ages, and in all 
 countries do not produce the fame effects ? 
 
 6th. Whether it is not natural and even jufli- 
 fiable, for that clafs of people (let the pretext be 
 ever fo plaufible) who have been dripped of their 
 rights as men, by the hard hand of power, to w:fh 
 for, and endeavour to bring about, by any means, 
 \\ hatever a revolution in that (late, which they 
 cannot but confider, as an ufurpation and tyranny? 
 
 7th. Whether a fubjeft of Morocco is not, 
 when we confider human nature, a happier mor- 
 tal, than a disfranchifed citizen of Pennsylvania, 
 as the former has the comfort of feeing all about 
 him in the fame predicament with himfelf j the 
 latter, the mifery of being a Have in the fpecious 
 bofom of liberty ? The former drinks the cup, but 
 the latter alone can tafte the bittei nefs of it. 
 
 8th. Whether an enlightened member of a French 
 
 par-
 
 parliament is not a thoufand times more wretched 
 than a Ruffian cirf or peafant ? As to the former, 
 the chains, from his fenfibility, mufl be extremely 
 galling ; and on the latter, they fit as eafy as the 
 ikin of his back, 
 
 9th. Whether it is falutary or dangerous, con- 
 iiftent with, or abhorrent from, the principles and 
 fpirit of liberty and republicanifm, to inculcate 
 and encourage in the people, an idea, that their 
 welfare, fafety, and glory, depend on one man ? 
 Whether they really do depend on one man? 
 
 loth. Whether, amongft the late warm, or ra- 
 ther loyal addreflers, in this city, to his Excellency 
 General Wafhington, there was a fmgle mortal, 
 one gentleman excepted, who could poflibly be. 
 acquainted with his merits ? 
 
 nth. Whether this gentleman excepted, does 
 really think his Excellency a great man ; or whe- 
 ther evidences could not be produced of his fenti- 
 ments being quite the reverfe ? 
 
 i2th. Whether the armies under Gates and 
 Arnold, and the detachment under Starke, to the 
 Northward, or that immediately under his Excel- 
 lency, in Pennfylvania, gave the decifive turn to 
 the fortune of war ? 
 
 1 3th. Whether, therefore, when Monfieur Ge- 
 rard and Don Juan de Miralles, fent over to their 
 refpective courts the pictures of his Excellency Ge- 
 neral Wafhington at full length, by Mr. Peal, 
 there would have been any impropriety in fending 
 over, at the fame time, at lead a couple of little 
 
 heads
 
 heads of Gates and Arnold by M, c!e Simitieie. 
 
 1 4th. On what principle was it that Congrefs 
 in the year 1776, lent for Generalise quite from 
 Georgia, with injunctions to join the army under 
 General Washington, then in York-lflanJ, without 
 lofs of time. 
 
 1 5th. Whether Congrefs had reafon to be fatis- 
 fied or disfatisfied with thi$ their recal of General 
 Lee, from what fubfequently happened on Yoik- 
 Ifland, and at the White-Plains ? 
 
 1 6th. Whether Fort Wafhington was or was 
 not tenable ? Whether there were barracks, cafe- 
 mates, fuel, or water, within the body of the place ? 
 Whether in the outworks, the defenceswere in any 
 decent order ? And whether there were even 
 platforms for the guns ? 
 
 i ;th. Whether, if it had been tenable it could 
 have anfwered any one fmgle purpofe ? Did it 
 cover, did it protect a valuable country ? Did 
 it prevent the enemy's fhips from patting or repaf- 
 fing with impunity ? 
 
 1 8th. Whether, when General Howe mani- 
 feflly gave over all thoughts of attacking General 
 Wafhington, in the lail ilrong pofition in the rear 
 of White-Plains, and fell back towards York- 
 Ifland, orders fliould not have been immediately 
 difpatched for the evacuation of Fort Wafhington, 
 and for the removal of all the (lores of value from 
 Fort Lee to fome fecure fpot, more removed from 
 the river ? W T hether this was not propofed and 
 
 the propofal flighted ? 
 
 1 9th.
 
 . Whether the lofs of the garrifon of Fort 
 Waflr.agton, and its consequent lofs of Fort Lee, 
 with the tents, ftores, &c. had not fuch an effect 
 on the fpirits of the people, as to make the dif- 
 ference of twenty thoufand men to America ? 
 
 2oth. Whether, in the defeat of Brandewine, 
 General Sullivan was really the perfon who ought 
 to have been cenfured ? 
 
 2 1 ft. Whether, if Duke Ferdinand* had com- 
 manded at German Town, after having gained, by 
 the valour of his troops, and the negligence of 
 his enemy, a partial victory, he would have con- 
 trived, by a fmgle flroke of the Bathos, to have 
 corrupted this partial victory into a defeat ? 
 
 22d. Whether our pofitionat Valley Forge was 
 not fuch, that if General Howe, or afterwards 
 General Clinton, had been well informed of its 
 circumflances, defects, and vices, they might not 
 at the head of ten, or even of eight thoufand men, 
 have reduced the American army to the fame fatal 
 neceflity as the Americans did General Burgoyne ? 
 
 23d. Whether the trials of General St. Clair, 
 
 * In one of the numerous publications which have lately in- 
 felled Philadelphia, it was brought as a crime againft Mr. 
 Deanc, that he had, directly or indirectly, made iome over- 
 tures to Prince Ferdinand of Brunfwick, to accept the com- 
 mand of the American army, who mud of courfe have fuper- 
 ccded General Wafhington. This crime appeared to all the 
 foreign officers who are acquainted with the prince's reputa- 
 tion as a foldier, in fo very ridiculous a light, that they never 
 think or fpeak of it without being thrown into violent fits 
 of laughter. 
 
 Of
 
 of which Court-Martial General Lincoln was 
 prefident, and that on General Lee, were conduct- 
 ed in the fame forms, and on the fame princi- 
 ples ? Whether in the former, all hearfay evi- 
 dences were not abfolutely rejected ; and in the 
 latter hearfay evidence did not conftitute a very 
 confiderable part ? 
 
 24th. Whether, if the Generals Schuyler and 
 St. Glair, had been tried by the fame Court-Mar- 
 tial as General Lee was, and, inftead of Congrefs, 
 General Washington had been the profecutor, 
 thofe gentlemen (unexceptionable as their conduct 
 was) would not have flood a very ugly chance of 
 being condemned ? And whether, if inflead of 
 General Washington, Congrefs had been the pro- 
 fecutor, General Lee would not probably have 
 been acquitted with the higheft honour ? 
 
 2 Jjth. Whether it mud not appear to every man 
 who has read General Wamington's letter to Con- 
 grefs, on the affair at Monmouth, and the pro- 
 ceedings of the Court-Martial, by which General 
 Lee was tried, that if the contents of the former 
 are facts, not only General Lee's defence niuft be 
 a tiiTue of the mod abominable audacious lies, but 
 thit the whole firing of evidences, both on the 
 part of the profecution and profecuted, muft be 
 guilty of rank perjury, as the teftimonies of thofe 
 gentlemen, near forty in number, delivered on 
 
 ijfcarcely in one article coincide with the de- 
 rail given in his Kxcellencv's letter ? 
 
 COPY
 
 COPY 
 
 O F 
 
 GENERAL LEE'S WILL. 
 
 I MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES LEE of the 
 county of Berkeley, in the commonwealth 
 of Virginia, being in perfed health, and of a 
 found mind, confidering the certainty of death, 
 and the uncertainty of the time it may happen, 
 have determined to make this my laft will and 
 teftament, in manner following : that is to 
 fay, I give and bequeath to Alexander "White, 
 Efq. one hundred guineas, in confideration of 
 the zeal and integrity he has difplayed in the 
 adminiilration of my affairs, alfo the choice of 
 any two of my colts or fillies under four years of 
 age. 
 
 Item, I give and bequeath to Charles Minn 
 Thruflon, Efq. fifty guineas, in confideration of 
 his good qualities and the friendfhip he has ma- 
 
 nifefted
 
 nifefted for me ; and to Buckner Thrufton, his 
 Ion, I leave all my books, as I know he will 
 make a good ufe of them. 
 
 To my good friend John Mercer, Efq. of 
 Marlborough in Virginia, I give and bequeath 
 the choice of two brood mares, of all my fwords 
 and piftols, and ten guineas to buy a ring : I 
 would give him more, but as he has a good 
 eftate and a better genius, he has fufficient, if he 
 knows how to make a good ufe of them. 
 
 I give and bequeath to my former aid de camp, 
 Otway Bird, Efq. the choice of another brood 
 mare, and ten guineas for the fame purpofe of 
 a remembrance-ring. 
 
 I give and bequeath to my worthy friend Co- 
 lonel William Grayfon, of Dumfries, the fecond 
 choice of two colts : and to my excellent friend 
 William Steptoe, of Virginia, I would leave a 
 great deal, but as he is now fo rich, it would be 
 no lefs than robbing my other friends who are 
 poor. I therefore entreat, he will only accept 
 of five guineas, which I bequeath to him to pur- 
 chafe a ring of affection. 
 
 I bequeath to my old and faithful fervant, or 
 rather humble friend, Guifippi Minghini, three 
 hundred guineas, with all my horfes, mares, and 
 colts of every kind, thofe abovementioned ex- 
 cepted ; like wife all my wearing apparel and 
 plate, my waggons and tools of agriculture, and 
 his choice of four milch cows. 
 
 2 I be-
 
 ( '9- ) 
 
 I bequeath to Elizabeth Dunn, my houfekeeper, 
 one hundred guineas and my whole (lock of cat- 
 tle, the four milch cows abovementioned only 
 excepted. 
 
 I had almoft forgot my dear friends, (and I 
 ought to be afhamed of it,) Mrs. Shippen, her 
 fon Thomas Shippen, and Thomas Lee, Efq. 
 of Belle- View. I beg they will accept ten guineas 
 each, to buy rings of affection. 
 
 My landed eftate in Berkeley, I defire may be 
 divided into three equal parts, according to qua- 
 lity and quantity ; one-third part I devife to my 
 dear friend Jacob Morris, of Philadelphia ; one 
 other third part to Evan Edwards, both my for- 
 mer aid de camps, and to their heirs and afiigns ; 
 the other third part I devife to Eleazer Ofwald, at 
 prefent of Philadelphia, and William Goddard, 
 of Baltimore, to whom I am under obligations, 
 and to their heirs and afligns, to be equally di- 
 vided between them ; but thefe devifees are not 
 to enter until they have paid off the feveral legacies 
 abovementioned, with intereft from the time of 
 my death, and all taxes which may be due on 
 my eftate. In cafe I mould fell my faid landed 
 eftate, I bequeath the price thereof, after paying 
 the aforefaid legacies, to the faid Jacob Morris, 
 Evan Edwards, Eleazer Ofwald, and William 
 Goddard, in the proportions abovementioned. 
 
 All my flaves, which I may be pofTefled of at the 
 
 time
 
 ( '9= ) 
 
 rime of my deceafe, I bequeath to Guifippi Ming- 
 hiiii and Elizabeth Dunn, to be equally divided 
 between them. 
 
 All my other property of every kind, and 
 in every part of the world, after my deceafe, 
 funeral charges, and neccflary expences of ad- 
 mini ft rat ion are paid, I give, devife, and be- 
 queath to my filler Sidney Lee, her heirs and 
 afligns for ever. 
 
 I defire moft earneflly, that I may not be buried 
 in any church, or church-yard, or within a mile 
 of any Prefbyterian or Anabaptift meeting-houfe ; 
 for fmce I have refided in this country, I have 
 kept fo much bad company when living, that I do 
 not chufe to continue it when dead. 
 
 I recommend my foul to the Creator of all 
 worlds and of all creatures ; who muft, from his 
 vifible attributes, be indifferent to their modes 
 of worfliip or creeds, whether ChrifHans, Maho- 
 metans, or Jews ; whether inflilled by education, 
 or taken up by reflection ; whether more or lefs 
 abfurd ; as a weak mortal can no more be an- 
 fwerable for his perfuafions, notions, or even 
 fcepticifm in religion, than for the colour of 
 his fkin. 
 
 And I do appoint the above-named Alexander 
 White and Charles Minn Thrufton, executors of 
 ihis my lad will and teftament, and do revoke all 
 other wills by me heretofore made. In witnefs 
 
 whereof
 
 whereof I have hereunto fet my hand and feal 
 this day of 
 
 in the year of our Lord, one thoufand feven hun- 
 dred and eighty two. 
 
 CHARLES LEE. /SEAL** 
 
 # 
 
 Signed, fealed, published, 
 and declared by the faid Ma~ 
 jor General Charles Lee, as, 
 and for, his lad will and 
 teflament. In prefence of, 
 
 JAMES SMITH, 
 
 SAMUEL SWEARINGEN, 
 
 WILLIAM GARRARD. 
 
 At a court held for Berkeley county the 
 day of April, 1783, this laft will and teflament 
 of Charles Lee, deceafed, was prefented in court 
 by Alexander White, one of the executors therein 
 named, who made oath thereto according to law, 
 and the fame being proved to be executed on the 
 loth day of September, 1782, by the oaths of 
 James Smith and Samuel Swearingen, two of the 
 witnefies thereto, and ordered to be recorded ; 
 and on the motion of the faid executor who en- 
 O tered
 
 ( '94 ) 
 
 tered into bond with Adam Stephen, Efq. his 
 fecurity, in the penalty of twenty thoufand pounds, 
 conditioned for his true and faithful adminiftra- 
 tion of the faid eflate. Certificate is granted 
 him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form 
 of law. 
 
 A COPY. 
 
 WILLIAM DREW. 
 
 LETTERS
 
 TO AND FROM 
 
 MAJOR GENERAL LEE.
 
 LETTERS 
 
 To 
 
 GENERAL LEE, 
 
 From feveral eminent Characters both in 
 EUROPE and AMERICA. 
 
 MY REAR LEE, London, Nov. 26th, 1759. 
 
 YOUR American pofts are exceffive hard, 
 upon me, and mal regie? s. You and Mont- 
 gomery are fo good as to write to me often from 
 thence. I have been, upon honour, very exact in 
 my anfwers, without having been lucky enough 
 that either of you mould have heard from me. 
 This time I hope to be more fortunate, having 
 recommended my letter to the beft hand. I envy 
 you all the fervice you have feen whilfl have 
 been in the moil iluggifh inactivity. I have indeed 
 got a fon, but cela ne conte guerss. Our good 
 O 3 fortune,
 
 r 
 
 fortune, and that of our friends, has been inde- 
 fatigable this year. To-day, we have the news 
 of the furrender of Munfler, and the French in 
 Germany retiring, probably into winter quarters. 
 Daun is doing the fame, and is likely to leave the 
 amazing King of Pruflia once more in pofleffion of 
 Saxony. The Ruffians, we flatter ourfelves, will 
 move no more. The Breft fleet is out ; Hawke 
 after them, and a good account of them hoped 
 for, and expected every moment. Next year I 
 hope to have fomething to do in Germany, where 
 they talk of fending us. I believe you already 
 know my trade Lieutenant Colonel to George 
 Elliott's Light Dragoons. Being as horfe-mad 
 as ever, and having the rank of Colonel 
 before, by being the King's aid de camp, I 
 preferred that to a young regiment of foot. So 
 many children have of late been made Generals, 
 that we Children-colonels are already very high 
 in the lift. The riding of this new corps has 
 kept me fully employed this whole Cummer, and 
 I am now come up to town for winter quarters, 
 which the feafon makes much more pleafant tban 
 th6 country ones. We are all here in grief for 
 the lofs of poor Wolfe. Nobody of that age can 
 be more publicly and privately admired and regret- 
 ted. The war in America, we are in hopes, 
 \vill be over very foon ; if fo, I mail hope then 
 fo have the pleafure of feeing you. The French's 
 tighting-days feem to be over, or, at leaft, fuf- 
 2 pendcd.
 
 ( 199 ) 
 
 pended. Every day produces a change amongfl 
 them, of generals, admirals, and miniftry ; and 
 every thing fpeaks them to be in the greateft 
 poverty and difunion. It don't often happen here, 
 or any where elfe, I believe ; but there is certainly 
 at prefent amongft all here the greateft fpirits 
 and unanimity imaginable, and no appearances 
 pf want j much debauch, and good living ; fo 
 pray come amongft us foon. You have the good 
 fortune not only to have feen fervice enough, but 
 moft of it fuccefsful. All your friends are well. 
 Adieu, my dear Lee! let me hear from you 
 when you can, and be aflured that no one can 
 intereft themfelves more fmcerely about you than, 
 Your moft affectionate Friend, and 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 PEMBROKE. 
 
 TO 
 
 Capt. Charles Lee, 
 In the 44th Reg. Albany, 
 
 DEAR CHARLES, London, Nov. 28th, 1759, 
 
 YOU have obliged me very much by a fecond 
 
 letter come lately to my hands, and dated at 
 
 Niagara : We had before received accounts of the 
 
 reduction of it, and your being in pofleffion of 
 
 O 4 the
 
 ( 200 ) 
 
 the glorious country around; which, by jyour 
 defcription, mud be a paradife indeed ; and it is 
 much to be wifhed, it may never again go out of your 
 hands. Our acquiiitions this year have been fo 
 great and important, that it has been thought pro- 
 per to appoint to-morrow a public thankfgiving- 
 day : and though Amherft has not got fo forward 
 as was expected, yet he fends word he is matter 
 of Lake Champlain ; which, as we are poflefled 
 of the other fide of Quebec, mutt bound the enemy 
 between the two in fuch a manner, as, we con- 
 clude here, will diflrefs them extremely, if not 
 oblige them to make fubmifiion, and furrender. 
 In Europe, you will have heard Bofcawen fell in 
 with the Toulon fleet, and took four of them ; 
 and we are now in hourly expectation of Ha\vke*s 
 overtaking the Bred fleet, which dole out of the 
 harbour the other day, in order, as it is fuppofed, 
 to cover a tlefcent, either upon Ireland or this 
 country, which they have long threatened us 
 with; but it muft be a very defperate game they 
 are playing, fmce, if our mips have the luck to 
 come up with them, we have little fear here of 
 their giving them fuch a blow as will put an end 
 to the naval force of France for fome time to 
 come. But I will talk no more of public aflairs ; 
 it will probably be of greater fatisfaction to you, 
 to hear of the welfare of your friends and relations, 
 which I am happily enabled at prefent to affure 
 you of ; for I know not of any exception amongfr. 
 
 them
 
 them all. My fon is gone to Turin, and I hope 
 we may prefume upon his health, though we have 
 not lately heard from him : he is to flay here five 
 or fix months, and afterwards to ramble about 
 Italy another twelve-month. Your fitter Sidney 
 complains you do not write fo often as me wiihes. 
 I gave her the fatisfa&ion of knowing you had 
 favoured me lately with a letter, and that you were 
 \vell and happy, as I am willing to fuppofe by 
 the ftrain of your ftyle, which is very lively and 
 entertaining. The bocks and chocolate you de- 
 fired, have been fent to Mr. Calcroft near a month 
 ago, who has taken the charge of them ; and I 
 hope they will get fafe to your hand: But fure 
 you are not to flay on that continent for ever : 
 We wifh you to come again amongft your friends, 
 and probably fome change might be procured, as 
 well as advance, on this fide of the water, if you 
 defired it. Lord Granby commands in Germany 
 at prefent, and is likely to be at the head of the 
 army on this fide of the water too, if Ligonier 
 drops ; and it is fuppofed he cannot laft a great 
 while longer. The taking of Munfler, which we 
 had advice of the other day, will be of great im- 
 portance to our allied army, and fecure them good 
 winter quarters. A great many matches are talked 
 of here in town, fo that if you do not come foon, 
 all our fine young ladies will be difpofed of ; but 
 I know of none of your more particular acquain- 
 tance that have, or are about, changing their 
 
 ftate.
 
 flate. Pray go on writing to us ; nobody better 
 qualified to entertain by their letters : I wifli I had 
 as good a knack on my fide, for the fake of your 
 amufcment. Your aunt and coufins beg to live 
 conftantly in your memory and good wifhes ; they 
 defire I will ai'ure you, you have theirs moil 
 heartily ; and J hope I need not add, that you 
 will invariably have thofe of your affectionate and 
 obliged uncle, 
 
 WILLIAM BUNBURY. 
 Capt. Charles Lee. 
 
 MY DEAR COLONEL, \Varfa\v, April tglh, 1767. 
 
 I ADMIRE, very much, the fubdlty of your 
 reafoning, and the arguments you run after, to 
 prove me in fault for the filence you have long 
 obferved, which, I confefs, has furnilhed me often 
 with fubjecl for reflections. The receipt of your 
 letter has given me fo much pleafure, that I ought 
 in gratitude to forget every uneafy thought that 
 I have permitted to torment me whilfl I was in 
 expectation of it ; and therefore mall proceed im- 
 mediately to thank you for the intelligence it 
 brings me, and the aflurances it renews of your 
 affe&ion and friendfhip. 
 
 I mould have been heartily glad to have heard, 
 
 my
 
 C 
 
 my dear Colonel, that His Majefty's recommend- 
 ation had been more fuccefsful in procuring you 
 an eftablifhment equal to your merit and wifhes ; 
 but am not at all furprifed that you find the door 
 fhut againft you by the perfon who has fuch un- 
 bounded credit ; as you have ever too freely in- 
 dulged a liberty of declaiming, which many infa- 
 mous and invidious people have not failed to in- 
 form him of. The principle on which you thus 
 openly fpeak your mind, is honeft and patriotic, 
 but not politic ; and as it will not fucceed in 
 changing men or times, common prudence mould 
 teach us to hold our tongues, rather than to rifque 
 our own fortunes without any profpecl of advan- 
 tage to ourfelves or neighbours. Excufe this fcrap 
 of advice, my dear Colonel, and place it to the vent: 
 of a heart entirely devoted to your intereft. 
 
 I remember my promife, to inform you of the 
 tranfa&ions of this place ; and had I received a 
 line from you upon the road, mould have endea- 
 voured to find time during the diet to have given 
 you a Iketch of the critical and unexpected affairs 
 that agitated us ; it will be needlefs now, as the 
 .public papers and your other correfpondems here 
 have, doubtlefs, not failed to inftruct you. The 
 important affair of the diiiidents was rudely and 
 infolendy refufed ; and you cannot be ignorant that 
 thofe gentlemen have formed two confederations 
 in Poland and-in Lithuania, fupported by a Ruffian 
 
 armv
 
 C 204 ) 
 
 army of thirty or forty thoufand men, and that 
 we expeft a diet extraordinary in the months of 
 Auguft or September, for terminating their de- 
 mands, to the fatisfaction of the powers who in- 
 terefl themfelves in their behalf: and though it 
 is impoffible to fay how it will end, yet the ap- 
 pearances at prefent are much in their favour, 
 and we have all reafon to think, that it will be con- 
 dueled without any interruption of the tranquillity 
 of the republic. 
 
 You muft not imagine, that however important 
 this negociation is, that our great men cannot find 
 time for other amufements and engagements. The 
 object that engroffes our attention at this moment, is 
 love,and the family ofClavereau, (you remember the 
 French ador and his two daughters :) Prince Gaf- 
 par Lubomirfki marries the youngeft daughter to 
 day, and the eldeft ran away, and married a mu- 
 
 fician, two days ago, having received from R 
 
 a confiderable fum, as a recompence for fo infa- 
 mous a part, and as ferving only for a cloak to 
 his views of getting her out of her father's houfe. 
 The father has a&ed, on this occafion, like a 
 prince, and the ambaflador like a comedian ; the 
 latter laughs, and is content with his dexterity, 
 and his flatterers tell him, he is an habile negoti- 
 ator : but every prudent and impartial man mull 
 condemn a perfon of his rank and character 
 father of many children, and pad the heat of 
 
 youth
 
 youth for having committed fuch an extrava- 
 gance. 
 
 The chart du pals remains pretty much the feme 
 as when you left us ; the fame friendfhips and the 
 fame quarrels. You have been the inftrument of 
 
 making Lind's fortune ; M has given him 
 
 the abfolute direction and education of Monfl 
 Chambellan's fon, with a penfion for life, and he 
 is to travel with him in a couple of years ; and I 
 cannot but congratulate both parties, for Lind has 
 great merit as a fcholar, and a man of principles 
 and worth. 
 
 I am much obliged to you, my dear Colonel, 
 for your offers of fervice, and am convinced, 
 that you would feize any opportunity of being 
 ufeful to me j I don't know in what manner you 
 can do me a greater, than in the confervation of 
 your fentiments for me. Take care of your health, 
 and hufband well your fortune, which is fufficient 
 to make you happy ; and, in your happinefs, 
 I mail always find a lincere fatisfa&ion. Adieu, 
 my dear Colonel ! I am, and mall be, to the end 
 cf my life, 
 
 Your affectionate Friend and Servant, 
 
 THOMAS WROUGHTON. 
 
 Col. Lee, 
 
 MY
 
 ( 206 ) 
 
 MY DEAR LEE, Ifland St. John, Nov. loth, 1 772. 
 
 OF all men on earth, you are the lad from 
 whom I expeded to hear, unlcfs it was in a para- 
 graph of a foreign Gazette, that fuch a day Monf. 
 General Lee, un Anglcis, was cut to pieces, de- 
 fending his Polifh Majeflj, or in fome defperate 
 uncommon attack ; or, which was full as likely, 
 that you was hanged for treafon, in fome of the 
 damned arbitrary governments you have been 
 wandering through. But, how furprifed ! when, 
 in the place of this, I received a flattering letter 
 from you, dated Dijon. Surely, Lee, the climate 
 of France has produced this wonderful effecl:. I 
 am fure in Old England you would never flatter 
 any man, much lefs one whom you honoured with 
 your friendfhip. Do you not know how apt we 
 all are to forget ourfelves when in power, or upon 
 any fudden elevation ; and how very ready we 
 are to believe all the handfome things that even 
 the moft abject fycophants are pleafed to befpat- 
 ter us with ? Then, my friend, how much more 
 dangerous muft it be from a man, of whofe un- 
 derflanding I have always had the higheft opi- 
 nion ? And who is fo remarkable for his candor 
 and freedom of fpeech, that they are, to the dif- 
 grace of our day, well known to be his greateft 
 enemies. In fpite of what I fay, I will acknow- 
 ledge I am proud of your good opinion, though 
 delivered in too flattering a flyle j bat I hope 
 
 it
 
 it will have no other effect than to make me en- 
 deavour to deferve it. 
 
 Taking it for granted, that you will like to 
 know how I bear my promotion, I will give you 
 as impartial an account of it, in as few words as it 
 is poffible for a man to give of himfelf. I feel my- 
 felf independent, and a flave to flaves, obliged to 
 court and flatter men whom I defpife, both for 
 their want of abilities and want of honefty. I 
 hate power, and thofe in it, more and more every 
 day. I am plainer in my table and apparel than 
 you ever knew me, without an attempt or wifh 
 to be rich. I have children and I feel they may 
 one day be under another governor, on the fpot 
 where their father once prefided. This helps to. 
 make me careful, and as tender as poffible of thofe 
 entrufted to my care. My actions are as public 
 as they can poffibly be made ; and I hope my 
 children and friends will never have reafon 
 to blufh, or be afhamed to hear of them. I 
 find the care of a people a more difficult thing 
 than I imagined it to be, and I find myfelf 
 very defective as a legiflator : the former, 
 perhaps time may render more eafy, and I am en- 
 deavouring to remedy the latter, by as clofe an 
 application, to ftudy the fpirit of the laws of my 
 country, as is in my power j in the mean time, I 
 am cautious of doing much, left I may do more 
 evil than good. This, if I know any thing of my- 
 felf, is truth. How you will like the daubed por- 
 trait,
 
 ( 20S ) 
 
 trait, I know not, nor whether or not, I may not 
 forfeit a part of your good opinion, by the bad- 
 nefs of the attempt. 
 
 Having fald fo much of myfelf, I now come to 
 your bufmefs ; and, in the firft place, Ipromife you, 
 if it be in my power to do any for you, I will, and 
 with more plcafure than you can afk me. In the 
 mean time, I can anfwer you fome of your que- 
 ries to a greater certainty, by being here, than if 
 I had received your letter in Suffolk Street, where 
 you directed it to me. You defire to know if it 
 is worth your while to lay out any money on your 
 lands in this illand ; I anfwer, yes. You have 
 half of the very befl lot on this ifland, or at lead 
 as good as any, and were I in your circumflances, 
 I would be proprietor of the whole of it ; in that 
 manner I would lay out the firft money. There 
 are a good many French who live upon it already ; 
 but for want of title to the land, they do not im- 
 prove it as they might : thefe would commence a 
 fmallrent immediately, for which reafon you ought 
 to appoint an agent ; and if you do not like to 
 purchafe the other half, you ought to come to 
 fome agreement with Sir Francis M'Leane, either 
 to have a divifion made of it, or to bear a mare of 
 the expences ; but I would by all means recom- 
 mend the former, that is to fay, to purchafe the 
 whole, or to have it divided. 
 
 The kind of man, I would recommend to you 
 as an agent, would be an Englifh farmer, an aftive 
 
 fellow,
 
 ( 209 ) 
 
 fellow, with a genius a little above the common 
 run of them ; one that would not be fo much 
 guided by old cuftoms, as to attempt ploughing 
 here in February, becaufe he was ufed to do fo 
 at home : in mort, a man who can think a little 
 and accommodate both himfelf and his labour to 
 the climate. As you have a plentiful fortune, no 
 matter whether or not he has, perhaps better not. 
 To fuch a man you might give at an eafy rent, as 
 much land as he thought would make him a corn- 
 pleat farm. He ought to bring fome fervants 
 with him, who ought to be bound for three or 
 four years, he paying them yearly wages, fome- 
 thing more than they get in England. He ought 
 to bring likewife all the iron parts of every kind 
 of farming utenfils, and all the neceffary iron work 
 for building himfelf a houfe ; and, befide that, 
 either money, or a credit to purchafe cattle and a 
 year's provifions. 
 
 If you had fuch a man well fettled ; and it mould 
 be done in fuch a manner, that he might feel as 
 few inconveniencies as poflible ; he ' would foon 
 bring you more ; for you may depend upon it, the 
 foil and climate both would pleafe him. He 
 ought to have a power of attorney to let your 
 lands, and indeed as extenfive a one as you, from 
 your knowledge of the man, would think prudent 
 to entruft him with. 
 
 But after all, dear Lee, what is there to hinder 
 you from taking a view of the place yourfelf, nay, 
 
 P of
 
 (210 ) 
 
 of being your own agent. Do not you think the 
 cultivating your lands, and improving your con- 
 flitution and fortune, is a much more rational, and 
 perhaps, I might fay, fcnfible employment, than 
 fcampering over all the continent of Europe, in 
 fearch of damned Hungarian fevers. Come, Lee, 
 and leave Hume to cram his hiftory do\vn the 
 throats of his countrymen, for few others read it. 
 You will find your gall bladder decreafe in fize 
 very much, without writing ftrictures upon any 
 tiling ; or even abuling a king or a Barrington, as 
 foon as you fet foot upon this our free and 
 hoipitable coaft : and to encourage you* as 1 know 
 you like good living, I will engage to give you as 
 good beef, mutton, poultry, and fait fifli, as you 
 ever met with, and as my countrymen fay, a him- 
 dred thoufand welcomes. And now, taking it for 
 granted, that you will be as tired with reading, as I 
 am with writing, by the time you get thus far, I 
 will finifh, by alluring you, that I am your affec- 
 tionate friend, and fervant, 
 
 W. PATTERSON. 
 Colonel Lee. 
 
 DEAR SIR, Wcftmiufler, Feb. ift, 1774. 
 
 I RECEIVED two letters from you ; one by 
 Mr. Hey, the other by the pacquet : I thank you 
 mofl fmcerely for both. Your firft was particularly 
 
 accept-
 
 acceptable, as it gave me an opportunity of renew- 
 ing and of improving my acquaintance with a gen- 
 tleman, for whofe character I have always had an 
 high efteem. My particular friends were the firfl 
 who took notice of his merit. They imagined, 
 that they could not do a better fervice to govern- 
 ment, in a newly acquired French country, than 
 to fend them one of the bed famples we were able 
 to furnifh of plain manly Englifh fenfe and inte- 
 grity. I wifti thofe who rule at prefent may mew 
 by the provifion they make for him here, that 
 fuch qualities are flill in fome requeft among our- 
 felves. 
 
 It was extremely kind of you to remember 
 your friends in our dull worn out hemifphere, 
 among the infinite objects of curiofity, that are fo 
 exuberantly fpread out before you, in the vaft 
 field of America. There is indeed, abundant 
 matter, both natural and political, to give full 
 fcope to a mind active and enterprifmg like yours ; 
 where fo much has been done and undone ; and 
 where flill there is an ample range for wifdom 
 and miflake. Either muft produce confiderable 
 effects in an affair of fuch extent and importance. 
 It will be no light mifchief, and no trivial benefit. 
 When one confiders, what might be done there, 
 it is truly miferable to think of its prefent dif- 
 tracted condition : But as the errors which have 
 brought things into that ftate of confufion are not 
 
 P 2 likely
 
 ( 211 ) 
 
 likely to be corrected by any influence of ours, 
 upon either fide of the water, it is not wife to fpe- 
 culate too much on the fubject ; it can have no 
 effect, but to make ourfelves uneafy, without any 
 poffible advantage to the public. 
 
 Here, as we have met fo we continue, in the 
 mofl perfect repofe. It has been announced to 
 us, that we are to have no bufmefs but the gold 
 coin j this has not appeared as yet : And if there 
 be nothing further than we hear of intended, it 
 will come on time enough. The politics of the 
 continent, which ufed to engage your attention fo 
 much, attract no part of ours. Whether the 
 American affairs will be brought before us is yet 
 uncertain. 
 
 Saturday, I heard the Maffachufet's petition 
 againfl their governor and deputy, difcuffed before 
 council. It was fpokento, very ably by the coun- 
 fel on either fide ; by Meffrs. Dunning and Lee, 
 for the province ; by Mr. Wedderburn for the 
 governors. The latter uttered a furious Philippic 
 again/I poor Doftor Franklin. It required all his 
 philofophy, natural and acquired, to fupport him 
 againfl it. I hear that the petition will be rejected. 
 The council was the fulleft of any in our memory ; 
 thirty-five attended. 
 
 I hope, as you fay nothing of it in your laft let- 
 ter, that your fit of the gout was but gentle, and 
 
 rather a fliarp remedy than any thing that defcrves 
 
 to
 
 ( 2I 3 ) 
 
 to be called a difeafe. With many thanks for 
 your obliging remembrance, and all good wifhes 
 for an agreeable journey and fafe return, I am, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Your mod obedient humble Servant, 
 EDMUND BURKE. 
 
 DEAR LEE, New- York, June roth, 1774. 
 
 I SHOULD have done myfelf the pleafure to 
 have wrote to you before; but really did not 
 know where a letter would rind you ; fometimes 
 we heard you were gone to the Weft-Indies ; at 
 another, that you were gone on to Carolina ; by 
 Mr. Bird, I am informed you are flill in Virginia. 
 
 I expected before now, to have heard from go- 
 vernor Chefter, relative to your land in Weft Flo- 
 rida, but fuppofe I mall fhortly. I fet out in a few 
 days to join our worthy friend General Gage at 
 Bofton ; he is come out with very extraordinary 
 powers, and has wrote for me : It is a very fortu- 
 nate circumftance, that the power both civil and 
 military hath fallen into the hands of fo moderate 
 a man as General Gage ; I hope he will gain great 
 P 3 credit
 
 credit on this critical occafion ; his abilities are 
 good, and with refpect to his heart, you who 
 know him fo well, will allow him to be poffefied of 
 one of the bed kind. 
 
 Your things are all left with Mrs. Aire who 
 will take care of them. I enclofe you a letter 
 from Dunbar, and one I picked up in the coffee- 
 houfe for you. Dagworthy has got a company in 
 the 48th regiment, through Colonel Vaughan's in- 
 tereft. 
 
 I am, Dear Lee, with great truth, 
 Yours mofl fmcerely, 
 
 THOMAS GAMBLE. 
 To General Lee. 
 
 MY DEAR LEE. Travellers Reit, July i, 1774. 
 
 I RECEIVED your welcome letter by Mr. 
 \Vormley, and live in daily expectation of ice- 
 ing you at my hut. I now wifh more than ever 
 for that fatisfaclion, as the alarms of the times 
 make me earneft to confult, and converfe with 
 you thereupon. Until actions convince me of 
 the contrary, I am refolved to think Mr. Gai^e 
 2 has
 
 has fome fecret medicine in. his pocket, to heal the 
 wounds that threaten the life of American liberty. 
 Surely a man fo humane, fo fenfible, fo honourable, 
 fo independent in his circumftances, and fo great 
 from family expectations, would never undertake 
 a bufmefs, fit only for an abandoned defperado, 
 or a monfter in human ihape, a General Murray, a 
 Macro, or a Ravilliac. 
 
 I cannot think what detains you fo far to the 
 Southward, at this feafon of the year j without 
 any difparagement to Williamiburg, health, and 
 fuch as you like for aflbciates, are more certainly 
 to be met with to the Northward ; I know not, 
 how you find it, but the older I grow, I become 
 lefs and lefs inclined to new acquaintance : Self- 
 ifhnefs and fycophantry poflefs fo generally the 
 minds of men, that I think the many are beft 
 avoided, and the few only who are liberal and fin- 
 cere, to be fought for and careifed. I therefore 
 {lick fteadily to the cultivation of my farm, am 
 intimate with few, read when 1 have time, and 
 content myfelf with fuch domeftic comforts as my 
 circumftances and fortune afford me. I wifh 
 therefore, moft anxioufiy, you would come to my 
 retreat, and there let us philofopize on the vices 
 and virtues of this bufy world, the follies and the 
 vanities of the great vulgar and the finall. 
 
 Laugh where we pleafe, be candid where we can, 
 And juftify the ways of God to man. 
 
 Mrs. Gates is earneft in defiling to fee you un- 
 P 4 der
 
 ( 2.6 ) 
 
 der her roof, where a good bed is provided for you, 
 two or three flaves to fupply all your wants and 
 xvhimfies ; and fpace enough about us for you to 
 exercife away all your fpleen and gloomy moods, 
 whenfocver they diilrefs you. In my neighbour- 
 hood there is this moment as fine a farm mill, and 
 tract of land to be fold as any in America, and 
 provided it is convenient to you to pay down half 
 the price, I am convinced you may have it a very 
 great bargain. It is altogether two thoufand 
 four hundred acres, at thirty {hillings flerling 
 an acre ; I am iatisfied you might have it fo. 
 By paying down about one thoufand eight 
 hundred pounds flerling, you may be put in 
 pofleflion of an eftate, that ten years hence will 
 be worth feven thoufand pounds flerling ; and 
 I take it for granted, that you may have the pay- 
 ment of the reft of the purchafe money, at eafy 
 inilallments, and that too without intereft ; fo by 
 laying out a thoufand pounds flerling more, in 
 flocking and improvements, your produce will 
 yield you a fine living, and wherewithal to pay 
 your annual inflallment, bargained for in the 
 purchafe. I fuppofe you have procured from Lord 
 Dunmore his warrant for your five thoufand acres 
 upon the Ohio, that will be very foon of confidc- 
 rable value. As to the Indians, the behaviour of 
 certain of the white people is beyond all compari- 
 fon abominable towards thofe unhappy natives ; 
 not content with quiet poffeflion of all the land on 
 
 this
 
 this fide the Ohio, they demand as a preliminary tea 
 peace, all the land between that river and the Mif- 
 fifippi- but this ftory is too long for a letter, you 
 fhall know the whole of this iniquitous affair 
 \vhen we meet the gentleman who does me the 
 the favour to prefent you this letter, has the plea- 
 fure of your acquaintance, and can very fully in- 
 form you of thi; exceeding wickednefs and abfur- 
 dity of the meafures purfued, and purfuing, againil 
 the Indians. I have read with wonder and afto- 
 nifhment Gage's proclamations j furely this is not 
 the fame man, you and I knew fo well in days of 
 yore ; but that men mould change, neither you nor 
 I will be furprifed at j it is rather matter of amaze- 
 ment when they do not. 
 
 Auguft the feventeenth ; I am this inflant re- 
 turned from Baltimore, and hoped to have crofled 
 upon you, in your route to the Northward, but 
 like Swift's Mordanto you were vanimed. I was 
 forry for it, as I might have prevailed upon you 
 to have tempered your zeal with caution, before 
 all fuch perfons as may rcafonably be fufpecled to 
 watch your words and actions, where your zeal in 
 the noble caufe you mention can be exerted to 
 effect, too much cannot be fhewn ; but be care- 
 ful how you acl, for be affured Gage knows you 
 too well, and knows you know him too well not 
 to be glad of any plaufible pretence to prevent 
 your good fervices in the public caufe. Farewell, 
 my friend j remember I am, what I have ahvavs 
 
 pro-
 
 profefled myfelf to be, and thiU I am ready to 
 rifque my life to prefer YC the liberty of the \Vef- 
 tcrn world. 
 
 On this condition would I buiM my fame, 
 
 And emulate the Greek or Roman name; 
 
 Think Freedom's rights bought cheaply with my blood, 
 
 And die with pleafurc for my country's good. 
 
 While I live, I am 
 
 Yours unchangeably, 
 
 HORATIO GATES. 
 
 London, Sep. 3d, 17 ~.< r . 
 
 I RECEIVED your long letter with great plea- 
 
 fure, and will anfwer it as fully as I am able. 
 
 You muft have mifunderilood me, in what 1 faid 
 
 of the bill to alter the MaiTachufets government, 
 
 ined I had either concurred in, or 
 
 , S>rn to exprefs my fulled difapprobation 
 
 ? depending in the boufo. The 
 
 is fo much othcnvife, that I fought it through 
 
 . ft.ige, almofl alone, when mod: of the oppo- 
 
 ve attending the New-Market meetin , . 
 
 other occupations, equally entitled to Iv prcicircd 
 
 to
 
 to that duty. I may have faid indeed, that 
 I prefer the form of the Englifh government to 
 that of any other country upon earth, becaufe it 
 appears to me moft calculated to reconcile necef- 
 fary reflraint and natural liberty, and to draw the 
 line between them. It is the government I was 
 born under, I am happy to live under, and would 
 \villinglydie to preferve and tranfmit entire; tut 
 I look upon the firft principle of that con'titution 
 to be, that the whole mud be governed by the will 
 of the whole, and that any government where the 
 authority redding with the few is fupported by 
 any other power than that of the many, in confe- 
 quence of their free concurrence and full appro- 
 bation, is the word of tyraffhy. Judge then, my 
 dear friend, whether 1 could approve of tearing 
 from a free and happy people that form of govern- 
 ment which had been purchafed with the blood, 
 and eflablifhed by the wifdom of their ancestors ; 
 and of fubverting that excellent polity, endeared 
 to them by their profperity, and fanttificd by the 
 moft laudable of human predilections, a venera- 
 tion for their anceftors, and an enthufiafm for the 
 permanence of their liberties. Nolumus Leges An- 
 glitz mittari, was the nobleft expreffion that ever 
 bore teftimony to the fpirit of a free legiflature. 
 I think it as laudable at Boflon now, as in London 
 fome centuries ago. So far I ft and unon the 
 ground of natural right and manly feeling thus 
 much, I fay, becaufe Homo [urn but to defcend 
 
 to
 
 to the humbler ground of policy, nothing can be 
 foabfurd, or impolitic, as to make a frame fanc- 
 tificd by long pofleflion, for the caprice of a mo- 
 ment, or the fancies of a few ; to facrifice the 
 \vifdom of ages to the prefumption of an hour ; 
 and to divert the flream of government, which 
 has lettilifed the country and enriched the people, 
 by channels which it has gradually formed for it- 
 fclf, by furmounting or eluding all the obftacles it 
 has met with in its courfe ; from thofe channels 
 by dams raifed by flrange hands unacquainted 
 xvith the country, which if they are not borne down 
 by the torrent muft deluge the country and de- 
 ftroy the ancient land-marks. If therefore I pre- 
 fer in fpcculation the government of Virginia to 
 that of Maflachufet's Bay, it is not from thinking 
 that what appears bed in the abftract, mould be 
 impofed on all : on the contrary, I am convinced 
 that the minds of individuals and the manners of 
 a people form and adapt themfelves naturally and 
 imperceptibly to the mode of government, under 
 which they are born. The modifications of mu- 
 nicipal inflitutions are in themfelves indifferent, 
 provided they are approved by the people ; but it 
 is of the efience of freedom, and common to all 
 free governments, that the people mould be con- 
 vinced, the laws they live under are of their own 
 chufing ; and that there is no power on earth that 
 can prolong their exigence, or give force to their 
 
 injunc-
 
 ( 221 ) 
 
 injunctions one hour, after the difapprobaticn of 
 the ma r s of th^ people is fignified. 
 
 I have been the more full upon this fubject, be- 
 caufe I would not willingly be miflaken in my 
 principles upon fo material a point. Now I am 
 upon the fubject of MalTachufets, I cannot help ex- 
 preffing my furprize that you mould have been fo 
 far mifmformed, as to have believed that I, amonglt 
 the reft, could fpeak with " approbation of that 
 fcoundrel Hutchinfon," fo far from it, that I agree 
 with you in the epithet, and was the only perfon in 
 the houfe that declared my deteflation of his cha- 
 racter, and my convkuon that his whole conduct 
 had been that of a parricide, who had attempted to 
 ruin his country, to ferve his own little narrow fel- 
 fifh purpofes. This I did in fuch pointed terms 
 that I was informed he had afterwards waited upon 
 a friend of mine, who did not fee his character in 
 fojuft a light, to thank him for what he was pleaf- 
 ed to call, defending him againft me. Be aflured, 
 I mall never fpeak well of a man who recommends 
 an abridgement of Englifh liberties, in any part 
 of the globe, where one fpark remains unfmother- 
 ed by corruption, and unextinguimed by violence. 
 As to the Quebec Bill, I can, with pleafure, amire 
 you, that I oppofed it, with activity throughout ; 
 and though I could not overfet it, I was at lead 
 fortunate enough to fet a defined bound to defpo- 
 tifm ; and fay, fo far mall thou go, and no farther, 
 
 by
 
 ( 222 ) 
 
 hv drawing the line which protected New- York 
 and I' :mia ; though I have fince been told, 
 
 that Burke nikcs the merit to himfelf, but upon 
 what grounds I know not, as I propofed the line 
 without any communication with him. 
 
 As to myfelf, I am out of Parliament, without 
 any profpecl of being in ; and though I fhould 
 have thought it infamous to have deferted my 
 pod and not endeavoured to get in, yet I hardly 
 cm fay, that I much regret my being out, there 
 little profpecl of doing good. 
 
 I am, dear Lee, 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 * * * * **** 
 
 SIR, imore, Jan. I2th, 1776. 
 
 YOUR civilities to me when at Profpecl-hill, 
 were fuch as I expected from the fbldier and the 
 gentlcmnn, and demand my warmeft thanks. I 
 hope I (hall ever bear a grateful remembrance of 
 them. 
 
 I fee by the papers, that you are removed to 
 Newport, in Rhode Ifland, and therefore fufpedt 
 that the minifterialifts, unable to bear the preflure 
 
 of
 
 { 223 ) 
 
 of want, and the inclemencies of the feafon, intend 
 to remove from Bofton, and make Rhode-Ifland 
 their head quarters, at lead for fome time ; but of 
 this you can bed judge whofe experience, in fome 
 degree, enables you to penetrate the defigns of 
 thofe in power. 
 
 The King's fpeech to both Houfes of Parliament, 
 at the opening of the feflion, clearly evinces the 
 neceility of fpeedy and effe&ual exertions on the 
 part of this continent, for the purpofe of oppof- 
 ing, with force of arms, the infamous plan 
 adopted by a venal miniftry, for fubverting OUF 
 mod ineflimable privileges. We fhould imme- 
 diately unite, and call forth every fpark of virtue 
 in fo great and important a conteft, as all hopes 
 of an accommodation are now loft. America is 
 happy in having for generals, gentlemen expe- 
 rienced in military operations. 
 
 With ardent wiihes that America may rife fu- 
 perior to all oppreflions, and become independent, 
 I take the liberty of fubfcribing myfelf, 
 
 Sir, 
 Your obliged, humble fervanr, 
 
 GEORGE LUX. 
 The Hon. Major Gen, Lee. 
 
 MY
 
 ( 224 ) 
 
 MY DEAR GEXERAL, Philadelphia, Kb. iQtftt^ 
 
 FORTUNE feems to be in a good humour with 
 you. It is not enough that you have triumphed 
 over external ami internal enemies at New-York, 
 but you are about to enjoy new triumphs in another 
 part of the continent. I tremble only at the price 
 ol victory on the plains of Abraham. 
 
 I prefage the furviving your conquefts from one 
 part of your character, and that is, you have a 
 wonderful talent of inftifing your fpirit into the 
 minds of your troops. Should your blood mingle 
 with the blood of Wolfe, Montcalm, and Mont- 
 gommery, poflerity will execrate the plains of 
 Abraham to the end of time. 
 
 Your appointment to the Canada expedition 
 gave all your friends here great pleafure. I think 
 it is more than probable, the principal force of 
 our enemies will be fent to that quarter. Canada 
 is dearer to the king than all the other colonies 
 put together, as it is the only part of the Brithh 
 empire in which arbitrary power is eftablifhed by 
 law. Should that province become the feat of 
 war, we (hall have no reafon to complain ; for 
 our fea-coafts and fea-port towns are in a poor 
 fituation to receive our enemies. 
 
 The Gulph and River St. Laurence, it is to be 
 hoped, will concur with the elements in embar- 
 
 raffing
 
 C 225 ) 
 
 Irafling them. Mr. Pitt conquered America in 
 Germany ; who knows but General Lee may con- 
 quer Britain in America ? 
 
 I need not tell you, how much pleafure it will 
 give me to receive a few lines from you by all the 
 exprefles you fend to the Cdngrefs I mail write 
 to you moft faithfully by the return of each of 
 them. Colonel Thompfon fpeaks in raptures of 
 you in all companies. 
 
 The bearer of this letter is Mr. Paine, the cele- 
 brated author of Common Senfe. 
 
 Adieu, Yours &c. 
 
 An OLD FRIEND, 
 Gen. Lee. 
 
 SIR, Winchefter, Jan. 27th, 1776* 
 
 YOUR favour of the tenth ultimo, did not 
 reach me till the twenty-fecond inftant. I that day 
 wrote you an anfwer by one Mr. Campbell who 
 was on his way, and who promifed to give my 
 letter a conveyance, if he did not fee you. I in- 
 formed you, that I faw no objections to your paying 
 off the incumbrances on your land, and the future 
 payments whenever it is convenient for you to 
 do fo. 
 
 I mould
 
 ( 2*6 ) 
 
 I mould be happy to fee the important fubjeft 
 of the independence of North America, difcuffed 
 in the perfpicuous and able manner your are capa- 
 ble of. I have troubled you with feme of my 
 crude thoughts, to afford you an opportunity when 
 leifure will permit, and inclination lead you, to ex- 
 plain my miftakes and correct my errors. From 
 the commencement of the prefent unhappy difpute 
 I confidered the fhedding of blood, if that event 
 ihotild take place, as the sera, at which would ter- 
 minate the Britifn empire in America ; or the co- 
 lonies be fubjugated to the abfolute domination of 
 parliament j and when hoftilities commenced, my 
 mind was only agitated with the means of defend- 
 ing ourfelves, and forming a conflitution which 
 would fecure fabftantial liberty to the people ; but 
 when I found the Congrefs entertained different 
 views, that they had again petitioned the king for 
 reconciliation, and declared to theif fellow fubjects 
 throughout the empire, that their only end in tak- 
 ing up arms was to procure a redrefs of grievances 
 and fecure their properties and conflitutional 
 rights, folemnly difclaiming every idea of eftab- 
 lifhing an independent empire, it gave a different 
 turn to my thoughts. I reflected that our ancef- 
 tors have fought rrnmy battles, and fried torrents 
 of blood in fupport of their conflitution^l rights, 
 and whatever may have been the fate, of arbitrary 
 princes, -the conflitution was ever held facred, the 
 inilance of Charles's reign only excepted. The 
 3
 
 C 227 ) 
 
 Whigs were then obliged to join with the Tories, 
 in reftoring royalty in its luflre to get rid of a 
 phantom which the Independents had r-iifed under 
 the name of liberty. The hope of a re-union 
 with our brethren of Great Britain, and of the 
 increafmg grandeur and profperity of the whole 
 empire to me, I confefs, had fomething agreeable 
 in it. I therefore with eagernefs inveftigated the pro- 
 pofed plan of operations, to enable me to judge of 
 the probable event, and I found, or thought I found, 
 the fecurity of our liberties, in connection with 
 Great Britain almoft certainly attainable ; at any 
 rate more practicable than the eftablifhing an in- 
 dependent Hate ; for the following among other 
 reafons, that the people of America were determi- 
 nately united in fupport of that meafure ; that 
 every infult and injury from adminiftration only 
 tended to animate and cement ; that the greateft 
 trading cities and moft refpedtable characters in 
 England are our friends ; that even our enemies 
 in parliament dare not (land the attack on the pro- 
 per ground ; but, in order to carry their point, have 
 always infilled we were aiming at independency. 
 That the belief of this is the fole reafon we have 
 any enemies among the people of England, and 
 though I am of opinion, the governing powers of 
 Britain would rather lofe the colonies totally, than 
 yield one iota of their pretenfions, the people 
 will think very differently when convinced our 
 views extend no further than to the fecurity of 
 O 2 thofe
 
 thofe rights, which they themfelves hold eflentiaf 
 to liberty. That it would be impoflible for govern-- 
 ;;t to carry on a war againd the inclinations, and 
 fo dedruclive to the interefts of the people, as the 
 prefent mud obvioufly appear, when it is remem- 
 bered, the caufe of our conted is the amimed 
 power of parliament, to tax the colonies, to alter 
 our forms of government, to tranfport us to Bri- 
 tain tor the trial of fuppofed offences and to make 
 laws, regulating our internal police. That the 
 fword would even drop from the hand of a Bri- 
 tifl> foldicr, if he believed it pointed againfl the 
 bread of a man contending for his birth-right. 
 That an attempt to edablifh an independency 
 would unite Kngland as one man againft us ; and 
 though (he is burdt-n eel with an enormous debt, 
 and deprived of a mod valuable branch of com- 
 merce, (lie has dill great refources , and it is not 
 eafy to forefee the confequences of the utmoft exer- 
 tions of her powers. Befides, it appears to be the 
 intered of Europe, that America ftiould remain 
 dependent. The power and importance of Eng- 
 land, which by a defection of the colonies, fhe 
 would lofe, is nccelfary in the European fydem. 
 Holland and Portugal, I think, owe their political 
 exidence to her; and even thofe dates \\hich 
 might wifh to fee her deprefled, were their intertill 
 confined to Europe, v. ould dread greater evils from 
 the eitablifliment of an independent empire in 
 North America, the certain conferences of whu h 
 
 would
 
 -would be, I apprehend, the lofs of Mexico, South 
 America, and the Weft India Iflands to whomfo- 
 ever belonging. But it is a neceffary enquiry, on 
 what terms can our differences be adjufted which 
 will fecure us from future contefts ? I anfwer, it is 
 impoffible. The nature of human affairs is uvch, 
 that no political fyftemcan be eftab limed which the 
 folly of weak, or ambition of wicked men will not 
 in time fubvert. Let Great Britain relinquifh her 
 claim of internal legiilation and taxation ; let da- 
 ted times be limited for the holding and duration 
 of ArTemblies, and counfellors dependent on the 
 .Crown, be .deprived .of legiflative powers, or hold 
 their places during life ; aud let Supreme judges be 
 appointed in each colony, to hold their places du- 
 jing good behaviour, with certain and adequate 
 falaries. All this would be no real injury to Eng- 
 land, the only advantage flie ever did, or ever can 
 receive from America is her commerce, an equi- 
 table mare of which, ought to be fecured to her 
 by a grand commercial lyftem, to be agreed on by 
 the legiflators of ,the two countries, and to remain 
 unalterable, except by mutual confent. Such a 
 plan of accommodation I think, offers as fair for 
 the permanent fecurity of peace, wealth, and liberty, 
 as any I have heard, or can devife for the govern- 
 ment of America in an independent (late. I take 
 it for granted, as I have never heard it difputed, 
 that a popular or democratic government muft take 
 place, which in its moft perfect ftate, I think 
 Q 3 much
 
 much inferior to the mixed government of Bri- 
 tain ; for I hold it as a maxim, that wherever the 
 fupreme power is vefted in one man, or one body 
 of men, the liberty of the fubject is at belt pre- 
 carious. It appears from hiltory, that popular 
 fury is as formidable, and often exercifed with as 
 much injuflice as royal indignation. Frequent 
 elections are no fecurity in this cafe, the fpirit of 
 the people always influences the reprefentative 
 body, and if a man becomes unpopular, however 
 innocent, his ruin is inevitable. To you I need 
 not give inftances ; neither is it poflible in fuch a 
 conflitution, to render the judicial powers totally 
 independent. The fame body of men who have 
 the appointment of the judges, having alfo the 
 power of removing them, will carry popular pre- 
 judice even to the feats of juflice. In this rcfpecl, 
 England has the advantage of all other nations. 
 In cool difpaflionate hours, the three branches of 
 the legiflature concur in enaftin; lor the 
 
 general good of the community. The meaneft 
 fubject cannot be punifhed unlefs he tranfgrefles 
 thofe laws, neither can the judges be difplaccd 
 faithfully executing them, without the like concur- 
 rence. This pruteds individuals equally from 
 popular violence, and the arbitrary meafures of 
 kings and courtiers. But is America capable of 
 receiving a democratic government ? Have we 
 that induflry, frugality, ceconomy, that virtue 
 which is neceflary to conflitute it ? Laws and 
 
 con-
 
 conftitutions muft be adapted to the manners of 
 the people ; they do not, they cannot form them. 
 Whenever the manners change, the laws change 
 with them, or lofe their force. Is not North 
 America too extenfive for a popular government ? 
 But I find the fpirit of the times is againft a union ; 
 we muft then .become a confederacy of republics, 
 each having fupreme powers within itfelf. Does 
 .not this afford a profpect of perpetual wars and 
 internal feuds, till fome one colony, or perhaps 
 .one man, becomes mafter of the whole continent ? 
 Recur to the hifloric page, and point out the age 
 and country where this, under fimilar circumftan- 
 ces, has not been the cafe ? The .united provinces 
 being furrounded by more powerful ftates, mate- 
 rially diftinguimes their fituation from that of 
 thefe colonies. A Congrefs or general council for 
 .regulating the affairs of the whole confederacy 
 will hardly be fufficient to maintain peace. There 
 was a general council of the Englifh Heptarchy, 
 yet that ifland was an uninterrupted fcene of blood 
 and ilaughter, till united under one head. There 
 is a general diet of the German empire, yet every 
 one knows that the princes of the empire fubmit 
 -to its decrees, juft as far as fuits their own purpo- 
 fe. Greece had her Amphi&yons, yet was not 
 without inteftine wars. 
 
 The country being called to arms for the ex- 
 prefs purpofe of defending and fecuring her con- 
 ftitutional liberty, is;there not an inconfiftency ,in 
 ^employing thofe arms to quite different purpofes, 
 
 at
 
 at leaf! till it is known whether the original end be 
 attainable ? and furely the mod fanguine could 
 not expect that point fo foon determined? Or 
 that we could force England to a compliance wkli 
 our terms in thecourfe of one campaign. 
 
 apology might well be expected for this 
 trouble; if I had a good one to offer, you fhould 
 have it. Some flight touches on the fubject with 
 fcveral cxpreflions of regard interTpcrfed through 
 your letters of bufmc: . '.dened me to take 
 
 this liberty, and further, to rcqueit an anfwer. 
 
 I am one of thofe who have ever wi 
 gloried in the honour and profperity of the I>ri- 
 tifh empire ; but it a feparation takes place, inte- 
 reft, inclination, every confederation will induce 
 me to take part with my native land, and my bed 
 endeavours fhall not \ e wanting to nrultr the .Ame- 
 ricans a free, happy, and in Any 
 lights which you may throw on the fubject, fhall 
 be faithfully improved to that purpofe, as far as 
 my narrow fphere, (and it is a very narrow 01. 
 permits. The arguments of pamphleteers, and 
 and newfpaper fcribblers, on both fides of the 
 queftion, have been fo abfurd, fallacious, or at 
 lead fuperficial, that \\ry little inftruclion or p'- 
 fare, could be derived from reading them. Hearti- 
 ly wiihing you fuccefs in every patriotic exertion 
 of your abilities, I remain with efteem, Sir, 
 
 Your very humble fcrvant, 
 Ma-rr Gen. Lee, ALF,X. WIIII 1..
 
 233 
 
 SIR, Stafford, Feb 5th, 1776. 
 
 IMMEDIATELY after I had waited upon you 
 at Philadelphia, I proceeded to New- York, and 
 finding much difficulty in purfuing my intended 
 journey, I delivered your difpatches to Mr. Lewis, 
 by direction of Mr. Van B. Li.'ingfton, arid wrote 
 to you at my return, acquainting you therewith. 
 I have not wrote to you fo frequently as I would 
 do, imagining that your time might be employed 
 better, in matters of greater moment, to the pub- 
 lic ; and where public utility is in queftion, apo- 
 logies become unnecefiary ; be pleaied therefore 
 to accept the following hints from one who has 
 feen fervice. I am amazed at a (hip or two laying 
 at New- York for feme time pad ; I never faw two 
 veflfels that lay in more danger were they attacked 
 and they alfo know it. The Afia lay long in the 
 North River, and refufed to go into the found, until 
 Parker a fenior captain was fent with a fhipto rein- 
 force him, with pofitive orders from the admiral 
 to join ; it may alfo be fcen by their writing to the 
 mayor, and by Parker's threatening and bullying 
 the town. There are three ways of taking or del- 
 troying thefefhips, could it be kent fecret : Firfl, 
 by boarding; for as the Alia mull ground at low 
 water, the fprings uponcables would be of no ufe ; 
 and, I apprehend, that her lower guns could not 
 range over the wharf when aground, therefore a 
 few guns with grape (hot run down upon the 
 
 wharfs,
 
 C 
 
 wharfs, upon her bow and quarters, would effec- 
 tually fweep and clear her decks, while the people 
 boarded. Secondly, if there were mortars or even 
 guns to throw combuftible matter on the decks, 
 into the rigging, to Mick on her fides, with grape 
 as before, to prevent extinguifliment, the guns 
 with the grape would be out of the power of her 
 guns while aground. The third and beft method, 
 as I imagine, I would undertake myfelf, with a 
 reafonable perfon to command the detachment, as 
 fecond in command, or engineer, or condudo. 
 the works, or, as I told you, in any character, fo 
 that I might be ferviceable to the caufe. 
 
 The method I will here lay down to the bed of 
 my ability ; there is Long Ifland and Nutten Ifland, 
 well fituated to place guns ; and, I imagine, three 
 or four hundred men would be fuflicient to coin- 
 pleat in one night all the neceflary works : The 
 greateft difficulty would be, to get cannon to Nut- 
 ten Ifland, but they might come from the Narrows 
 by night in flats. It would be impoffible to point 
 out either the facilities, or difficulties of the under- 
 taking in the courfe of a letter; the greateft diffi- 
 culty will be, to keep it fecret from the people of 
 Staten Ifland, Long Ifland, and New- York. If 
 this matter is not foon put in execution, they will 
 be reinforced, or they will fall into the North 
 River ; but if there was lodgment with fome guns 
 -upon Nutten Ifland, with the town battery to aflift, 
 they could not get out without running aground. 
 
 As
 
 As foon as the batteries upon Long Ifland begin to 
 play, there mould be fome of the Connecticut men, 
 or fome others, ready to run down upon the 
 \vharfs, with fome few guns a-head and a-ftern, 
 with grape, to clear the decks, and fire into the 
 ports. While loading, the batteries will have this 
 .advantage, that they can play by night, if clear ; 
 this method will fo harrafs and difable them, that 
 they mutt ftrike quickly or they will be boarded. 
 When this affair is fmifhed the men mould imme- 
 diately march to the Narrows, and erect a battery 
 that would keep all out, and all in ; twenty guns 
 properly difpofed, would fmk any veffel that would 
 dare attempt to go up, and would be out of the 
 range of all (hot from the (hipping. Your cruifers 
 would find fhelter and a good harbour. Had this 
 been done laft fummer, our enemies at Bofton 
 would have ftarved before now. There mould be 
 a camp formed there early in the fpring, and two 
 ftrong forts erected with retrenchments to cover 
 them ; for you may depend upon it, there will be 
 a vigorous pulh made early to get up the North 
 River ; works upon each fide would greatly retard 
 and delay their operations ; and I doubt not, but 
 defeat the defign of the campaign. To attack 
 both, they mud divide their army, which would 
 greatly harrafs them ; and if they wait to attack 
 them one after another, the campaign is loll, be- 
 fides the attacks made upon them at landing with- 
 in the vicinity, and perhaps under cover of thefe 
 
 forts
 
 C 
 
 forts and retrenchments ; alfo the attacks on their 
 rear, while they are attacking the works. In more, 
 we have every thing in our favour, to defeat the 
 enfuing campaign, if we only begin in time, and 
 condud matters properly. 
 
 You want nothing but experienced officers five 
 hundred at lead. But to return to the men of war, 
 that I find fo much intimidates the people of thi* 
 country, is a well constructed floating battery, for- 
 midable and powerful in her own element at fea, 
 no doubt; but when oppofed to the hmd, is only 
 an egg-fhell. Batteries and guns properly placed 
 will loon filence them. I will here defcribe as well 
 as I can, the batteries of late made ufe of againit 
 mippmg ; the old batteries in our ports and har- 
 bours at home are found almoft ufelef*:. As they 
 are all built fimilar or like that at New-York, 
 very low and near the water, whereby the 
 veflel has all the power over than that me could 
 wifh, not only from her great guns, but fmall arms; 
 whereas, quite the reverfe ought to be the cafe ; 
 the batteries mould be fixed at a diftance from the 
 water and veflel, no nearer than two hundred yards 
 if the ground will admit, from the channel, or 
 where the veflel is to anchor or fall, and upon 
 ground high enough to be out of the range of her 
 mot, if fuch ground cannot be found, take the 
 highefl you can get and fink, or let in your plat- 
 forms and guns upon the top or fummit of the 
 hill, the muzzles of the guns as it were, peeping 
 
 out
 
 ( 2 37 ) 
 
 oat of the hill: Thus the men will work their 
 guns when thus fituated with facility and fafety, 
 and out of the reach of all fhot. There is no ihip 
 in the world that would dare offer to attack or pafs 
 fuch a battery, if twenty guns were mounted. 
 T hefe are the kind of batteries that I would pro- 
 pofe for all attacks upon veffels, and what I would 
 make ufe of, upon Long liland and Nu:ten Ifland, 
 and though the land is not fo high as may be 
 * wifhed, yet the finking and letting in the guns into 
 the firm and higheft ground will anfwer the pur- 
 pofe no doubt : mips fire very flow, and fire at ran- 
 dom, neither can it be imagined that men can 
 ftand to their guns, where (hot and fplinters are 
 continually flying, much lefs level and point guns 
 accurately. In fhort, they muft do as the French 
 did onboard of four fail of the line at Louifburg, 
 in a fliort time they mud ftrike, or jump into the 
 hold, notwithftanding we never had more than 
 two guns playing upon any fhip at a time. Twelve 
 guns would be fuflicient, fix upon Long Ifiand and 
 fix upon Nutten Ifiand, and twelve pounders would 
 be heavy enough, as the diflance is but mort, and 
 lefs than three pound of powder would be fuflicient 
 for a charge. There ought to be two men to each 
 gun, that under/land loading and firing, the reft 
 may be raw. I would imagine that Lord Sterling 
 would be a very proper perfon to command the 
 detachment, and would readily accept it. I make 
 no doubt, the troops might keep moving, fome at 
 
 the
 
 the Narrows, fome at the Ferry at York, fame 
 even might go to Jamaica, Flat Bum, &c. until 
 guns and other matters are in readinefs. The 
 commanding officer and engineer at the Ferry, off 
 and on, to reconnoitre the ground, and view the 
 pofition of the veflels. 1 have here thrown a few 
 matters together, in a rough manner ; however, I 
 fhall not neHlefsly make any apology for troubling 
 you, as the int <r ood. I can aflure you, that 
 
 thefe hints, as I ail them, are no whim, or pro- 
 duOion of my own, but are drawn from real prac- 
 tice and experience which I have often feen and 
 helped to execute in rivers, lakes, and harbours, 
 during twenty- eight years fervice. I cannot dif- 
 mifs the Narrows, the enemy mould not be allow- 
 ed to flip into the heart of the country, without 
 gaming it by inches : the Narrows are centrical 
 and the people thereabouts difpofcd to be trouble- 
 fome ; it is a mod defirable fituation for an army, as 
 they can acl either to the Eaftward, or Weftward 
 together, or feparate, and fupplies can come from 
 all quarters either by land or water. A battery 
 placed as beforementioned has great power and 
 command of (hipping ; one mot fired in this angu- 
 lar manner from an eminence, will do more execu- 
 tion than twenty fired horizontally ; for if the mot 
 flrike the vefTel on one fide, between wind and 
 water, they will come out on the other fide fome 
 fest below water ; in fhort, their powder-room and 
 ail is in danger, nor will the men's lying flat upon 
 
 the
 
 ( 239 ) 
 
 the decks fcreen them. I have had experience of 
 this, acting as a marine officer on board men of 
 war : You want, as I have faid before, experi- 
 enced officers, who have explored the country, 
 rivers, lakes, and difficult paiTes ; in fhort, that 
 know every inch of ground, that have drubbed, 
 and been drubbed ; for drubbing brings men to 
 reafon and reflection. I beg you would offer my 
 fervices to the honourable the Congrefs, as one 
 that has feenfer vice both in horfe, foot, and marines. 
 There is not an officer in America this day has 
 feen more fervice than I have, both abroad and at 
 home, during both the late wars. Nothing would 
 prevail with me to engage again, but the prefent 
 caufe ; myall is now at flake, the die is thrown: 
 I mufl conquer or die. 
 
 I am, Sir, moft refpectfully 
 
 Your moft humble and moft 
 Obedient Servant, 
 
 TREVOR NEWLAND. 
 
 Major Gen. Lee. 
 
 DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, Feb. nth, 1776. 
 
 THE bearer, Monf. Arundel, is directed by 
 theCongrefs to repair to General Schuyler, in order 
 
 to
 
 ( 240 ) 
 
 to be employed by him in the Artillery fervice* 
 He propofcs to wait on you in his way, and hag 
 requefted me to introduce him by a line to you. 
 He has been an officer in the French fervice, as 
 you \vill fee by his commiflions ; and profefling 
 a good-will to our caufe, I hope he may be ufeful 
 in intruding our gunners and matrofles : per- 
 haps he may ad vile in opening the nailed can- 
 non. 
 
 I received the cnclofed, the other day, from an 
 officer, Mr. Newhmd, who ferved in the two laft 
 wars, and was known by General Gates, who fpoke 
 well of him to me when I was at Cambridge. He 
 is defirous now of entering into your fervice. 
 I have advifed him to wait upon you at New- 
 York. 
 
 They ftill talk big in England, and threaten 
 hard ; but their language is fomewhat civiller, at 
 leaft, not quite fo dilrefpedful to us. By degrees 
 they come to their fenfes, but too late, I fancy, 
 fqr their intereft. 
 
 We have get a large quantity of falt-;etrc^ 
 one hundred and twenty ton, and thirty mjre 
 expected. Powder-mills are now wanting; I 
 believe we mud fet to work and make it by hand. 
 But I Mill wim, with you, that pikes could be 
 introilucjuj and I would add bows and arrows: 
 thefe were good weapons, not wifely laid aflde : 
 
 I ft. Becauie a man may (hoot as truly with a 
 bow as with a comr< < 
 
 2<L
 
 ( 241 ) 
 
 2d. He can difcharge four arrows in the time 
 of charging and difcharging one bullet. 
 
 3d. His object is not taken from his view by 
 the fmoke of his own fide. 
 
 4th. A flight of arrows feen coming upon them, 
 terrifies and difturbs the enemies' attention to" 
 his bufmefs. 
 
 5th. An arrow ftriking in any part of a man, 
 puts him hors du combat till it is extracted. 
 
 6th. Bows and arrows are more eafily pro- 
 vided everywhere than mufkets and ammunition. 
 
 Polydore Virgil, fpeaking of one of our battles 
 againfl the French in Edward the Third's reign, 
 mentions the great confufion the enemy was 
 thrown into, fagiitarwn nube, from the 'Englifh \ 
 and concludes, EJl res prefects diclu mirabitts, ut 
 tantus ac potens exerdtus a foils fere Anglkis fagit- 
 tariis "viclus fuerit ; adeo Anglus eft fagltti potent, et 
 id genus armorum valet. If fo much execution was 
 done by arrows when men wore fome defenfive 
 armour, how much more might be done now 
 that is out of ufe ! 
 
 I am glad you are come to New- York, but I 
 alfo wifh you could be in Canada. There is a 
 kind of fufpence in men's minds here at prefent, 
 waiting to fee what terms will be offered from 
 England. I expect none that we can accept ; and 
 when that is generally feen, we mall be more 
 unanimous and more decifive : then your propofed 
 folemn league and covenant will go better down, 
 
 R and
 
 and perhaps mofl of your oiher ftrong mcafures 
 adopted. 
 
 I am always glad to hear from you, but I do 
 not deferve your favours, being fo bail a corref- 
 pondent. My eyes will now hardly terve me to 
 write by night, and thefe fhort days have K 
 all taken up by fuch variety of bufmefs, that I fel- 
 dom can fit down ten minutes without inttrrup- 
 tion. God give you fuccefs. 
 
 I am, with the greateil cflcein, 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 B. FRANKLIN, 
 Major Gen. Lee. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, Philadelphia Feb. iyth, 1776. 
 
 THE Congrefs have feen fuch a neceflity of an 
 able commander in Canada, as to deftine you to 
 that moft arduous fervice. I tremble for your 
 health, yet I hope the campaign will rather pro- 
 mote it than other wife. We want you at New- 
 York ; we want you at Cambridge; we want you 
 in Virginia ; but Canada feems of more impor- 
 tance than any of thofe place*;, and therefore you 
 are fent there, I wifh you as many laurels as 
 - Wolfe
 
 ( 243 ) 
 
 Wolfe and Montgomery reaped there, with art 
 happier fate. Health and long life after a glorious 
 return. 
 
 But I am afiiamed to go on in fuch a flrain 
 when writing to you whofe time is fo much better 
 employed than in reading it, fmce I took up my 
 pen only to introduce to your acquaintance a 
 countryman of yours, and a citizen of the world, 
 to whom a certain heretical pamphlet, called Com- 
 mon Senfe, is imputed. His name is PAINE. He 
 is travelling to New- York for his curiofity, and 
 wimes to fee a gentleman whofe character he fo 
 highly refpefts. 
 
 A luckier, a happier expedition than yours to 
 New- York never was projected. The whole Whig 
 world are bleffing you for it, and none of them, 
 more than, 
 
 Your friend and fervant, 
 
 JOHN ADAMS, 
 
 Major Gen. Lee, 
 
 SIR, Philadelphia, Feb. ipth, 1776. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to inclofe you fundry 
 refolutions of Congrefs, by which you will per- 
 ceive, it is the defire of Congrefs, that you mould 
 
 R 2 repair
 
 C 244 ) 
 
 repair to Canada, and take upon you the command 
 of the army of the United Colonies in that pro- 
 vince. I need not mention the importance of the 
 trufl repofed in you, and the happy effefts it will 
 have in fecuring the liberty of America, if you 
 mould be fo fortunate as to drive our enemies, the 
 enemies of liberty and the rights of mankind, 
 out of it. I heartily pray, that the Difpofer of 
 Events may grant you fuccefs equal to your merit 
 and zeal. 
 
 As you will want battering cannon, which are 
 not to be had in that province, you are to apply- 
 to the Convention, or Committee of Safety of 
 New- York ; to whom, by this opportunity, I fend 
 the recommendation of Congrefs to fupply you 
 with twelve, fuch as you (hall judge mod fuitable, 
 and fome mortars, if they have or can procure 
 them ; with balls, fhells, and other neceflaries ; 
 and alfo to aflift you in forwarding them. Eight 
 tons of powder are now on their way to Albany, 
 for the forces in Canada ; and as a very confider- 
 able quantity of faltpetre is fent to the mills of 
 Mr. Wifner and Mr. Livingflone, mould there be 
 occafion for more, you will be fupplied from 
 thence. 
 
 You will readily perceive the necefiity of con- 
 ferring with General Schuyler, and \vith him con- 
 fulting on the beft methods of having neceflaries 
 conveyed to you acrofs the lakes. The Congrefs 
 bavc a full confidence that you will co-operate in 
 
 fecuring
 
 fecuring the pofeflion of the lakes, and mutually 
 affifting each other as occafion may require; and, as 
 far as in your power, give mutual aid in fupport- 
 jng the caufe of freedom and liberty. I expert 
 the deputies will in a fhort time be ready to pro- 
 ceed to Canada. 
 
 I am, with every fentiment of efteem, 
 
 Sir, 
 Your mod obedient, 
 
 Humble fervant, 
 JOHN HANCOCK, Pref. 
 Major Gen. Lee. 
 
 DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, March ift, 1776. 
 
 AFTER a warm conteft, occafioned by the 
 high eflimation the members of Congrefs have of 
 your worth and abilities, every one wifhing to 
 have you where he had mod at ftake, the Congrefs 
 have at length determined to fupercede the orders 
 given you to proceed to Canada, and have this 
 day come to a refolution that you mail take * the 
 command of the continental forces in the fouthern 
 R 3 department,
 
 deparment, which comprehends Virginia, North 
 Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. 
 
 The Congrefs have alfo appointed fix new bri- 
 gadier Generals ; viz. John Armftrong, Yv r illiam 
 Thompfon, Andrew Lewis, James Moore, Lord 
 Sterling, and Robert How, Efq. four of whom 
 you are to command in the fouthern department, 
 and two in the middle. By this conveyance I 
 have forwarded the commiflion foj his Lord/hip. 
 As foon as your health 'and the neceflary orders 
 you may think proper to give, for putting New- 
 York in a flate of defence, will permit, I have 
 it in charge to direcl that you repair to the de- 
 partment put under your immediate command. 
 
 In expectation of feeing you foon in this place, 
 on your way, I need not add, but that, 
 
 I am, with ever)- fentiment of regard and efleem, 
 
 Sir, 
 Your mod obedient fervant, 
 
 JOHN HANCOCK, Pref. 
 
 Hon. Major Gen. Lee, 
 New- York. 
 
 DEAR
 
 247 
 
 DEAR GENERAL, Head-quarters, Feb. 26th, 1776. 
 
 Laft night I had the pleafure to receive yours 
 of the 1 5th. I am rejoiced you have weathered 
 this fit of the gout ; I don't think you will have 
 another this winter, if you was careful in letting 
 that pafs off; it may probably be of much fervice 
 to your conftitution. When I mentioned Canada, 
 I did not mean you mould winter there j if you 
 can fecure the entrance into it, by getting Quebec, 
 and poffeffing it this fummer, you may leave the 
 care of that province to your Brigadiers for the 
 winter to come. The General was pleafed you 
 wrote to him, as he began to think you tardy. 
 He writes to you by this exprefs. I like your in- 
 tention of making the fort an open redoubt ; I 
 think fome heavy guns upon the fouth and weft 
 fides, with good fod merlons, will make the men 
 of war keep aloof. It is a pretty high fituation, 
 and battering it at a diflance, over the lower bat- 
 teries, would have but little effeft. We have 
 lately had reafons to fuppofe Mr. Howe had 
 thoughts of leaving Bofton ; the General will tell 
 you his reafons for thinking that was intended. 
 Clinton, I am fatisfied, went to fee how affairs 
 were circumftanced at New- York, to confult with 
 Tryon, and to prepare the way for Howe's recep- 
 tion. Unlefs the enemy repoffefs Canada, they 
 canaot reinftrate the king's affairs on this conti- 
 R 4 nent ;
 
 ( 248 ) 
 
 nent , there is no way to recover Canada, but 
 by the Rivers of St. Laurence and Hudfon. The 
 St. Laurence is not practicable until late in May ; 
 therefore, the firft attempt would mofl afiuredly be 
 made at New- York : for thefe reafons, I think 
 your hands mould be flrengthened as much, and 
 as expeditioufly as poflible. I am afraid you arc 
 deficient in gun-carriages ; employ all the hands 
 you can procure to make them. I am glad you 
 exprefs yourfelf fo well pleafed with the Captains, 
 Smith and Badlam j the former has good talents, 
 and will, I hope, prove as faithful as he is capable. 
 Ere long it will be known if I am right in my 
 conjecture, that the great body of the enemy mean 
 to endeavour to take poft at, or near, New- York. 
 Should that happen to be attempted, be affured 
 we fhall march with the utmoft expedition to fup- 
 port you. I expect foon to fee Palfrey, in con- 
 fequence of what I wrote to him, when I hope to 
 hear you are in perfect health. Little Euftace is 
 well, but nothing is done for him as yet. You 
 know the more than Scotch partiality of thefe 
 folks. I have had much to do to fupport the lad 
 you put into Colonel Whitcomb's regiment. They 
 have no complaint in nature againft him, but 
 that he is too good an officer. What, in the 
 name of reafon, can Kite have trumped up, to com- 
 mence a fuit in Chancery upon ? Mrs. Gates and 
 1 have puzzled our brains to find it out. The in- 
 clofed I defire you will order to be immediately 
 
 delivered
 
 C 249 ) 
 
 delivered to the poftmafter. Mrs. Gates joins me 
 in every good wifh for your health and fuccefs. 
 
 I am ever affectionately, 
 Yours, 
 
 HORATIO GATES. 
 Major Gen. Lee. 
 
 DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, Feb. igth, 1770* 
 
 I REJOICE that you are going to Canada. I 
 hope the gout will not have the courage to fol- 
 low you into that fevere climate. I believe you 
 will have the number of men you wifh for. I am 
 told there will be two thoufand more, but there 
 are always deficiences. 
 
 The bearer, Mr. Paine, has requefted a line of 
 introduction to you, which I give the more wil- 
 lingly, as I know his fentiments are not very diffe- 
 rent from yours : he is the reputed, and, I think, 
 the real author of Common Senfe, a pamphlet that 
 has made great impreffion here. I do not en- 
 large, both becaufe he waits, and becaufe I hope 
 for the pleafure of conferring with you face to 
 face in Canada. I will only add, that we are ai- 
 fured here on the part of France, that the tr:
 
 lent to the Weft In Jies have no inimical 
 
 r ourcaufe. It is thought they intend a , 
 without a previous declaration. 
 
 God profper all your undertakings, and return 
 you with health, honour, and happi:. 
 
 ars mod affectionately, 
 
 B. FRANK! ' 
 Major Gen. Lcc. 
 
 Philadelphia, July 22d, 1776. 
 
 YOl'R favour of the zd inftant, containing the 
 
 agreeable intelligence of the i'u the 
 
 American army under your command, I had 
 
 the honour of receiving, and immediately laid the 
 
 fame before Cc i 
 
 The fame enlarged mind, and diflinguifhcd ar- 
 dour in the caufe of freedom, that taught you to 
 defpife the prejudices which have enflaved the 
 bulk of mankind, when you nobly undertook the 
 defence of American liberty, will entitle you to 
 receive from polierity the fame due to fuch at* 
 alted and difiatercfk-d cond 1 .. 
 
 That
 
 That a handful of men, without the advantage 
 of military experience, animated only with the 
 facred love of liberty, mould repulfe a powerful 
 fleet and army, are circumflances that muft excite 
 gratitude and wonder in the friends of America, 
 and prove a fource of the moil mortifying difap- 
 pointment to our enemies. 
 
 Accept, therefore, Sir, the thanks of the Inde- 
 pendent States of America, undnlmoujly declared 
 by their delegates to be due to you and the brav 
 officers and troops under your command, who re- 
 pulfed with fo much valour the attack that was 
 made on the ftate of South Carolina, on the 28th 
 of June, by the fleet and army of his Britannic 
 Majefty ; and be pleafed to communicate to them 
 this diftinguifhed mark of the approbation of their 
 country. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with the greateft refpecr., 
 
 Sir, 
 Your mod obedient, 
 
 And very humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN HANCOCK, PrdJ 
 Major Gen. Lee.
 
 ( 5* ) 
 
 MY DEAR Lr E, Ncw-Vork, May, T ~-b. 
 
 YOUR favour of the 5th ult. from Williamf- 
 burg, the firft I have received from you fince you 
 left this city, came to my hands by the lad poll. 
 I thank you for your kind congratulations on our 
 poflellion of Bofton. I thank you for your good 
 wiflies in our future operations, and hope that every 
 diabolical attempt to deprive mankind of their 
 inherent rights and privileges, \vhether made in 
 the Eaft, Weft, North, or South, \vill be attended 
 with difappointmcnt and difgracc, and that the 
 authors in the end will be brought to fuch punim- 
 mcnt, as an injured people have a right to inflict. 
 
 General Howe's retreat from Bofton was preci- 
 pitate, beyond any thing I could have conceived. 
 The deftruclion of the (lores at Dunbar's camp 
 after Braddock's defeat was but a faint image of 
 what was feen at Bofton ; artillery carts cut to 
 pieces in one place ; gun carriages in another j 
 (hells broke here ; mot buried there, and every 
 thing carrying with it the face of diforder and 
 confufion, as alfo of diftrefs. 
 
 Immediately upon their embarkation, J detach- 
 ed a brigade of five regiments to this city, and 
 upon their failing, removed with the whole 
 army hither, except four regiments at Bofton, 
 and one at Beverley, &c. for the protection 
 of thofe places, the ftores and barracks there, 
 
 and
 
 ( 253 ) 
 
 and for creeling works for defending the har- 
 bour of the firft. Immediately upon my arrival 
 here I detached four regiments by order of Con- 
 grefs to Canada, (to wit, Poors, Patterfon's, Trea- 
 ton's, and Bond's,) under the command of Briga- 
 dier Thompfon, and fmce that, by the fame autho- 
 rity, and in confequence of fome unfavourable 
 accounts from that quarter, General Sullivan and 
 fix other regiments, namely, Starke's, Reed's 
 Wain's, Irvine's, Wind's, and Dayton's have mov- 
 ed off for that department ; the four laft regi- 
 ments are of Pennfylvania, and New-Jerfey. The 
 frrft brigade arrived at Albany the twenty-fourth 
 ultimo, and were moving on, when accounts came 
 from thence the twenty-feventh, The other bri- 
 gade mult all be at Albany before this, as fome of 
 the regiments failed ten days ago, and the laft four, 
 and the winds very favourable. This has left us 
 very weak at this place, whilft I have my fears 
 that the reinforcement will fcarce get to Canada 
 in time, for want of teams to tranfport the troops, 
 &c. to Fort George, and veffels to convey them on 
 afterwards. 
 
 We have done a great deal of work at this 
 place. In a fortnight more, I think the city will 
 be in a very refpectable poflure of defence. Go- 
 vernor's I Hand has a large and ftrong work erect- 
 ed, and a regiment encamped there. The point 
 below, called Red Hook, has a fmallj but ex-. 
 cecding ftrcng barbet battery j and feverai new 
 
 works
 
 C 254 ) 
 
 works are conflructed, and many of them alniofc 
 
 .:< at other places. 
 
 Genera! upon the evacuation of Bofton, 
 
 and finding that there was a probability of his 
 removing from the fmoke of his own chimney, ap- 
 , and wrote to Congrels for leave to 
 refign. A few i!. , . : , fome of the 
 
 officers, as he fays, getting uncafy at the profpecl 
 of his leaving them, he applied for his letter of 
 ^nation, which had been committed to my 
 ; but, behold ! it had been carefully for- 
 warded to Congrefs, and, as I have fmce learnt, 
 judged fo rcafonable, (want of health being the 
 plea,) that it was inftamly complied with. Bri- 
 gau . previous to this, alio conceiving that 
 
 their was nothing entertaining or profitable to an 
 old man, to be marching and counter-marching, 
 defired, immediately on the evacuation of Bofton, 
 (which happened on the i7th of March,) that he 
 might rcfign his cwimiffion on the \\th of April : 
 the choice of the day became a matter of great 
 fpeculation, and remained profoundly myfterious 
 till he exhibited his account, when there appeared 
 neither more nor lefs in it, than the completion of 
 three calender months ; the pay of which he re- 
 ceived without any kind of compunction, although 
 he had never done one tour of duty, or, 1 believe, 
 had ever been out of his houfe from the time he 
 entered till he quitted Cambridge. 
 
 bo much for two General* : I have next to in- 
 form
 
 <: 
 
 form you, that the Pay-mafter-general, Colonel 
 Warren, not finding it convenient to attend the 
 army, from the various employments and avoca- 
 tions in which he was engaged, alfo refigned his 
 commiflion, and is fucceeded by your old aid, 
 Palfrey. 
 
 When I was fpeaking of the diftreiTed fituation 
 of the king's troops, and the Tories, a* their evacu- 
 ation of Bofton, I might have gone on, and added, 
 that their misfortunes did not end here. It feeins 
 upon their arrival at Halifax, many of the former 
 were obliged to encamp, although the ground 
 was covered deep with fnow ; and the latter, to 
 to pay fix dollars a-week for forry upper-rooms, 
 and flow in them, men, women, and children, as 
 thick, comparatively, as the hair upon their heads. 
 This induced many of thefe gentry to return, and 
 throw themfelves upon the mercy and clemency 
 of their countrymen, who were for fending them im- 
 mediately back, as the propereft and fever eft pumfti- 
 ment they could inflict ; but death being preferred to 
 this, they now wait in confinement, any other 
 that may be thought due to fuch parricides. 
 
 All the mips ,of war have left this place, and 
 gone down to the Hook, except the Afia, which 
 lays five miles below the Narrows, and about 
 twelve or fourteen from hence. I could have 
 added more, but my paper will not admit of it. 
 With compliment, therefore, to the gentlemen of 
 
 my
 
 my acquaintance with you, and with the moft 
 fervent withes for your health and fuccefs, 
 
 I remain, 
 Your mod affectionate, 
 
 G. WASHINGTON. 
 .jor Gen. Lee. 
 
 Tyaqmn, North Carolina, June nth, 17/6. 
 THIS moment yours of the ift inftant came 
 to my hand. The note inclofed, directed to the 
 commanding officer of the corps of Virginia forces, 
 intended for the flation of Hillfborough, I \\ill 
 ufe my bed endeavour to tranfmit fo foon as I can 
 learn who he is, or for what part of Virginia 
 they are ordered ; of both I am now entirely un- 
 informed, having heard nothing of fuch deflina- 
 tion until I received your letter. If I can get no 
 information in my neighbourhood, I will fend 
 your note to .the commanding officer of I lallifax 
 or Mccklinburgh county ; which, lying contigu- 
 ous t> .- this, are moft likely to have received orders 
 to mat ;h hither. 
 
 I cannot
 
 I cannot fay, Sir, that I rejoice that the enemy 
 have abandoned their defign on this colony. 
 Their force could not have effected much againft 
 us, but they may prove troublefome to fome of 
 our fouthern neighbours, who are probably not 
 fo well provided for defence as we are. 
 
 I beg leave, Sir, to wifh you all poflible fuccefs 
 in your generous efforts for the defence of the 
 undoubted rights of mankind. Had the fcene of 
 action been where we firft expected, I intended 
 to have put myfelf a volunteer under your com- 
 mand, and to have contributed my little afliftance 
 towards that fuccefs which I am allured would 
 have attended your command. Remote as the 
 fcene may be, I mail not bear abfence from it 
 with much patience ; and were it not almoft 
 ruin to my private affairs, no campaign mould pafs 
 without receiving the little afliftance I could per- 
 fonally give ; for though I am no military charac- 
 ter, nor ambitous of fuch diftinction, the caufe in 
 which we are now engaged, and in which I have 
 unremittingly flruggled fmce the flamp act, makes 
 me anxious to be a witnefs and an actor, however 
 inconfiderable, in every fcene of importance, whe- 
 ther military or civil, which may relate to it. 
 
 1 have the honour to be, with fmgular refpect, 
 
 Sir, 
 Your obedient fervant, 
 
 THOMAS BURKE. 
 Major Gen. Lee. 
 
 S DEAR
 
 C 258 ) 
 
 DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, June i;th, 
 
 I HEARTILY thank you for your letter, and 
 regret that I cannot have the pleafure of meeting 
 you ; the great wifh of my life is to fee peace 
 between two countries 1 almoft equally love, while 
 it is a queflion whether this or an inexterminable 
 war is to take place. I meant in words I had 
 learnt from you, to let before you the many and 
 mutual advantages both would derive from an 
 agreement ; and as the terms now offered are 
 more for the intereft of your favourite America 
 than you ever hoped to obtain, I fhould have made 
 no fcruple to afk your good offices, and to eng 
 my own, to remove any obflaclts that might ob- 
 ftru& the peace. 
 
 I mould think it a greater honour to contribute 
 in the fmalleft degree to this, than to have the 
 greateft (hare in bringing about victory : thefe, to 
 a thinking man like you, who has many friends 
 on both fides, fubject him to a double regret. 
 
 I may not find another occafion of meeting you 
 eafily, but I would travel far to have the pleafure 
 of embracing you, .13 a fellow fubject of the fame 
 empire, and a friend. You will fee by fome 
 fpeeches in the Houfe of Commons, that others 
 whom you value have the fame wifh. A celebrated 
 poem, juft publifhed, fays, 
 
 " By virtue, captive Lee is doul 
 
 A panv
 
 ( 2 59 ) 
 
 A pamphlet wrote by Governor Johnftone's 
 brother is much applauded by the nation, where a 
 fpirit prevails like that between tender relations 
 who are more difpofed to love and refpeft, after 
 a quarrel has convinced both, of the advantage 
 and value of friendfhip. I fend you the pam- 
 phlet. 
 
 You do Sir H. Clinton great juflice in believ- 
 ing him incapable of an inhuman or illiberal mea- 
 fure ; you may, with great confidence, afTert, that 
 he had no mare in the havock you fay has embit- 
 tered peoples' minds to a degree of madnefs. Your 
 letter to me is the only notice he has, of the burn- 
 ings you mention. If any other houfes befides 
 magazines were deflroyed, it mufl have been by 
 the wantonnefs of foldiers ; as the officer who 
 formed the plan for deftroying the preparations for 
 the invafion of the ifland, confined it to this ob- 
 ject. The deftruclion of houfes was no part of 
 his project ; otherwife he would have mentioned the 
 fuccefs of it, which he has not done. I will de- 
 liver the meffages you give m'e, and will ever feek 
 every occafion to mew that I am with regard, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Your moil affectionate friend, 
 and humble Servant, 
 
 GO. JOHNSON. 
 8 2 P. S. Sir
 
 ( 260 ) 
 
 P. S. Sir Henry Clinton bids me thank you for 
 your letter, and charges me to enclofe one he has 
 received for you, from Eng'and. 
 
 Major Gen. Lee. 
 
 SIR, Off Charles-Town Bar, Ju!\ 
 
 ON my return toth I found a letter from 
 
 you by a flag of truce, with fome rcfrefhments you 
 were pleafed to fend me, in return for \vhich, I 
 mud beg your acceptance of a caik of porter, and 
 fome Englifh chceie. 
 
 I have made enquiries concerning the p. 
 mentioned in your letter, who, it feems, has occa- 
 fioncd this correfpondence between us, but can 
 learn nothing further about him, than that h 
 not a matter of a veflel, as he has reprefcntcd hini- 
 felf to you ; and you will have been already in- 
 formed by Mr. Byrd that Kthan Allen, and thole 
 that were with them, arc gone to the North\rard. 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your mod hurnMe fervant, 
 
 II. CLINTON. 
 To 
 
 Charles Lee, Efq. 
 Major General in the fervice 
 
 of his Polifli Majefty. 
 
 MY
 
 MY DEAR GENERAL, William (burg, July i2th, 1776. 
 
 Your kiftd concern for my health made me 
 happy, and the high approbation you exprcfs of 
 my public conduct highly gratified my pride. I 
 had the pleafure of receiving your letter which did 
 me fo much honour, about the pth of laft month. 
 I was then at Mr. Harrifon's near Peterfburg, 
 where I had gone with Mrs. Page for the recovery 
 of her health. Our trip happily has anfwered our 
 wimes, and we are once more fixed at Williams- 
 burg. It is now four weeks fmce we have re- 
 ceived any certain account of the fituation of af- 
 fairs in either of the Carolinas. Even your let- 
 ter to brigadier Lewis countermanding the march 
 of the troops did not arrive here till four weeks 
 after it was written. The regiments had juft be- 
 gan their march ; but had they not been fcattered 
 abroad on diflant ftations, and badly provided with 
 neceflhries for fuch an expedition, they would have 
 reached the place of their deflination before your 
 exprefs could have ftopped them. It will be 
 worth your while to examine into the occafion of 
 this. I thought it a matter of fo much impor- 
 tance to have fuch orders communicated with dif- 
 patch, that I advifed the brigadier to fend an ex- 
 prefs to you immediately, to inform you of the un- 
 accountable delay that yours had met with, and to 
 recommend it to you to eftablifh a pod throughout 
 your diftrift ; but he was preparing for an expe- 
 S 3 dition
 
 ( 26*2 ) 
 
 dition againfl Gwynn Ifland. The brigadier fet 
 out lafl Monday on his way to our camp, attended 
 by the Colonels Woodford, Stephens, Buckncr, 
 Wcedon, and forae others, intending to examine 
 into the ftrength of the enemy, and fubmit the 
 propriety of an attack to a council of war. They 
 reached the camp that night, and the next day 
 finding that the Dunmore had changed ftations 
 with the other, and had expofed hcrfelf very pret- 
 tily to the very place \\here \ve had been preparing 
 a battery for the Otter, they determined not to lofe 
 this good opportunity of beginning their cannon- 
 nade,in which they might fevc. : ".cipally 
 
 chaftife the noble Earl. At ci -!:t o'clock, A. M. 
 Captain Arundel and lieim nny faluted the 
 
 Dunmore and Otter, with ; ;een pounders ; 
 
 the very firft flmt at the Otter, though a full mile 
 from our battery, flruck her, as it is fuppofed, be- 
 tween wind and \vater, for (lie did not return the 
 fire, but was towed off on the Careen. T he Dun- 
 more fired a broad fide, and then w;<s to\\cd off, 
 :ng received four mot through her fides ; whilfl 
 me was in tow, me received a fifth through her 
 ftern which raked her, fcarcely a fhot \\as fired 
 which did not do execution in fome part of the 
 fleet. A fchooner loft one of her rr.afls. WhiHt lieu- 
 tenant Denny was firing on the fleet, their battery 
 on the ifland began to play on him, and a ball puf- 
 fed through the Embrazure ; on which he immedi- 
 ately turned his cannon on their battery; for he had 
 
 tal
 
 C 263 ) 
 
 taken the precaution to have fcope enough to take 
 in the fleet, and that part of their battery ; and 
 fired three times fucceffi vely into their Embrazure, 
 which three rounds completely filenced that part 
 of the battery ; the other part facing our lines on 
 the Haven was almoft as foon filenced by our bat- 
 tery erected againfl it with four nines and three 
 fix pounders. Part of their camp was a little ex- 
 pofed to both of our batteries which fired a few 
 rounds into it. This fire was as well directed as 
 that againft their fhips ; for it beat down many of 
 their tents, and threw their camp into the utmoft 
 confufion. When this was difcovered, the briga- 
 dier ordered canoes to be brought down, to enable 
 the men to pafs over into the ifland ; for, unhap- 
 pily, we had not a boat on the more : thefe could 
 not be procured till the next day, when a finart 
 cannonade began between the batteries ; but as 
 foon as ouf men had manned their boats, their fire 
 ceafed, and they retired with precipitation to their 
 boats, and efcaped fafely to their fhips, having firft 
 broken off the trunnions &c. of their cannon. 
 There were three tenders up the haven which 
 could not pafs our batteries ; thefe they aban- 
 doned ; they endeavoured to barn one, but our 
 men boarded it, and extinguimed the flames. I 
 underfland that all thefe tenders have their fwivels 
 in them ; but it is reported that they had thrown 
 the guns overboard. We are now in poireflion of 
 the ifland. The fleet has retired, but is in fight. 
 
 S 4 This
 
 This might have been a compleat affair, if proper 
 meafures had been preconcerted, and the whole 
 well conducted. Our men, however, behaved 
 well, our artillery was admirably ferved, and we 
 have difgraced and mortified our enemies. In this 
 affair we loft not a man ; but moft unhappily poor 
 Captain Arundel was killed by the burfting of a 
 wooden mortar, with which he was endeavouring 
 to throw (hells into the fleet. His lofs is irrepa- 
 rable. He behaved with great fpirit and activity, 
 and was fo hearty in our caufe that he is univerfally 
 lamented. Colonel Stephens is juft returned from 
 Gwynn's Ifland, he fays the enemy carried oft" all 
 their cannon from their batteries, except one fix 
 pounder, which they ipiked. They left fix car- 
 riage guns in one of the tenders ; feveral negroes 
 and a few whites were taken ; two negroes am! 
 one of the fourteenth regiment delerted to u . 
 The prisoners inform, that Lord Dunmore's 
 mate was cut in two by a double headed eighteen 
 pounder, which alfo took off one man's arm and 
 another's leg, and drove a fplinter into his lord- 
 fhip's leg. Tom Byrd was ill of a fever, and 
 was carted off to a boat juft before our people 
 landed. They were obliged to burn two fine final 1 
 vcflels that day, and at night, in the mouth of the 
 river, they burnt alfo a large fhip, fuppofed to be 
 the Dunmore, as fhe was not with the fleet next 
 morning. The- I-YA\VY it is faid, was with the fleet 
 but did not chufe to come within reach of our 
 
 gir
 
 ( 265 ) 
 
 guns. The Roe-buck was at the mouth of Rap. 
 pahanock. The Colonel fays, when he came awav, 
 the whole fleet had failed, and were out of fight, 
 and it was uncertain where they they are gone ; 
 fuppofe to Maryland ? They went off in a bad 
 plight without bifcuit or water. Their works 
 \vere found of excellent conftruc~rion and confide- 
 rable extent ; they were preparing to build houfes 
 and a wind-mill : they had made a vafl collection 
 of materials for different works ; their tents, which 
 they moved off except one markee, which was 
 left in their hurry, and through which a cannon 
 ball had paffed, were capable of containing 
 about feven or eight hundred men. From many 
 circumflances it is evident they meant to ftay there 
 a confiderable time. I have been interrupted in 
 writing, and before I could return to my fcrawl, I 
 had the happinefs to receive your letter of the 
 third of July. I moil heartily congratulate you on 
 your fuccefs ; it was a moil glorious affair a 
 noble defence ! The Britifh navy has been hap- 
 pily checked in her proud career, and has received 
 a mod juft and compleat chaftifement. What mult 
 the king think now ? The whole continent in 
 arms againft him, feven hundred and fifty of his 
 favourite highlanders, in our poiTeflion, and his 
 fleets repulfed and difgraced along our coafts for 
 two thoufand miles ! I hope he will repent and 
 be contented to put up with the lofs of America, 
 pr, if he does not, that he may meet with repeated 
 
 dif-
 
 ( 266 ) 
 
 difappointment. The Marylanders wcreroufed by 
 the refolve of our Convention, and have lectured 
 their rcprefentatives fo well, that they have urmni- 
 moufly voted for independence they have no oc- 
 cafion for our rifle men on that account : I lowever 
 
 in aflure you, on the Faftern fhore of Mary 
 there hasbeena confiderable infurredion of 
 infomuch that Colonel Fleming has been obliged to 
 march with a hundred and twenty men to quell rheni. 
 
 : have not yet heard the event of that affair. 
 I have juft nq>\v received anorl. . from you, 
 
 and am delighted with your d jfcription of the bra- 
 very of Colonel Moultrie and the gnrrifon of Fort 
 Sullivan. It is not flattery, my dear General, 
 when I tell you, that moft of us here attribute the 
 glorious difplay of bravery on that day, to the 
 animating prefence of a commander, who, inde- 
 pendent of his great military abilities and expe- 
 rience, appeared to be the evil genius of Clinton, 
 who had followed him, and from whofe prefence he 
 had feemed to retire and retreat along the coaft, 
 from Bofton to Charles Town. AH that I could 
 do, as there were not gentlemen enough in town, to 
 make a council, was to defire brigadier Lewis to 
 fend immediately to North Carolina, all the pow- 
 der that could befpared out of the magazine. About 
 four thoufand pounds will be fent. 
 
 I am moil finccrely yours, 
 
 JOHN PACF. 
 Major Gen. Lee.
 
 DEAR GENERAL, Philadelphia, July 23d, 1776. 
 
 IT would take a volume to tell you how many 
 clever things were faid of you, and the brave 
 troops under your Command, after hearing of your 
 late victory. It has given a wonderful turn to our 
 affairs. The lofs of Canada had ftruck the fpirits 
 of many people, who now begin to think our caufe 
 is not abandoned, and that we fhall yet triumph 
 over our enemies. 
 
 The declaration of independence has produced 
 anew asra in this part of America. The militia 
 of Pennfylvania feem to be actuated with a fpiiit 
 more than Roman. Near two thoufand citizens 
 of Philadelphia have lately marched towards New- 
 York, in order to prevent an incurfion being made 
 by our enemies upon the ftate of New-Jerfey. The 
 cry of them all is for battle. I think Mr. Howe 
 will not be able to get a footing in New- York, and 
 that he will end the prefent, or begin the next 
 campaign in Canada, or in fome one of the 
 Southern colonies. The only places in which Ame- 
 rica is vulnerable. We depend upon Gates in the 
 North, and you oblige us to hope for great things 
 from the South. 
 
 The Tories quiet, but very furly. Lord Howe's 
 proclamation leaves them not a fmgle filament of 
 their cobweb doclrine of reconciliation. 
 
 The fpirit of liberty reigns triumDh'ant in Penn- 
 fylvania. The proprietary gentry have retired to 
 
 their
 
 their country feats, and honeft men have taken 
 the feats they abufed fo much in the government 
 of our (late. 
 
 The papers v.ill inform you, that I have been 
 thruft into Congrefs. I find there is a great deal 
 of difference between fporting a femimcnt in a let- 
 ter, or over a ghfs of wine upon politics, and dif- 
 charging properly the duty of a fenator. I feel 
 inyfclf unequal to every part of my new fituation, 
 except where plain integrity is required. 
 
 My former letters to you, may pafs hereafter 
 for a leaf of the Sibyls. They arc full of predic- 
 tions : and, what is (till more uncommon, fome of 
 them have proved true. I mail go on, and add, 
 that I think the declaration of independence -will 
 produce union and new exertions in England in 
 the fame ratio that they have done in this countrv. 
 The prefent campaign, I believe, is only defigned 
 to train us for the dudes of next fummer. 
 
 Adieu, 
 
 Yours fmcerely, 
 
 An OLD FRIEND. 
 ior Gen. Lee. 
 
 York, Augr.ft 1 2th, 177^. 
 
 >TWriHr>TAXI)lNG I (hall probably feel 
 , I do mcft cordh'ly and fmcerely con- 
 
 gnu
 
 gratulate you on your victory over Clinton and the 
 Britifli fquadron at Sullivan's Ifland. A victory 
 undoubtedly it is, when an enemy are drubbed, 
 and driven from a country they were fent to con- 
 quer. Such is the cafe of Clinton and Sir Peter 
 Parker, who are now with the fleet and army at 
 Staten Ifland, where General Howe and the troops 
 from Hallifax have been ever fmce the laft day of 
 June, and Lord Howe fmce the twelfth of July. 
 Some Hefiians and a pretty many of the Scottifh 
 laddies have got in, and the refidue of the fleet 
 parted with, off the banks of Newfoundland, hour- 
 ly expected. When the whole arrive, matters will 
 foon come to a decifion, every thing being prepared 
 on both fides for the appeal, and, on ours, I hope, it 
 will be obftinate, if not fuccefsful. 
 
 The latter, it is not in the power of mortals to 
 command ; but they may endeavour to defer ve it ; 
 and this I am perfuaded, our troops will more than 
 ever aim at, as I have imprefled upon their minds 
 the gallant behaviour of the brave few, who de- 
 fended Sullivan's Ifland. 
 
 At prefent, the enemy can bring more men to 
 a point than we can, and when reinforced by the 
 Heffians without number, as unlefs the militia (faf- 
 ter than heretofore) come into our aid, their num- 
 bers, when the Heffians arrive, cannot, by the bed 
 intelligence we can get, fall fhort of twenty-five 
 thoufand men. Ours are under twenty, very fick-
 
 ly, and polled on Governor's Ifiand, Long Ifland, 
 at Ilowlis Hook, Horn's Hook, and at the pafs 
 near King's Bridge ; more militia arc expected, but 
 whether they will 1 c, time only can tell, as 
 
 alfo :iie point of attack will be. An opi- 
 
 nion pi .ced by hints from fome of 
 
 principle Tories, and corroborated by in: 
 
 gence from Staten Ifland, that part of the enemy's 
 
 fleet and army will go into the Sound, whilft ano- 
 
 :t of it, runs up the North River, thereby 
 
 cutting off all communication by \\ater with this 
 
 place, whilft their troops form a chain acrofs the 
 
 ';, and flop an intercourfe with Connecticut by 
 
 I : others think, they will not K Tiny in 
 
 .1 they have the country in their 
 
 from, getting by tl. n two fires, un- 
 
 lefs i( --nded as a feint to withdraw out troops 
 
 from the city, that they may flip in and poflefs 
 
 :u(elves of it : all this is but a field of conjee- 
 
 ture. 
 
 Our affairs in the North have been growing from 
 bad to worfe, till I hope they end, as one 
 
 great fource of the evil is in a way of being rer 
 ed, I mean, the fmall pox ; but the army have 
 treated from place to place, till they are now get 
 to Ticonderoga, oppofite to which, on the Kaft 
 fide of the Lake Champlain, they are about to ef- 
 tablifh apoft, which they fay will be invulnerable ; 
 but whether it may not be i it like the man 
 
 who
 
 uho built a mill on account of a beautiful fall, and 
 then had to confider whether it was practicable to 
 bring water to it, remains in fome ineafure to be 
 determined, as it is the opinion of fome, (I know 
 nothing of the country myfelf,) that the enemy 
 may pafs this poft and get into Lake George, with- 
 out receiving the lead annoyance from this work. 
 Whether they would chufe to leave a poft in their 
 rear without eftablifhing one themfelves, fufficient 
 to keep it in awe, is the point in queftion. 
 
 It gives me a very fingular pleafure to hear of 
 the gallant behaviour of your young aids, and 
 Mr. Jenefer, as alfo of Colonels Moultrie and 
 Thompfon, to be the means at any time, of reward- 
 ing merit, will add greatly to my happinefs ; and 
 whenever you can point out a mode that can be 
 adopted confidently, you mail find me very ready : 
 but you know the temper of the troops in this 
 quarter, as well as I do, and how impracticable it 
 is to bring in a perfon, let his merit be ever fo 
 great, without throwing a whole corps into confu- 
 fion. This will alfo apply to Captain Bullet. What 
 vacancies there may be in your department that he 
 has his eye to, and could be appointed to with pro- 
 priety, you mutt know better than I. That there is 
 none here, 1 can undertake to fay. I have no doubt 
 but the Congrefs would annex the rank of colo- 
 nel to his office of adjutant. I believe they have 
 done it in the inftance of Griffin, who is appoint- 
 ed deputy adjutant to the flying camp. If this 
 would add any thing to his fatisfaclion, I mould 
 2 have
 
 C 272 ) 
 
 have no objection to the mention of it. "With 
 wifli for your profpcrity and fuccefs, I remain 
 with fincere regard, 
 
 Your mod afleclionatc and obedient, 
 
 <J. WASHINGTON. 
 Gen. Lee. 
 
 .. i 6th, i 
 
 \R Sin, , 
 
 YOU will lee by the metaled Refolves, that 
 
 Congrefs have entered into fome new regulations 
 
 refpecting the enliftment of the new army, and 
 
 reprobating the meafures adopted by the (late of 
 
 .ichufet's Bay for raifmg their quota of men. 
 
 .As every poflible exertion mould be ufed for 
 recruiting the army, as fpeedily as may be, I re- 
 quefl that you immediately publifh, in orders, 
 that an allowance of a dollar and one-third of a 
 dollar \vill be paid to the officers for every foldier 
 they mail enlift:, whether in or out of camp. 
 
 .Alfo, that it will be optional in the foldier to 
 enlift during the continuance of the war, or for 
 three years, unlefs fooner difcharged by Congrefs. 
 In the former cafe, they are to receive all fuch 
 bounty and pay as have been heretofore mentioned 
 
 in
 
 in orders ; thofe who engage for the latter t: : me, 
 that of three years, are not to receive the bounty 
 in land. 
 
 That no miftakes may be made, you will direct 
 the recruiting officers, from your divifion, to pro- 
 vide two diftinct enlifling rolls ; one for thofe 
 to fign who engage during the war, the other for 
 thofe who enlift for three years, if their fervicc 
 mall be fo long required. 
 
 I am forry to inform you, that this day about 
 twelve o'clock, the enemy made a general attack 
 upon our lines about Fort Wafhington, which, 
 having carried, the garrifon retired within the 
 fort. Colonel Magaw finding there was no prof- 
 pecl: of retreating a-crofs the North River, furren- 
 dered the poft. We do not yet know the lofs of 
 killed and wounded on either fide ; but I imagine 
 it muft have been pretty confiderable, as the en- 
 gagement, at fome parts of the lines, was of 
 long continuance, and heavy : neither do I know 
 the terms of capitulation. The force of the gar- . 
 rifon, before the attack, was about two thoufand 
 men. 
 
 Before I left Peck's-hill, I urged to General 
 Heath, the necefiity of fecuring the paf$ through 
 the Highlands next to the river, as well on that 
 as this fide, and to the forts above j but as the 
 preferring of thefe and others which lay more 
 eafterly, and which are equally eflfential, is a mat- 
 ter of the laft importance, I muft beg you to "turn 
 
 T your
 
 ( 374 ) 
 
 your attention that way, and to have fuch mca- 
 fures adopted for their defence as your judgment 
 (hall fuggeft to be neceflary. I do not mean to 
 advife abandoning your prefent poft contrary to 
 your own opinion, but only to mention my ideas 
 of the importance of thofe pafles, and that you 
 cannot give too much attention to their fecurity, 
 by having works creeled in the mod advantageous 
 places for that purpofe. 
 
 I am, dear Sir, 
 
 Your mofl obedient fervant, 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 Gen. Lee. 
 
 THE RESOLVES OF C:ONGRESS 
 
 MENTIONED IN THE PRECEDING LETTER. 
 
 In CONGRESS Nov. ;th, 1776. 
 
 RESOLVED, That the refolution pafled the 
 1 4th of October lad, That the allowance to of- 
 ficers of one and one-third of a dollar for cnlifling 
 foldiers, be not extended or given on the re-enlifl- 
 ment of the foldiers in camp, be repealed. 
 
 Nov.
 
 Nov. 1 2th, 1776. 
 
 RESOLVED, As the opinion of this Congrefs, 
 that if the foldiers to be raifed by the ftate of Maf- 
 fachufet's Bay, be enlifted on the terms offered 
 to them, (which are more advantageous than what 
 are offered to other foldiers ferving in the fame 
 army,) it would much retard, if not totally im- 
 pede, the enliftment of the latter, and produce 
 difcontent and murmur, unlefs Congrefs mould 
 equally increafe the pay of thefe ; which it is the 
 opinion of this Congrefs would univerfally be 
 reprobated as an immoderate expence, and com- 
 plained of, as a grievous burden, by thofe who 
 muft bear it ; and therefore, that the committee 
 from the ftate of Maflachufet's Bay, be defired 
 not to enlift their men on the additional pay of- 
 fered by the Affembly of that ftate. 
 
 Upon reconfidering the Refolution of the i6th 
 of September laft, for raifmg eighty-eight bat- 
 talions, to ferve during the prefent war with 
 Great Britain, Congrefs being of opinion, that 
 the readinefs of the inhabitants of the ftates to 
 enter into the fervice for limited times, in defence 
 of their invaluable privileges, on all former occa- 
 fions, gives good ground to hope the fame zeal 
 for the public good will appear in future when 
 neceflity calls for their affiftance ; and the un- 
 certain length of time which forces raifed during 
 
 T 2 the
 
 C 276 ) 
 
 the continuance of the war may be compelled to 
 ferve, may prevent many from enlifting who 
 would otherwife readily manifeft their attachment 
 to the common caufe, by engaging for a limited 
 time, therefore, 
 
 RESOLVED, That all non-commifllon officers 
 and foldicrs, who do not incline to engage their 
 fcrvices during the continuance of the prefcnt 
 war, and mall enlift to ferve three years, unlets 
 fooner difcharged by Congrefs, fhall be entitled to, 
 and receive, all fuch bounty and pay as arc allov, ^ 
 to thofe who enlift during the continuance of the 
 prefent war, except the one hundred acres of 
 land, which is to be granted to thofe only who 
 enlift without limitation of time. 
 
 And each recruiting officer is required to pro- 
 vide two diftincl enlifting rolls ; one for fuch to 
 fign who enlift during the continuance of the war, 
 and the other for fuch as enlift for three years, 
 if their fen-ice mail be fo long required. 
 
 By order of the Congrefs. 
 JOHN HANCOCK, Trei 
 
 i'V. 
 
 ROBERT HARRISON. 
 
 DEAR
 
 277 
 
 GENERAL, Hackenfack, Nov. 2ift, 1776. 
 
 THE letter you will receive with this contains 
 my fentiments with refpecl: to your prefent ftation ; 
 but befides this, I have fome additional reafons for 
 moil earneflly wifhing to have you where the prin- 
 cipal fcene of aclion is laid. I do not mean to 
 flatter nor praife you at the expence of any other, 
 but, I confefs, I do think that it is entirely 
 owing to you, that this army and the liberties of 
 America, fo far as they are dependent on it, are 
 not totally cut off. You have <iecifion, a quality 
 often wanting in minds otherwife valuable ; and 
 I afcribe to this our efcape from York-Ifland, 
 from King's Bridge, and the Plains ; and I have 
 no doubt, had you been here, the garrifon of 
 Mount Wafhington would now have compofed a 
 part of this army: and from all thefe circumftances, 
 I confefs I ardently wifh to fee you removed from 
 a place where I think there will be little call for 
 your judgment and experience, to the place where 
 they are likely to be fo neceffary. Nor am I fin- 
 gular in my opinion, every gentleman of the fa- 
 mily, the officers, and foldiers, generally, have 
 a confidence in you : the enemy conftantly enquire 
 where you are, and feem to me to be lefs confident 
 when you are prefent. 
 
 Colonel Cadwallader, through a fpecial indul- 
 T 3 geucc
 
 gence, on account of fome civilities fliewn by his 
 family to General Prefect, has been liberated from 
 New-York without any parole. He informs, that 
 the enemy have a fouthern expedition in view ; 
 that they hold us very cheap in confequcnce of 
 the late affair at Mount Wafhington, where both 
 the plan of defence and execution were contempti- 
 ble. If a real defence of the lines was intended, 
 the number was too few ; if the Fort only, the 
 garrifon was too numerous by half. General 
 Wafhington's own judgment, fcconded by rcpre- 
 fentations from us, would, I believe, have laved 
 the men and their arms ; but, unluckih , 
 General Green's judgment was contrary. This 
 kept the General's mind in a (late of fufpence 
 till the ftroke was (truck. Oh, General! an 
 indecifive mind is one of the greateil misfortunes 
 that can befal an army : how often have I la- 
 mented it this campaign ! 
 
 All circumftances confidered, we are in a very- 
 awful, alarming (late, one that requires the utmoit 
 \vilidom and firmnefs of mind. 
 
 As foon as the feafon will admit, I think your- 
 fclf and fome others mould go to Congrefs, and 
 form the plan of the new army, point out their 
 defecls to them, and, if poflible, prevail on them 
 to bind their whole attention to this great object, 
 even to the exclufion of every other. If they will 
 not, or cannot, do this, I fear all our exertions 
 
 will
 
 will be vain in this part of the world. Foreign 
 afiiilance is folliciting, but we cannot expe& they 
 will fight the whole battle. 
 
 I intended to have faid more, but the exprefs 
 1$ waiting, and I muft conclude with my clear 
 and explicit opinion, that your prefence is of the 
 laft importance. 
 
 I am, with much affedion and regard, 
 Your very affectionate, 
 
 Humble fervant, 
 
 JOSEPH REED, Adjut. Gen. 
 
 Major Gen. Lee, 
 at the White Plains. 
 
 Mv DEAR GENERAL, Philadelphia, Aug. 3Oth, 1778. 
 I AM mocked, confounded, and exceedingly 
 chagrined to hear the court have adjudged you 
 guilty of all the charges alledged againft you, and 
 have fufpended you one year on account of it. 
 The fentence is as unaccountable to me, as that 
 they mould find you guilty. 
 
 Matters have been fo curfedly reprefented againft 
 T 4 you
 
 you in this place, that I have been alinoft mob- 
 bed in defending you. Ten thoufand infamous 
 lies have been fpread, that I never heard b 
 to bias the friends of the people againft you. 
 In the name of God, what are we come to : 
 So much for our republican! 
 
 I am beyond description unhappy, I feel for 
 the injury of a man I fo fmcerely elteem a man 
 whofe merit is fo confpicuous throughout the 
 world ; and more particularly for a man, who, 
 if juflice was to take place, and facls properly 
 known, merited the thanks of the continent, for 
 the transactions of that day, in a mod Angular 
 manner. 
 
 I have not been able to fee Mr. Lee ; I called 
 twice, but he was not at home ; to-morrow 
 morning I mail have the pleafure, I expeft, as 
 I intend to call again. General Mifiin will be 
 in town to-morrow, whom I mall likewife vifit. 
 
 My fmcere affection you will ever command, 
 and I (hall never efteem myfelf fo happy as when 
 I can have it in my power to render you a 
 fervice. 
 
 I will, in two or three Jays, fet out for camp, in 
 order to have an interview with you. 
 
 I am, dear General, 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 # * * 
 
 Major Gen. Lee. 
 
 SIR,
 
 SIR, Brunfivick, Jan. i5th, 1779. 
 
 I AM honoured with your favour of the i8th 
 ult. and can allure you, that of the merit or de- 
 ment of your conduct in the affair of Monmouth, 
 on the 28th of June, I have not to this day framed 
 any opinion. I have fo little leifure to attend to 
 the military operations of America, and am fo 
 incompetent a judge of the qualifications necef- 
 fary to conilitute the character of a general, that 
 I make no judgment at all. But without admit- 
 ting or denying that you have made greater facri- 
 fices in the caufe of American freedom than any 
 officer of our whole army, without a fingle ex- 
 ception, and that it is not lefs certain that you 
 have faved our whole army more than once from 
 deftru&ion, (the proofs of which are not in my 
 pofeffion,) I can aflure you, that I heartily dif- 
 approve of all publications containing perfonal 
 reflections on the character of any gentleman, 
 and efpecially on thofe of your rank, in the Ame- 
 rican army. And if what was prefented to the 
 public, as a mere republication of a paper for- 
 merly printed by a Virginian, has been, as you 
 fay, republifhed with many malicious alterations 
 and additions, it is dill the more inexcufable ; 
 becaufe all fuch alterations and additions, befides 
 their particular malignity againft you, (for which 
 alone I fhould condemn them,) are an impofidon 
 
 upon
 
 upon the world ; and it muft be conf JcrcJ, by 
 every man of honour, be the legal conftruftion 
 what it will, as a downright forger)-. I can fur- 
 ther affurc you, that I cannot but difapprove of 
 Mr. Collins'* inferting the paper you refer to in 
 Gazette, not only becaufe no printer ought to 
 oiake his prefs a vehicle for pcrfonal (3 hut 
 
 becaufe he fet out with a profeiTed deelara: 
 
 nib diverting his paper to fuch purpo: 
 has fo tenacioufly adhered to that maxim till the 
 publication in queftion, as to reject, it my in- 
 
 nation be true, feveral pieces on account of 
 the perfonal reflections they contained on gentle- 
 .\ in the of the enemy, and which the 
 
 Jaw of retaliation would clearly have warranted 
 him to infcrt. And I mud declare, in judicc to 
 him, and from wlut I prrfonally know of his hu- 
 
 e difpofition, and his dilinclination to 
 vcy through the channel of his prcfs any thin*; in- 
 jurious to the reputation of others, that I firmly 
 believe, he has taken the paper, : 1 to htm as 
 
 a copy of a publication in Virginia, l-rati 
 And it is g* fjppofed, by virtue of what law 
 
 I know not, but perhaps by one as rational as 
 that of deciding controverfies by private combat, 
 in civil communities which reprobate that ii.lc 
 of dccifion, that a printer, by the bare rcpubl< 
 lion of a paper, i to adopt the femi- 
 
 rncnts ; ar difclofing to tl 
 
 grieved, at wh' : jjilhed, he
 
 always averts the indignation of the fufiferer from 
 himfelf to that perfon. I fhould, however, be 
 very forry to find any of our printers imitate the 
 practice of the Britilh fubjefts in New- York, who, 
 whether they excel us in military difcipline and 
 courage or not, have, to my certain knowledge, 
 hitherto furpafled us in printed calumny and 
 detraction. 
 
 From thefe my fentiments refpecHng the printers 
 of defamatory papers, I hope, Sir, you will not 
 queftion my difapprobation both of the original 
 authors, and the fecondary propagators, of flander. 
 But neither Mr. Boudinot's appointment to, nor 
 depofition from, his office, as commiflary of our 
 ftate prifoners, being in my department, it is not 
 in my power to do you the jultice which you feem 
 to expect in that line ; nor is there any authority 
 in this (late by which he can be cafhiered, till the 
 next meeting of our aflembly, which flands 
 adjourned to the igth of May. But the law of 
 the (late is always at every one's fervice ; and, 
 in the cafe of libels, if we are to credit the Britifh 
 lawyers, fo peculiarly favourable to theprofecutor, 
 that the fcandal is not the lefs penal for being 
 true, than if it was utterly falfe ; which, I think, 
 is giving a man as great a chance as can reafonably 
 be defired ; and, perhaps, if you thought proper 
 to publifh your letter to me on the fubject under 
 confideration, it would be as ample fatisfaction 
 againft Mr. Boudinot, as the nature of rhe offence 
 
 requires j
 
 requires 4 but that I entirely fubmit to your better 
 judgment. I:: r. word, Sir, \vhentver it fhall be point- 
 ed out to me in what manner I can, \vith any pro- 
 priety, interfere in the matter, either as governor of 
 this Itate, or as a private gentleman, I fhall not 
 hefitate a moment to do you all the juflice which I 
 conceive you deferve. In the mean time, I em- 
 brace this opportunity to re-acknowledge my 
 grateful fenfe of your friendly intimations, fome 
 time lincc, of the enemy's peculiar rcfentment 
 againft me, and your kind concern for my perfonal 
 fafety upon that account. I mud, however, take the 
 liberty to fay, as a man detached from all parties, 
 and wholly devoted to what he thinks the true 
 interefls of his country, that I mould be extremely 
 unhappy in having reafon to believe what is fre- 
 quently, and perhaps injurioufiy, reported of you, 
 that you endeavoured to leiTen the eftimation in 
 which General Wafhington is held by the moft 
 virtuous citizens of America ; and which eflima- 
 tion, not, Sir, from a blind attachment to men of 
 hi;^h rank, nor from any felf-interefled motive 
 \\hatfoever, but from a full conviction of his great 
 perfonal merit and public importance, I deem it 
 my duty to my country to ufe my utmoft influence 
 to fupport. 
 
 I am, with all due refpecl, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your moft humble fervant, 
 Major Gen. Lee. W. LIVINGSTON. 
 
 MY
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, Philadelphia, Ocl. 24, 1779. 
 
 I AM diftrefled to think that all your friendly 
 letters and meffages to me have met with fuch un- 
 grateful returns. I have written two letters to you, 
 one of which was inclofed under a cover, directed 
 to Mr. Wolford, and put into the Poft-Ofnce; 
 the other was miflaid and loft before I could hear 
 of an opportunity of fending it. You fee from 
 this, that I have not been unmindful of you. 
 You have wounded me in fuppofmg that I am 
 carried away by the tide of the times. I would 
 as foon be fufpe&ed of picking a pocket, as of in- 
 fidelity in friendmip, or idolatry in politics. 
 
 Major Euftace informed me of your reply to 
 Prefident Reed's publications. Our printers re- 
 fufed to give it a place in their papers : it was befi 
 for you they did fo. Have patience ; time and 
 pofterity will do you juitice. The fummer flies 
 that now din our ears muft foon retire. Nothing 
 but virtue and real abilities will finally pafs mufter, 
 when the public cool a little from the ferment into 
 which the great and fudden events of the late, revo- 
 lution have thrown us. I would rather be one of 
 your dogs in a future hiftory of the prefent war, 
 than poffefs the firft honours that are now current 
 in America, with the characters which I know 
 fome of our great men merit. Poor Pennfylvanii 
 has become the mod miferable fpot upon the fiir- 
 2 face
 
 ( 286 } 
 
 face of the globe. Our ftreets, alas 1 have been 
 flamed already with fraternal blood ; a fad prelude, 
 we fear, of the future mlfchiefs our conftitution \vill 
 bring upon us ; they call it a, democracy, a mobo- 
 cracy in my opinion \vould be more proper. AH 
 our laws breathe the fpirit of town meetings and 
 porter (hops : but I forget that I am not fafe in 
 communicating my opinion of men and meafures 
 to paper. Oh, Liberty ! Liberty ! I have worfhip- 
 ped thee as a fubflance ! But it is near twelve 
 o'clock at night, and I am much fatigued with an 
 unufual (hare of bufincHi ; for, in the true ftile of 
 the fubject of a monarch, my family and my bu- 
 fmefs now engrofs all my time and attention my 
 country I have long ago left to the care of Ti- 
 mothy Matlock, Charles Wilfon Peale, and Co. 
 I mult therefore bid you good night, wifhing you 
 at the fame time all poflible health and happinefs, 
 and am, my dear Lee, 
 
 Your fincere and afie&ionate 
 
 OLD FRIEND. 
 Major Gen. Lee. 
 
 MY DEAR LEE, York-town, Oct. 2 id, 1781. 
 
 THERE are few circtimftances that give me 
 
 equal pleafure to that of hearing from my friends ; 
 
 and,
 
 and, as my efteem for you has ever encreafed in pro- 
 portion to your misfortunes in the road of per- 
 fecution, I am always made happy in a line from 
 you, as it announces your prefent fituation. 
 
 Your being robbed of your horfes is a com- 
 mon evil, and its falling harder on you than any 
 other perfon is what I mould have expected, from 
 the difpofition of wretches always difpofed to 
 heap coals on the head of the injured. I am hap- 
 py ever in having it in my power to inform you 
 of the good efteem in which you are held in the 
 army ; and that they are not now, whatever they 
 have been, inclined to purfue the track of perfecu- 
 tion, beaten fo bare as it is by creatures whofe 
 praife would be a difhonour to any honed man. 
 
 Poor Fleury, the other day, called me a-one- 
 fide to whifper to me, and after looking round, 
 to prevent a poffibility of being over-heard, he 
 alked me what had become of you ? I could not 
 help fmiling, and, in my reply, telling him you 
 was very well, and that he need not be afraid of 
 acknowledging an acquaintance with General Lee 
 in the mod public aflembly in America ; that I 
 efteemed it an honour to call myfelf his friend ; 
 that my fmcere attachment to him was amply re- 
 warded by the univerfal approbation of all good 
 and fenfible men. He anfwered me, he was very 
 glad of it : it was every where known in France 
 that you had been ill-treated, and that every per- 
 fon lamented your misfortune. 
 
 The
 
 ( 288 ) 
 
 The furrender of Lord Cornwallis and hi* 
 
 army will reach you before this letter. I think 
 
 this is a circumflance which mud fecurc fo Ame- 
 
 '.cpendencc. V.' follow, I leave 
 
 to time. It mufl have been a mortifying circum- 
 
 iiance to my lord, to 1 icited terms, as no 
 
 demand of a l'urrenJi r . ' < . U e had juft 
 
 completed our fecond parallel, at t\vo hundred 
 
 Is from his In the capitulation 
 
 was not permitted to uncafe his colours, or to 
 
 beat an American or French march. You \vill 
 
 probably fee your friend O'llara, who is a 
 
 prifoner. 
 
 We expeft now to go on. to Charles Town, to 
 invert that place. The moment I can obtain per. 
 miflion to leave th repair to your 
 
 hermitage, and fpend fome time with you, when 
 I promtfe myfelf much fatisfaction. In the mean, 
 while, believe me, 
 
 Your affc&ionate and 
 
 Unalterable fii 
 
 L. EDWARDS, 
 oa. 2ift, 1781. 
 
 LETTERS
 
 LETTERS 
 
 FROM 
 
 MAJOR GENERAL LEE. 
 
 London, Dec. ift, 1766. 
 
 MOST EXCELLENT SlR, AND MOST DEAR MASTER, 
 
 "\7"OUR Majefty will better imagine, than I can 
 -* exprefs the pleafure I have received from 
 your kind and gracious letter : the aflurances it 
 gives me of your good opinion and regard, I mall 
 ever confider as the happieft, the moft honourable 
 circumftance of my life. They make ample 
 amends for the enmities I have drawn upon my- 
 felf from certain powerful quarters in my own 
 country, where, perhaps, from fome juft judgment 
 of God, the fame qualities which would recom- 
 mend to your Majefty are highly obnoxious. I 
 devoutly wifli, and proudly hope, for my own 
 
 U honour,
 
 honour, that I may ever pofifefs a place in 
 cfleem of your Majefly, and remain theaverfion of 
 thofe --ho fo widely, fo totally, differ from you. 
 
 I am concerned I cannot more fully, and in a 
 more faiirfaclorv manner, anfwer the feveral quef- 
 tions of yoar Majeily on the'ftate of our country, 
 than v. hai 1 pm able to do. Of fome of thefe articles, 
 the caufe, though generally treated of, appears not 
 in the lead underftood j on others, opinions arc 
 fo various that it is prefumption to decide ; but 
 fome are, I think, obvious to every man of com- 
 mon underftanding ; and of this clafs may be 
 reckoned Mr. Pitt's quitting the ftage, and the con- 
 duel of the American colonies towards the mother 
 country. With refpect to the firfl, it is manifeft,. 
 from a thoufand circumftances, that with the 
 health and frame of this extraordinary man, 
 the underflanding is likewife worn out. Before 
 1 came to England, I did not lay much ftrefs on 
 thofe parts of his conduct which the newfpapers 
 have fo worried ; and' I recoiled: your Majefly 
 was of the fame way of thinking, that there 
 was nothing very monftrous in his acceptance 
 of a peerage, but that it might be imprudent, 
 and argued a fenfeleflhefs of glory, to forfeit the 
 name of Pitt for any title the king could beftoxv. 
 But fmce I am a little more behind the fcencs, 
 and am made acquinted with feveral circumflanccs 
 previous, concomitant, and fubfequent to thi* 
 event, I am apt to agree with the majority -of I 
 
 better
 
 better fort, that this once noble mind is quite 
 overthrown. Can it be reconciled to reafon, that 
 the fame niah who had rendered his name fo illuf- 
 trious and fo tremendous to the greateft part of 
 the globe, mould fplit upon ribbons and titles ; 
 that when he had arrived at a higher pinnacle 
 of glory than ever citizen did fmce the days of 
 Epaminondas, he mould be captivated by fuch 
 a bauble, even though it mould be attended with 
 no ill confequences to the affairs of his country ? 
 but when fuch terrible ones were vifible, it mufl 
 be conflrued downright madnefs. Mr. Pitt, fay 
 they, was the only man who had capacity, fpirit, 
 and power to aftert the honour and intereft of 
 the nation with foreign dates, correct the abufes, 
 and ftem the torrent of corruption at home. His 
 power was not founded on vafl property or cabi- 
 net favour, but on his popularity. By finking 
 into a peerage, his popularity would vanifh of 
 courfe, and with it all power of rendering, at 
 a mod critical time, any farther fervices to his 
 country. If it is objected that it is poflible to 
 accept a title and retain the integrity of the citi- 
 zen, they allow it ; but that, unfortunately, the 
 bulk of the people will not be perfuaded of it j 
 that a popular minifter muft, therefore, not only 
 be .ftri&ly virtuous, but, like Csefar's wife, his 
 virtue mufl not be fufpe&ed ; that this perfuafion 
 of the people, ridiculous as it may appear at 
 firft fight, is founded on two much juftice j for 
 U 2 they
 
 they obferve, that, from the time of WentWortBp 
 down to that of Pulieney, not one inftancc can be 
 produced of a man's changing his feat from the 
 lower to the upper houfe, without a thorough 
 nunciiition of ail principles and public virtue > 
 but whether this opinion is well or ill founded, as 
 it is a prevalent one, this revolt, error, folly, or 
 madnefs, of fuch a man has fomc direful effects ; it 
 taints -with jealoufy all public affiance, cftabli: 
 a doubt, whether fuch a thing as public virtue can 
 exift : in fhort, it makes the bulk of manK ; 
 indifferent who are in, who are out, ar> they arc al- 
 moft perfuadai men are, u: , in 
 
 the end, equally vain, apoftatcs to the c 
 caufe, either through intereftedm :.ity, or 
 
 madncfs. 
 
 Such are the arguments not only made ufe of 
 by the majority of Mr. Pitt's once admirers, but 
 v were ftated to him by thofe who were fuppo- 
 :o have the greateft weight with him. Lord 
 Camden, in particular, concluding this refolution 
 to be a fhort fit of compliance, and that his friend 
 would foon fee the danger of the meafure, delay- 
 ed the figning of the patent for two da] . But 
 his lordfliip was miflaken, the diforder had taken> 
 deeper root than he imagined ; : could mew- 
 
 more impatience for a new toy, than this firft of 
 men did, till the tcftimony of his folly was figned 
 and fealed to the \\hole world. Your Mrjefty wil> 
 probably objecl, that though Mr. Pitt played the 
 
 child
 
 ( 293 ) 
 
 child in one article, it is no proof of tke general 
 failure of his understanding - f that, no man was 
 ever blefled with ib entire faculties, as not, on fom$ 
 particular occafion, and in fome unlucky moment, 
 to betray weaknefs. But this is not the cafe with 
 Pitt, the decay of his parts is not only indicated 
 by the act itfelf, but confirmed by his conduct io. 
 public and private character : In public the doc- 
 trines he broaches are diametrically the reverfe of 
 what he h as, through the whole courfe of his life, 
 aflerted : In private, he is totally metamorphofed ; 
 from the extreme of plainnefs and fimplicity, he 
 is all parade, magnificence and oflentation. But 
 I might have fpared your Majefly this prolix de- 
 tail, when in few words, it would have fufficed to 
 have faid, that he has fits of crying, Halting, and 
 every effect of hyfteric j it is affirmed, indeed, 
 that ten years ago, he was in the very fame condi- 
 tion, that therefore a poffibility of his recovering 
 once more his nerves, and with them all his func- 
 tions ; but from the age of the man, the gene- 
 rality confider the piece as finimed ; the honefl 
 anci well- wi (hers of $heir country lament over him, 
 the corrupt and profligate fmg Te Deum, as the 
 Devil probably did for the fall of man. Your 
 Majefty afks whp is to mount the ftage in his 
 room ? I am fo far from feeing any man fo qua- 
 lified in all points, as to fill his part in time of dif? 
 traction and confufion, that I know no fet of men 
 who have a chance of being called to it, who will 
 U 3 not
 
 ( 294 ) 
 
 not by ignorance, obftinacy, or timidity, throw 
 things into ten times greater confufion than they 
 are at prefent. My Lord Rockingham is indeed 
 an honeft, worthy, and fpirited man, and polTefles 
 the good opinion of the people in general, but 
 thefe attributes will probably exclude him. The 
 Thane who is ftill all-powerful, will never admit 
 of a man fo endowed. He requires a certain de- 
 gree of fubfervicncy and complai . n fiiort, 
 he requires a minifter of his own jobs and parti- 
 alities, and not an adminiftrator of the national 
 affairs. As to the reft who form \\hat is ralLd the 
 oppofition, they are fo odious, or contemptible, 
 that the favourire hinv m ; 
 fuch as Grenville, aftle, and their 
 aflbciates. Temple is one of the mod ridiculous 
 order of coxcombs I ever heard of, he is eter- 
 nally appealing to the public, forgetting that the 
 public never confidered him farther than they 
 would an oki pair of boots, which Mr. Pitt might, 
 through whim, have fet a value upon, \vhich when 
 he chofe to throw afide, it mattered not if they 
 , c thrown into a lumber room or the fire. No- 
 thing could make the American colonifU caft off 
 their obedience, or even rcfpecl to their mother 
 country, but fome attempt on the efience of their 
 
 rty ; fuch as undoubtedly the ftamp ad was, 
 which, if it had remained unrepealed, and admit- 
 ted as a precedent, they would have been f. 
 
 ntents and purpofes, as their whole property
 
 ( 295 ) 
 
 would lye at the mercy of the Crown's minifter 
 .and the minifter's minifters, the Houfe of Com- 
 mons, who would find no end to the neceffity of 
 taxing thefe people, as every additional tax would 
 furnifh the mafter with means of adding to their 
 refpective wages - t but it would be impertinent in 
 me to enter into a difcuffion of the propriety or 
 impropriety, the juftice or injuftice, of this mea- 
 fure, when it is fo fully and clearly treated in fome 
 tracts which are bound up together, and which I 
 bave ordered to be fent to your Majefty. If the 
 humours which this accurfed attempt has raifed, 
 are fuffered to fubfide, the inherent affection which 
 the colonies have for their mother country, and 
 clamings of interefts one amongft another, will 
 throw every thing back into the old channel; which 
 indeed is the cafe already : but if another attack 
 of the fame nature fhould be made upon them, by 
 a wicked blundering minifler, I will venture to 
 prophecy, that this country will be fhaken to its 
 foundation in its wealth, credit, naval force, and 
 interior population. 
 
 My DEAR PRINCE, London, Dec. 25th, 1766. 
 
 YOU will do me great injuftice if you attribute 
 
 my filence for fo many months to a want of fenfe 
 
 U 4 *f
 
 C 296 ) 
 
 of your exceflive goodnefs and friendfhip, or even 
 to carelefsnefs, which, confidering the obligations 
 I lye under to your highnefs, would be one and the 
 fame thing. The truth is, that I was unwilling to 
 trouble you with a fulfome letter of acknowledge- 
 ments, as I hope you are no ftranger to my fenti- 
 ments on the fubjecl ; but I thought a few lines 
 which would give you a {ketch of the flate of 
 this country, of the parties, and of our profpeft in 
 relation to foreign and interior affairs, would be 
 the only pofiible method of making your High- 
 nefs fome return for the thoufand inftances of 
 friendfhip which I have received at your hands ; 
 but the moil reafonable fchemes are frequently de- 
 feated : fo it fares with me ; for, although I have 
 been in London eight days, which, in this political 
 and communicative town is fufficient, one mould 
 think, to make a man matter of every thing necef- 
 fary to be known ; but my evil flars have difap- 
 pointed me, and your evil ftars have dictated to me, 
 that, notwithstanding the infignificamry of all I have 
 to fay, it would be a petty treafon to remain any 
 longer filent. You muft therefore accept the will 
 for the deed ; in a few ports I hope to be able to 
 amufe you better. The King and his miniflers are 
 out of town, or more properly, I mould have faid 
 the miniflers and their King, for I do not find that 
 the latter is any more a principal than when I left 
 England. Lord Chatham is fuppofed to be abfo- 
 liite in all affairs which Concern the flate j Bute in 
 
 his
 
 his corner, retains influence to a fufficient degree, 
 for the provifion of his creatures and countrymen, 
 in fubordinate offices; he difclaims all concern 
 with bufinefs; but this is like the reft of his conduct, 
 a moft impudent and ineffectual hypocricy ; for 
 he is, as ufual, not credited. A formidable oppo- 
 fition is expected, but the conjectures on its fuc- 
 cefs are too vague to be attended to. Some men 
 of weight and reputation are embarked in it ; but 
 the heads are too odious to the nation in general 
 in my opinion, to carry their point. Such as Bed- 
 ford,jSandwich, G. Grenville, and, with fubmiffion, 
 your friend Mansfield. He lately drew upon him- 
 felf the laugh of the Houfe of Lords, making 
 \ife of the word Liberty of the Subject ; and ex- 
 prefling great regard to it, it was called Satan 
 preaching up fanctity. Conway is ftill fecretary 
 of ftate, and much regarded as a man of ability 
 and integrity. Lord Shelburne, the other fecre- 
 tary, has furpaffed the opinion of the world ; he 
 fpeaks well, and is very diftinct in office. The 
 Duke of Grafton is an abfolute orator, and has a 
 fair character. An Iriihman, one Mr. Burke, is 
 fprung up in the Houfe of Commons, who has 
 ailonifhed every body with the power of his elo- 
 quence, his comprehenfive knowledge in all our 
 exterior and internal politics and commercial in- 
 terefts. He wants nothing but that fort of dig- 
 nity annexed to rank, and property in England, 
 
 to
 
 ( 39*. ; 
 
 TO make him the mofl confiderable man in the 
 JLoxvcr Hoafe. 
 
 A difputc \vith Portugal, on fomc commercial 
 points, feems at prcfent chiefly to occupy trie 
 thoughts of the miniilry. It is thought, that an 
 embaflador extraordinary, with an efcort of ten 
 /hips ol He bed ultima ratio, will be 
 
 fent to Lilbon. I have had fbme conversion 
 
 h our miniftry on the affairs of Poland ; but 
 as this letter goes by the common port, I cannot 
 fend you the particulars. The character of his 
 Majefty is high in their eftcem. I intrcat your 
 Jlighncfs to prefent my duty to him, to allure him 
 of my zeal, veneration, and love; in a lew days, 
 I {hall take the liberty of writing to him, or to 
 Mr. Ogroudfki. I wait till I have had a conver- 
 
 .n with the King. Could your Highnefs pro- 
 cure me a copy of his ? 's picture, either in 
 miniature, or otherwife - t I alk for a copy, as I 
 vould not prefume to trouble him to fit. You 
 would likewife make me very happy with your 
 own. I was much pleafed with an acquaintance 
 with Lavifa at the Hague. His warm attachment 
 to our incomparable mafter has much endeared 
 him to me. We have fome books publifhed here, 
 which I fancy you would be glad to have, particu- 
 larly, the whole letters of Swift. They are the 
 befl hiftory of thofe times, and read with great avi- 
 dity. When the Baltic is open, I (hall fend to his 
 
 Majefty
 
 ( 299 ) 
 
 Majefty a confiderable number, as he has done me 
 the honour to trull to my judgement, and drawii 
 on Mr. Tipper for the cofl. 
 
 I have not heard from our friend Lind ; I beg 
 you will chide him for this abominable neglect. 
 Wroughton too deferves abufe ; I mall write to 
 him in a few pofts. The reafop of Lord .Thanet's 
 delay in- regard to the horfe, was delicacy. He 
 could not find any he thought good enough ; 
 but in the fpring he will fend a couple, which 
 will, in all refpects, fuit his Majefty. 
 
 I entreat you, my dear prince, to pay my hum- 
 ble refpects to your father, mother, the prince, 
 chancellor, and all your houfe, to which I have 
 fo great obligations, and for which I have a 
 fmcere love and honour, and that you will {teal 
 a few moments to give me under your hand what 
 I am already convinced of, that I poflefs fome 
 hare of your love and friendfhip. 
 
 I am, with the mod refpectful fentiments, 
 My dear Prince, 
 
 Ever yours^ 
 
 CHARLES LEE, '
 
 MY DEAR COIEMAK, \Varfaw, May ift, : 
 
 YOU muft undoubtedly think me a very ex- 
 traordinary perfon, that, on a {lender acquaintance, 
 I fhould have faddled you with the curation of my 
 affairs, and afterwards not think it worth my 
 while to write you even a civil note, fuch as a 
 common acquaintance, who had conferred no ob- 
 ligation, mi^ht have expected. The truth is, 
 I have every day expected to be afcertuined of 
 my defliny, and then intended to have given you 
 a circumftantial plan of my operations; but as 
 this day is as remote, in all appearance, as ever, 
 I mould be guilty of a monflrous neglect, in any 
 farther delaying, to pay the tribute of friendfhip 
 which I fo fenfibly owe. Believe me, my dear 
 Sir, that I mofl fmcerely love and honour you ; and 
 this love and honour is founded on fo folid a bafis, 
 that I have dared to neglect a form which would 
 not be pardoned by a perfon who is not really 
 an object of efteem. 
 
 I have been in this place two months waiting 
 for an opportunity to join the Ruffian army, and 
 I am afraid I mail be obliged to wait a month 
 longer. The communications are fo filled with the 
 offals of the confederates, who are themfelves 
 a banditti, that it is impofiible to flir ten yards 
 without an efcort of Ruffians : the Englifh are 
 lefs fecure than others, as they arc eflccmcd the 
 
 arch-
 
 arch-enemies of the holy faith. A French co- 
 median was the other day near being hanged from 
 the circumflance of his wearing a bob-ivig, which, 
 by the confederates, is fuppofed to be the uniform 
 oi the Englifh nation. I wifh to God the three 
 branches of our legiflature would take it into 
 their heads to travel through the woods of Poland 
 in bob-wigs. 
 
 The firft opportunity that will offer will be 
 the prefent ambaffador, who, it is faid, will now 
 be fucceeded in ten days ; but this has been fo 
 long faid, that I begin to defpair of any op- 
 portunity at all ; if none fhould offer, I have 
 made a wife journey of it : I believe it would 
 break my heart. I have an unfpeakable curiofity 
 of feeing this campaign, though, in fact, 1 be- 
 lieve it will be a ridiculous one ; if not like that of 
 Harlequin and Scapin, it will referable the battle 
 of Wilks and Talbot. The Ruffians can gain no- 
 thing by beating their enemy, and the Turks are 
 confoundedly afraid. I wifh, by practice, to make 
 myfelf a foldier for purpofes honeft, but which 
 1 mall not mention. If I am defeated in my in- 
 tention of joining the Ruffians, I think of paffing 
 through Hungary, and fpending the enfuing win- 
 ter in the fouth of Italy, Sicily, or fome of the 
 iflands. in the .ZEgean fea. As you are a fcholar 
 I venture to talk this cant. As to England, I 
 am refolved not to fet my foot in it, till the virtue 
 which I believe to exift in the body of the people 
 
 can
 
 can be put into motion. I have good reafons for 
 it. My fpirits and temper were much affected by 
 the meafures which I v. eafures ab- 
 
 folutely moder.i ( , and \inu-nis in com- 
 
 parifon of what has bten tranfacted fincc. To 
 rn folcmn thanks to the Crown for the in 
 ,y corrupt diflipation of its enormous r< 
 and impudent demand on the people : pair 
 
 this dillipation, to compk own ruin, 
 
 pufhing fcrvility farther i. 
 
 of Tiberias was guilty of. In t t on- 
 
 fidcred by all t! i, of every na- 
 
 tion, even thofe who have the leaft idea of liberty. 
 The Auftrians and Ruffians hoot at us. In imc, 
 it is looked upon as the ultimatum of human bafe- 
 nefs, a coup de grace to our freedom and nati 
 Lonour. 
 
 You will fay, it is being a pleafant correfpon- 
 dent, giving you my comments on what p. 
 under your own eyes, and being entirely filent 
 on the tranfaclions of this country, which 
 may be fuppofed to have fome curiofity of bt 
 acquainted with. You will net think me ferious 
 when I affure you, that I am as totally a ftranger 
 to them as yourfelf or any man in England. 
 Humphrey Gates, I am furc, muft know fifty times 
 more of the matter. I fee that the country is in one 
 general ftate ofconfufion, filled with dcvaflation 
 and murder. I hear every day of the Rufl; 
 beating the Confcdt rates : but as to what the 
 
 Ruflir.ns,
 
 
 
 Ruffians, what the Confederates, what the body 
 of the nation propofe, I am utterly ignorant, 
 though no more, I believe, than they are them- 
 felves. Their method of carrying on the war is 
 equally gentle with what our's was in North Ame- 
 rica; the Confederates hang up all the Ruffians 
 who fall into their hands, and the Ruffians put to 
 the fword the Confederates. The Ruffian Cof- 
 facks have an admirable fangfrold in thefe execu- 
 tions. The other day, at a place called Rava, 
 forty or fifty Confederates were condemned to 
 the bayonet j but as they were tolerably drefled, 
 they were obliged to ftrip for the ceremony, the 
 Coflacks chufing not to make any holes in their 
 
 cloaths. The fituation of the K is really to.. 
 
 be lamented, notwithflanding he wears a crown. 
 He is an honefl, virtuous man, and a friend to 
 the rights of mankind. I wiih we could perfuade 
 a prince of my acquaintance, who is taught, (as 
 far as he can be taught any thing,) to hate them, 
 to exchange with him. I know a nation that could 
 fpare a whole family, mother, and all to the Poks, 
 and only take in exchange this one man. I 
 could fay many things on this fubjecl, digna Uteri: 
 no/Iris, fed non comnlltenda ejufmcdi pericitto, ut 
 aut intcrire* aut aperlri^ aut iricrtipi poffint. 
 
 I hope your kindnefs has not entailed any 
 trouble upon you with refpect to my affairs. I- 
 hope Mr. Ayre has been punctual in his payment. 
 I wrote to him from London, acquainting him 
 
 with
 
 C 
 
 v't'i your powers. If you fhould pafs by Mr. 
 Hoares, I beg you will tell him, that I wrote to him 
 from Munich, requefting him to fend me, if pofli- 
 ble, a letter of credit to Warfaw, and to ^\\ e credit 
 to a Captain William Spey, for furvcying my land 
 in St. John's. How does the hallowed Juliet ? 
 It is inconceivable how deeply 1 am intmfted 
 for the fuccefs and welfare of that girl. If (he 
 does not fuccecd, let her marry me, and fettle 
 in America. My refpe&s to Mrs. Colcman, and 
 that, 
 
 I am, moll iinccri 
 
 Dear Coleman, 
 XVith the warmed affection, &c. 
 
 C. LEE. 
 
 P. S. My love to Rice, that when he can 
 find time and matter I wifh he would write. What 
 uill give me the greatefl pleafure is to hear of hi 
 being married to the widow W r alcs, or to any 
 good party. He is the only fne gcntlcmar. I ever 
 loved. Direct to me Chez If Prince General dc 
 Podclia, I'arfovia. Let your letters be as long a$ 
 poffiblc , and let them have in them as much of 
 Juliet as pollible.
 
 DEAR MADAM, Warfaw, May 2^ 1767* 
 
 I SHOULD write to you xvirh more eafe and 
 pleafure, had you not given me to underftand 
 that you looked upon me as an able letter- writer* 
 The ambition of coming up to your expectations 
 lays me under a conftraint which will enevitably 
 make me fall mort of every correfpondent. To 
 render myfelf tolerable, I muft endeavour to for r 
 get your fex, your beauty ; but, above all, the 
 high opinion which you are pleafed to conceive 
 of my talents in this article. That I may not run 
 into compliment, that I may divert myfelf of awe 
 and vanity : the firft you would defpife as ful- 
 fome, and the fecond and laft would be productive 
 of referve and petulance. 
 
 Your underftanding and the care you hav 
 taken to cultivate it, cuts me off from fome of 
 the moft fruitful fubjecls to female correfpondents ; 
 the drefs, intrigues, and diverfions of the women 
 in the feveral places we pafs through : but, on 
 the other hand, it affords me ample liberty of 
 pouring out my mind upon fubjedts which, un- 
 fortunately for my own eafe, engrofs it entirely ; 
 the dreadful fituation of all the honeft part of man- 
 kind, and particularly of our own country. How 
 miferably fallen me is in the eyes of every ftate ! 
 How funk are we (in a few months I may fay) 
 from the fummit of glory, opulence, and flrength, 
 
 X to
 
 ( 3=6 ) 
 
 to the lowed degree of poverty, imbecillity, and 
 contempt. Europe is aflonifhed at the rapidity of 
 the change ; high and low, men of every order, 
 from the minifters of (late to the political barbers, 
 make it the fubject of their admiration. How can 
 it happen, fay they, that Great Britain, fo lately 
 the miitrefs of the globe, wiih America in one 
 hand, Afia and Africa in another, inftead of the 
 glorious talk of giving laws and peace to nations, 
 protecting the weak and injured, checking the 
 powerful and opprdfive, mould employ her time 
 in trampling on the rights of her dependencies, 
 and violating her own facreu laws, on which her 
 fuperiority over her neighbours is founded ? It 
 was fome confolation, fay they, for the generous 
 few of the Romans who furvived the liberties of 
 their country, that it was a Julius Caifar, a man 
 with more than mortal talents, who was their 
 fubvertcr : and the patriots of England had fome 
 mitigation for their fpleen, that it was a Crom- 
 well who had over-reached them ; but that 
 *** - * * 
 
 fliould be able to encompafs the enflaving of a 
 fpirited nation, whofe every law fccms dictated 
 by Liberty herfelf, is too much to bear. They 
 compare the noble remonftrances of the French 
 parliaments againfl the opprcffions of their court, 
 with the flavifh addrefles of ours. I muft confefs, 
 that inftead of fending for cooks and hair-dreflers 
 from that country, I have long wiflied that we- 
 
 were
 
 C 307 ) 
 
 were to fupply ourfelves with members of Parlia* 
 tnent. What it will come to, 1 know not, but it 
 is time fomething mould be done, and I natter 
 myfelf it will : there is much fpirit in the body 
 of the people ; but I will endeavour to quit this 
 fubjecl: ; it makes me mad. 
 
 This country is the reverfe of ours ; they have 
 
 an honeft, patriot k g, but a vicious nation. 
 
 If God delights in feeing a virtuous man ( as 
 Seneca fuppofes he does) iiruggling with adver- 
 fities, he has a charming fpedacle in the king of 
 Poland : and I hope God will, in the end, recom- 
 pence the inurnment of his pleafure, by extricating 
 him out of his diftrefies ; nothing eife can, I am 
 fure. You muft excufe me entering into a detail 
 of thefe difficulties, as this letter may poffibly 
 fall into the hands of the Confederates, and be 
 publifhed to the nation, as feveral others, full as 
 infignificant, have already been, to the no fmall 
 detriment of this good man's affairs. I mall re- 
 ferve them for fome future letter, or our evenings 
 chat in Queen Anne Street, or Langham. 
 
 Our iiation here, I mean thofe who are about 
 -the king's perfon, is whimfical enough. We 
 have few troops, the bulk of thefe totally difaf- 
 feded, and the town is full of (though net decla- 
 red, far from being concealed) Confederates. 
 We have frequent alarms, and the pleafure of 
 ileeping every night with our piftols on our pil- 
 lows. I at prefent only wait for an opportunity 
 
 X2 to
 
 to join the Ruffian army : this does not offer every 
 day, as a flrong efcort is neceflary, the communi- 
 cations being filled with banditties of robbers, who- 
 are the offals of the Confederates. I believe it will 
 be but a ridiculous campaign, fomething like 
 that of Wilks and Talbot. The Ruilians can 
 gain nothing by beating their enemy, and the 
 Turks are confoundedly afraid. 
 
 I have heard of Lady S h's flight. I can- 
 not lay 1 BTCf liked the match. It is impoflible 
 to have the lead connection with Fox, either of 
 a political or a private nature, without fmarting 
 for it : every thing he touches becomes putrid 
 and proftitute. I hope your brother will have 
 the grace to break this accurfed connection, which 
 has diverted fuch excellent parts from their true 
 ufe, blafled all the hopes which his real friends 
 and his country had a right to entertain of him ; 
 that he will fee, in its proper colours, the odiouf- 
 nefs of dependency and venality, particularly in 
 a man of fortune ; and that he may, by his future 
 conduct, make an ample recompence to the opu- 
 lent county which has chofe hhn for their 
 hitherto difappointment. Iain convinced you will 
 not think what I am faying as too great a liberty 
 with your brother ; I am convinced your fenti- 
 ments correfpond with mine ; if I thought they 
 did not, I folemnly declare, were your beauty and 
 underflanding greater than they are, I would not 
 write to you, 1 have no doubt ot" Mr. Blake's 
 
 doing
 
 ( 39 ) 
 
 doing his duty. He is not only well- difpofed him- 
 lelf, but in the hands of one who might transform 
 a Maccaroni into a Cato. He muft be the devil 
 himfelf whom a young, beautiful, Englifh woman, 
 with the fentiments of a Spartan matron, cannot 
 lead into the ways of political righteoufnefs. If 
 women in general were like you, men could not 
 poffibly be fuch rafcals. I have long lamented 
 the accurfed prevailing notion, that women ought 
 to have defective educations. It was the mofl 
 cunning fiend in hell who firft broached this doc- 
 trine ; which, had it not prevailed, the better 
 part of the globe would not have groaned in the 
 wretched flate of flavery we at prefent fee it. 
 For God's fake, Madam, have as many daughters 
 as poffible, and make them as much like yourfelf 
 as poffible, and fome defcendant of Catherine 
 M'Cauley may attribute the falvation of the ftate 
 to your progeny. 
 
 I am, dear Madam, with the higheft efteem, 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 
 Mrs. M'Cauley. 
 
 DEAR
 
 ( 3 10 ) 
 
 DEAR LOUISA, V/arfaw, May 4th, 1767. 
 
 WHEN you firft requefted me to give you 
 leflbns in Englifh, I efleemed myfclf happy to 
 demonflrate my gratitude to Madam Kreithin 
 for her fmgular kindnefs to me, I have been 
 fo ufed to converfe with myfelf and a few fa- 
 vourite books, that I never found it neceffary to 
 attend the toilets of women, meerly as the gene- 
 rality do, to fly from themfelves, and kill the 
 time which they have no other means of employ- 
 ing. This was my original motive ; but on one 
 or two converfations with my fcholar, I enter- 
 tained a fort of ambition of adding fomething to 
 the means of enlightening fo excellent an under- 
 flanding as I perceived her to be poflefled of. 
 A little knowledge of the Knglifh language I con- 
 ceived to be one of the means, as it abounds with 
 fo .many excellent and inflrucling books. For a 
 few days my views were confined to this ; but, 
 O Louifa! you ought, you muft, have feen this am- 
 bitiongiving place to another lefs tranquil fentiment. 
 Why did not you check it in its birth, by affect- 
 ing to find difficulties in the tafk you had under- 
 taken ? Why did -you not, on fome fuch humane 
 pretext, remove me from your fide before the 
 flame had acquired fuch inextinguifliable fiercenefs? 
 This you mould in charity have done, as you 
 \vas determined to treat me as an enemy the 
 
 moment
 
 ( 3" ) 
 
 moment I declared I loved. Your refentment at 
 my pretending to more than common friendmip, 
 is futile and vain, or, what is worfe, hypocritical 
 and deceitful. You know your own charms 
 your own powers too well. You have proved 
 them with an unhappy fuccefs on feveral, not to 
 be confcious that it is impoinble to fee you often 3 
 and to hear your voice, without being forced 
 beyond the bounds of friendmip. But, to fpeak 
 proudly, I do not fee why the declaration of my 
 paflion mould fo heinoufly offend you. To infpire 
 you with an equal paffion for an object deflitute 
 of any kind of charm, would be ridiculous per- 
 fumption : and were I furnifhed with every charm 
 that could captivate womankind, to entertain any 
 hopes which might affect your happinefs or re- 
 putation, would be the higheft villainy ; but as 
 I am born of a reputable family, I hope my cha- 
 racter is rather a fair one ; and as my fortune 
 fs fufficiently ample to make an honeft man in- 
 dependent and an honefl woman content, I can- 
 not fee the mighty crime in wilhing to unite your 
 fortune with mine. I had flattered myfelf, that 
 time and an unwearied attention to pleafe, would 
 have fupplied in me what you might find amifs 
 in my perfon or the arts of converfation. 
 
 I am, dear Louifa, with much efteem, 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 To Louifa C 
 
 4 Mv
 
 DEAR LORD, Warfav, May 4th 
 
 I WROTE a fort of fcrap of a note to you by 
 the hands of Fawkner, and flattered myfelf that I 
 fiiould have found at this place a fcrap in return. 
 I know your indolence too well, to expect a letter 
 of a fheet of paper, and do not exact it ; but if 
 you knew how much pleafure a fcrap figned by 
 your hand, certifying your health, welfare, and 
 good fpirits, affords nit, I am confident you would 
 from time to time muftcr up rdolution, to write 
 me a few lines, three will be fufficient, which I in- 
 fifl on, as a tribute due to friendfhip, which on my 
 fide I can affirm to be as pure and genuine as the 
 fpawn of fuch a rafcally planet as this is capable 
 of - t and I have the ftrongeft reafon to think it is 
 not lefs fo on yours. I muft therefore repeat it, 
 that I expect a tribute of this fort every fifth or 
 fixth poft. I have been in this happy capital five 
 weeks, waiting for an opportunity to join the Ruf- 
 fian army, which does not offer every day, for the 
 communications are filled by a fet of gentlemen 
 who are called Confederates, but why or wherefore 
 they are pleafed to ftyle themfelves Confederates, I 
 cannot find out. They give no reafons, they pro- 
 pofe no plan, but they rob, ftrip, and generally 
 murder every body who fall into their hands. 
 
 Youufed to dine formerly with very knowing,wifc 
 politicians, fuch as Ilanfs, Stanley, and others, who 
 are acquainted with all thefchemcs of all the nations 
 
 an 4
 
 ( 3'3 ) 
 
 and all the individuals in Europe ; I would requeil 
 you, to give me fome hints of what thefe worthies 
 intend : You will fcarcely believe me ftrious, but 
 I do affure you, that I knew, before I left London, 
 the date of this country, full as well, if not bet- 
 ter than I do here on the fpot. If Gates is in the 
 \vay, you will much oblige me, in procuring his 
 opinion. I have greater reafon every day to con- 
 gratulate my prudence in having left England ; I 
 am perfuaded, had I flayed, I mould have brought 
 myfelf into fome curfed fcrape ; even here, at fo 
 great a diftance, I am thrown into ftrange agitations 
 of paffion on the fight of every newfpaper. Heaven- 
 ly God! is it poffible we mould be fo far funk ? 
 to return folemn thanks for a manifefUy corrupt 
 diffipation of fuch enormous revenues, and an im- 
 pudent demand on the public to repair this diflipa- 
 t'ion, is pufhing fervility to its tdilmaium. Thofo 
 nations who have the lead idea of liberty, as the 
 Audrians and Ruffians, laugh and hoot at us ; 
 eompare fay they, the remonftrances of the French 
 parliaments "with the addrefies of yours, and then 
 dare to pride yourfelves in the fuperiority of Bri- 
 tifh fpirit over their neighbours. It is impoflible to 
 make the lead reply to thefe charges, I choakwith 
 grief and indignation. When I attempt to afllire 
 them that the body of the nation is flill untainted, 
 that they have dill fentiments of freedom j they 
 anfwer, that fuch fentiments are of little confe- 
 tjuence, when courage is wanting to put them in 
 
 motion*
 
 motion. Is not every of your moil boafted 
 laws trampled upon, or eluded r Is not perjury, 
 deflation, and murder, encouraged and reward- 
 ed with the national money ? Are not your magif- 
 trates, from the io!e merit of being declared ene- 
 mies of the law, become factious partizans ? Is 
 not the choice of your pe* ua- 
 
 tivt-s treated with contempt and annulled ? Are 
 nut your citizens mafiacred in the public flreets 
 and in the arms of their >ds by the 
 
 military, and the military thanked i./r thur friend- 
 like alertnc, things arc borne with by 
 u peopl iinents of liberty, -we 
 have loft the mcining of words. Such, my dear 
 Lord, is the language of thefe people, and it is for- 
 tunate for me, that they are ignorant of the ftate 
 of our American pjlitics. They czin have no i 
 of our carrying our abominations ft) far, as to dif- 
 franchife three millions of people of all the rights 
 of men, for the gratification of the revenge of 
 a blundering knavifh Secretary, and a fcoundrcl 
 Attorney General, a IlilHborough, and a Barnard. 
 Were they informed of thcfe facts, their opinion 
 of us would be (till more mortifying. I had the 
 other day a convcrfation with the gentleman to 
 whom you gave the horle ; he laments, with great 
 r^y, the .nd wicked conduct of our ad- 
 miniitration, not only on our own account, but on 
 that of all Europe. lie fays, did they barely pof- 
 commt - and common honcfty, Great 
 
 Britain
 
 ( 315 ) 
 
 Britain muft have been the Emprefs of the World ; 
 that fhe might have kept on the -muzzles of the 
 dogs of war, which muft now inevitably be flip- 
 ped off, to the devaluation of the greater part of the 
 globe. He defires his refpects to you, and thanks 
 you again and again for the horfe which turns out 
 nobly. I beg my compliments to Lady Thanet, 
 and was in hopes to have heard that fhe had before 
 this, produced you a fon. Adieu, my dear Lord 
 and write foon a few lines to one who fmcerely 
 
 loves you. 
 
 C. LEE, 
 
 Lord Thanet. 
 
 MOST GRACIOUS Sru, Kaminec, Auguft i6th, 1767. 
 AS an exprefs is this evening difpatched by the 
 governor, I take the liberty of addreffing this 
 fcribble to your Majefty. As it is in Englilh, I am 
 in hopes no bad confequences can arife, if it falls 
 into the hands of the Confederates. Your Majefty 
 will have heard of our retreat a thoufand reafons 
 will undoubtedly be given, and probably not one 
 founded in juftice ; I muft, it is my duty, tofpeak 
 
 freely
 
 freely to your Majefty. The operations have been 
 miferably concluded ; they opened with a capital 
 defect without a certainty of the (late of the 
 place, (Chotzim,) they were deftined to attack it ; 
 they with infinite fatigue and expence marched to 
 the certain, (in idea,) reduction of it, without the 
 poflible means of reducing it. Chotzim is per- 
 haps as fecure from aflault, as any fortrefs in the 
 univcrfc ; but mufl inevitably be taken, when at- 
 tacked with the necefiary quantity of battering 
 artillery, in forty hours. The hopes of reducing 
 it, with our pop-guns foon appeared vain ; it i 
 then feemingly determined to blockade it, but the 
 line of blockade was either broken in part, or to- 
 tally taken away on every alarm. When the 
 blockade w r as formed, the grand Vizier was expect- 
 ed with an hundred and fifty thoufand men. If 
 that number was formidable, they ought not to 
 have formed the blockade, but retired at once over 
 the Niefter, without harafling for no purpofe, their 
 men and their horfes. If it was not formidable, 
 they ought to have perfifled in the blockade. In 
 faft, the Ruffian army, I mean the infantry, brave 
 as it is, was not fufncicnt in number to form a 
 line compleat of circumvallation, againfl fo nume- 
 rous an enemy ; but neither the marching without 
 battering cannon, the blockading the place without 
 a refolution to perfift in it, nor any blunder com- 
 mitted, are fo liable to cenfurc, as the neglect to 
 3 attack
 
 ( 3'7 ) 
 
 attack them in their camp. If fuccefs in war can 
 be affured, ours was certainly fo. 
 
 I am, 
 
 \vith the higheft refpeft and attachment, 
 Your Majefty's moft obedient and 
 humble fervant, 
 
 C?IARLES LEE. 
 To ~ 
 
 Mv DE A. DAVEIS, - Dijon, Jan. x 9 th, i?6- 
 
 THOUGH I have been a long time in anfwer- 
 ing your letter, -I beg you will not conclude, th; 
 the pleafure I received from it, is but fmal 
 lieve me, that every frefh affurance of your frie 
 {hip dves me unfpeakable fatisfadion, thou 
 have no need of frefh affurances to be convince 
 of it. The longer I live, my love for you, acqui 
 neater force, perhaps from a cynical difpoto 
 Comparing you with other men Ihavebngb 
 acquainted with your private virtues, and my a P i
 
 ftion of your political virtues it now confirmed* 
 I am only concerned at your having thoughts of 
 quitting parliament. 1 know your rcafons, but 
 cannot approve of them. You think, that as you 
 are not a fpeaker, as you have no turn for bufi* 
 ncfi, your attendance will little avail ; that it can- 
 not contribute to ftem the torrent of corruj 
 and villainy which at prefent bears down every 
 thing before it. It is this indolent or defpairing 
 method of rcafoning, of many honed men, for , I 
 cannot help being perfuaded that there are dill 
 many honed men, that have reduced us to 
 terrible r tuition. You know that the God of the 
 Jews who (hould have been a judge of Jewtth af- 
 fairs, as he interbred in them fo much, was of 
 opinion that five righteous men were fufficient to 
 fave the rotten date of Gomorrah; and 1 do not 
 find that he meant they (hould be all fpeakers. 
 Beude*, the mafs of the people of Gomorrah was 
 all polluted, but the mafs of the Engltth peo- 
 ple certainly is not. I believe no people was < 
 poflefled of more public virtue, whi 
 from all their proceedings. I beg, my dear friend, 
 you will not in defpairquit the deck and get un- 
 der hatches work at the pump hand a rope, 
 doing any thing with good will and firmncfs en- 
 courage others to do the fame, and it re- 
 
 pid a pilot, as Sir George Savillc, the vciTcl may 
 perhaps work into harbour, notv .'ing
 
 the abominable treafon of the major part of thtf 
 crew. 
 
 Sir C. Davers. 
 
 I am yours, &c. 
 
 C. LEE- 
 
 MY LORD, Philadelphia, October 29th, 1774- 
 
 THE noble part your Lordfliip has aclted in op- 
 pofing all the diabolical meafures of our accurfed 
 mifrulers, has encouraged me to addrefs thefe few 
 lines to you. Men who are embarked in the glo- 
 rious caufe of liberty mould wave all ceremony. 
 I (hall therefore neither trouble you, nor myfelf 
 with making apologies. Inclofed I fend your 
 Grace a copy of the different refolves of the Gon- 
 grefs, (though it is probable you may have re- 
 ceived them before,J their addrefs to the people of 
 England, to the people of Englifh America, to the 
 people of Canada, and to the King. They argfte 
 fo irrefiflibly, and they breathe fo noble an ardor, 
 that if there is the leaft underftanding remaining 
 in your ifland, and the lead virtue latent, the for- 
 mer
 
 anfermoft fee convinced, and the latter . to 
 
 action. What could put it into our blockheads 
 beads, that theic people could be tricked ou: 
 their liberties by their cun; by any 
 
 force which they can fend over ? What <Je\ii 
 nonfenfe could inlligatc any man of General Or. 
 undcrflanding to concur in bringing about 
 
 1 have lately, my ,:n through 
 
 .ilniull the whole colonies, from the South to the 
 North. 1 have con all orders of men 
 
 from the lull c dated gentlemen to the poo reft 
 planters, and cannot exprcfs my aftonimment at the 
 good fcnfe and general knowledge, which pervades 
 the whole j but their derated principles, their 
 eutliufiafni in the caufc of freedom and t: 
 country, U Hill more admirable. 
 
 1 think I mould not be guilty of exaggeration 
 in addling, that there arc tuo hundred thoufand 
 ftrong bodied active yeomanry, ready to encounter 
 all 1 dangers, ready to facritke all 
 
 rations rather than furrendcra title of the rights 
 
 which they have di. ta CoJ anU their aiv- 
 
 ceftors : But this is not ail, they are not like the 
 
 ,unry of other countries, unarmed and unufed 
 
 , but they axe al - and all expert 
 
 in the uic. at nothing but fome arra- 
 
 mem, and t : w bent on eitablifhing. 
 
 ., Rhode lllai < Una are form- 
 
 bad a iuffv
 
 ( 3 21 ) 
 
 cient number inftruded to become inftrucHve to 
 the reft ; even this Quakering province is follow- 
 ing the example. I was prefent at a review of fome 
 of their companies at Providence in Rhode Ifland, 
 and really never faw any thing more perfect ; in 
 fhort, unlefs the banditti at Weftminiler fpeedily 
 undo every thing they have done, their royal pay- 
 mafter will hear of reviews and manoeuvres not 
 quite fo entertaining as thofe he is prefented with 
 in Hyde Park and Wimbledon Common. 
 
 I muft now, my dear Lord, haflen to the main 
 purpofe of this letter : As your Lordfhip is juflly 
 confidered as one of the moft flrenuous advocates, 
 and patrons of this country, and one of the mofl 
 active affertors of the rights of mankind, I mud 
 beg leave to propofe to you, what, had you advert- 
 ed to, I am perfuaded you would have already 
 adopted ; it is to fet on foot a fubfcription for a 
 relief or an indemnification for the brave fufferers 
 of Bofton. Thefe people's fufferings and merit 
 are fo tranfccndent, that men lefs animated with 
 fentiment and public fpirit than your Lordfhip, 
 would exert themfelves in their caufe. A town 
 confiding of thirty thoufand people, perhaps of 
 more cafe and affluent circumflances than any 
 other town of the world, reduced at one ftroke to 
 beggary and wretchednefs ; every individual of 
 them deprived of the means of fupplying them- 
 ftlves with a morfel of bread, but what is furnifh- * 
 ed to them by the precarious hand of charity : to 
 
 Y . f ee
 
 fee a whole people ftruggling with the extreme of 
 ciiftrcfs, not only magnanimoufly, but chearfuily, 
 rather than comply with the wifhes of brutal ty- 
 rants, and thereby admit precedents injurious to 
 mankind and pofterity, is, I fay, a ftrain of vir- 
 tue almoft too bright for modern eyes to gaze at ; 
 and muft fill every breaft, not totally dead to fenti- 
 ment and feeling, with rage, indignation, 
 and companion. But they went further ; they 
 made a formal offer to the Congrefs, to abandon 
 their town, with their wives, children me! 
 
 infirm, throw themfelvcs on th^ the in- 
 
 habitants of the country, or build huts in the 
 woods and never rcviftt their native ' :ntil re- 
 
 eftablifhed in the full pofTellion of their rights and 
 liberties. Your Lordlhip will fee the Congrefs't 
 refolve on this heatl . I am 
 
 fure, render unneceflary any thing I could fay to in- 
 A mnn of ycur Grace** ftacip to XL.'ti. i.- in 
 r favour, or, more properly, in favour and fup- 
 port of human virtue. I fiiould be very happy in 
 receiving a couple of lines . r ; it muft be 
 
 direded for me, at Richard Penn, Efq. at Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 I am, my Lord, your Grace's 
 true friend, admirer, ai 
 
 .inble fcrvant, 
 
 ace C. I.IT, 
 
 the Duke of .
 
 C 323 ) 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, June 7, 1775. 
 
 WE have had twenty different accounts of your 
 arrival at Boflon, which have been regularly con- 
 tradicted the next morning ; but as t l now find it 
 certain that you are arrived, I fhall not delay a fm- 
 gle inftant addreffing myfelf to you. It is a duty 
 I owe to the friendfhip I have long and fmcerely 
 profefied for you ; a friendlhip to which you have 
 the ftrongeft claims from the firft moment of our 
 acquaintance. There is no man from whom I have 
 received fo many teftimonies of efteem and affec- 
 tion ; there is no man whofe efteem and affection 
 could, in my opinion, have done me greater ho- 
 nour. I intreat and conjure you, therefore, my dear 
 Sir, to impute thefe lines, not to a petulant itch 
 of fcribbling, but to the mod unfeigned follicitude 
 for the future tranquillity of your mind, and for 
 your reputation. I fincerely lament the infatuation 
 of the times, when men of fuch a ftamp as Mr. 
 Burgoyne and Mr. Howe can be feduced into fo 
 impious and nefarious a fervice by the artifice of a 
 wicked and infidious court and cabinet. You can- 
 not but recollect their manoeuvres in your own fe- 
 lect committee, and the treatment yourfelf as pre- 
 fident received from thefe abandoned men. You 
 cannot but recollect the black bufmefs of St. Vin- 
 cents, by an oppofition to which you acquired the 
 higheft and moft deferved honour. I fhall not 
 Y 2 trouble
 
 C 
 
 trouble you with my opinion of the right of taxing 
 America without her own confent, as I am afraid, 
 from what I have feen of your fpeeches, that 
 have already formed your creed on this article ; 
 but I will boldly affirm, had this right been efta- 
 blifhed by a thoufand ftatutes, had America admit- 
 ted it from time immemorial, it would be the duty 
 of every good Englifhman to t utmoft to 
 
 divert parliament of this right, as it muft inevi- 
 tably work the fubvcrfion of the whole empire. 
 The malady under which the State labour 
 difputably derived from the inadequate repreftn- 
 tation of the fubjecl, and the vaft pecuniary influ- 
 ence of the Cro- 
 
 To add to this pecuniary influence and incom- 
 petency of reprcfentation, is to infurc and p: 
 pitate our deftru&ion. Idition, can 
 
 fcarcely enter the heart of a citi/cn who has the 
 leaftfpark of public virtue, and who is at the 
 fame time capable of feeing confequences the moft 
 immediate. I appeal, Sir, to your own confcic: 
 to your experience and knowledge of our conn 
 and parliament, and I requeit you to lay your hand 
 upon your heart, and then anfwer v.ith your ufual 
 integrity and franl. iiethtr, on the fuppo- 
 
 f:tii ica mould be al ugh to fubmit 
 
 d, you think a finale guinea 
 her would be applied to the purpofe, 
 (as it U oftcntacioufly held out to deceive the peo- 
 ~t home,) of eafing the mother count: 
 
 ;ther
 
 ( 325 ) 
 
 whether you are not convinced that the whole they 
 could extract, would be applied folely to keep up 
 ilill further the enormous fund for corruption 
 which the Crown already poflefies, and of which 
 a moft diabolical ufe is made. On thefe princi- 
 ples, I fay, Sir, every good Englifhman, abftracted 
 of all regard for America, mud oppofe her being 
 taxed by the Britifh parliament ; for my own part, 
 I am convinced that no argument, (not totally ab- 
 horrent from the fpirit of liberty, and the Britifh 
 conftitution,) can be produced in fupport of this 
 right. But it would be impertinent to trouble you 
 upon a fubjeft which has been fo amply, and, in 
 my opinion, fo fully difcufled. I find by a fpeech 
 given as yours in the public papers, that it was by 
 the King's pofitive command you embarked in 
 this fervice. I am fomewhat pleafed that it is not 
 an office of your own feeking, though, at the fame 
 time, I muft confefs, that it is very alarming to 
 every virtuous citizen, when he fees men of fenfe 
 and integrity, (becaufe of a certain profeflion,) lay 
 it down as a rule implicitly to obey the mandates 
 of a court, be they ever fo flagitious. It furnimes, 
 in my opinion, the beft argument for the total re- 
 duction of the army. But I am running into a 
 tedious efifay, whereas I ought to confine myfelf to 
 the main defign and purpofe of this letter, which 
 is to guard you and your colleagues from thofe 
 prejudices which the fame mifcreants, who have 
 infatuated General Gage and ftill furround him, 
 y ~ will
 
 ( 3*6 ) 
 
 will labour to inflil into you againft a brave, loyal, 
 and inoft deferring people. The avenues of truth 
 \\ill be (hut up to you. I afiert, Sir, that c 
 General Gage will deceive you, as he has dece: 
 himfelf ; I do not fay he will do it dcfignedly ; I 
 do not think him capable: But his mind is fo 
 totally poifoncd, and his undcrftanding fo totally 
 blinded by the fociety of fools and knaves, that he 
 no longer is capable of difccrning facls as manifeft 
 as noon day fun. I alTert, Sir, that hi n to 
 
 fhe miniflry, (at leaft, fuch as the public have feen,) 
 are one continued tiffue of mifreprefentation, in- 
 juftice, and tortured inferences from miftated facls. 
 I affirm, Sir, that he has taken no pains to inform 
 himfelf of the truth ; that he has never conver- 
 fed with a man who has had the courage or ho- 
 nefty to tell him the truth. I am apprehenfive 
 that you and your colleagues may fall into the 
 fame trap, and it is the apprehension that you may 
 be inconfiderately hurried by the vigour and acti- 
 vity you poflefs into meafures which may be fatal 
 to many innocent individuals, may hereafter 
 \vound your own feelings, and which cannot pof- 
 fibly ferve the caufe of thofe who fent you, that 
 has prompted me to addrefs thcfe lines to you. I 
 mod devoutly wifh, that your induftry, valour and 
 military talents, may be referred for a more ho- 
 nourable and virtuous fervice, againft the natural 
 enemies of yoyr country, (to whom our Court are 
 fo bafely complacent,) and not be waded in inef- 
 2 fedu
 
 ( 327 ) 
 
 feftual attempts to reduce to the wretchedeft ftate 
 of fervitude, the mo ft meritorious part of your 
 fellow fubjefts. I fay, Sir, that any attempts to 
 accomplifli this purpofe muft be ineffectual, You 
 cannot poffibly fucceed. No man is better acquainted 
 with the ftate of this continent than myfelf. I have 
 ran through almoft the whole colonies from the 
 North to the South, and from the South to theNorth. 
 I have converfed with all orders of men, from 
 the firft eftated gentlemen, to the loweft planters 
 and farmers, and can aflure you that the fame fpirit 
 animates the whole. Not lefs than one hundratf 
 and fifty thoufand gentlemen, yeomen, and far- 
 mers, are now in arms, determined to preferve 
 their liberties or perifh. As to the idea that the 
 Americans are deficient in courage, it is too ridi- 
 culous and glaringly falfe to deferve a ferious re- 
 futation. I never could conceive upon what this 
 notion was founded. I ferved feveral campaigns 
 in America the laft war, and cannot recollect a 
 fmgle inftance of ill behaviour in the provincials, 
 where the regulars acquitted themfelves well. In- 
 deed we well remember fome inftances of the re- 
 verfe, particularly where the late Colonel Grant, 
 (he who lately pledged himfelf for the general cow. 
 ardice of America,) ran away with a large body of 
 his own regiment, and was faved from deftruction, 
 by the valour of a few Virginians. Such prepoile- 
 rous arguments are only proper for the Rigbys 
 and Sandwichs, from whofe mouths never iifued, 
 
 Y 4 and
 
 and to whofe breaft, truth and decency are i 
 Grangers. You will much oblige me in commu- 
 nicating this letter to General Howe, to whom I 
 could wi(h it mould be confidered in fome mcafurc 
 addrefled ; as well as to yourfelf. 
 man for whom 1 have ever had the highcll love 
 and reverence. I have honoured him for his own 
 connections, but above all, for his admirable ta! . 
 and good qualities. I have courted his acqu. 
 ance and fricndfhip, not only as a pleafure, but as 
 an ornament ; I Hattered myfclf that I had obtained 
 it. Gracious God ! is it pcfliblc that >we 
 
 mould be prevailed upon to accept fuch an office ! 
 That the brother of him, to whofc memory the 
 much injured people of Bofton erected a monu- 
 ment, (hould be employed as one of the inftru- 
 xnent* of their definition! But the fafliion of the 
 times it feems is fuch, as renders it impoliible that 
 he (hould avoid it. The commands of our mod 
 gracious fovereign, are to cancel all moral ob! 
 tions, to fanctify every action, even thole that the 
 fatrap of an Eaflern defpot would fbrt at. 1 (hall 
 now beg leave to fay a few words 
 myfelf and the part 1 act. I w .. up from 
 
 infancy in the highefl veneration for the liberties of 
 
 1 in geiv-r.:!. \Vhat I have fee: 
 and princes, convinces me that power cannot be 
 lod. orfc hands than in \ and of 
 
 ie inoft corrupt 
 
 and hoftile to the rights of liu:: I am con- 
 
 cJ,
 
 C 3 2 9 ) 
 
 vinced, that a regular plan has been laid, indeed 
 every aft firice the prefent acceffion evinces it, to 
 abolifh even the fliadow of liberty from amongfl 
 us. It was not the demolition of the tea, it was 
 not any other particular ad of the Boftonians, or 
 of the other provinces, which conftituted their 
 crimes ; but it is the noble fpirit of liberty mani- 
 feitly pervading the whole continent, which has 
 rendered them the objects of minifterial and royal 
 vengeance. Had they been notorioufly of another 
 difpofition, had they been homines ad fervitudinem 
 paratos, they might have made as free with the 
 property of the Eail India Company as the felo- 
 nious North himfelf with impunity. But the lords 
 of St. James's and their mercenaries of St. Ste- 
 phens will know, that as long as the free fpirit of 
 this great continent remains unfubdued, the pro- 
 grefs they can make in their fcheme of univerfal 
 defpotifm, will be but trifling. Hence it is, that 
 they wage inexpiable war againft America. In 
 fhort, this is the laft afTylum of perfecuted liberty. 
 Here mould the machinations and fury of her ene- 
 mies prevail, that bright Goddefs mud fly off from 
 the face of the earth, and leave not a trace behind. 
 Thefe, Sir, are my principles ; this is my perfua- 
 fion, and confequently I am determined to act. 
 I have now, Sir, only to entreat, that whatever 
 ineafures you purfue, whether thofe which your 
 real friends (myfelf amon^ft them) would wifh, or 
 unfortunately thofe which our accurfed mifrulers 
 
 mall
 
 
 
 (hall dictate, you \ull itiil believe me to be per- 
 fonally,with thcgreatcft fmcerity and affedion, 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 C. LEE. 
 Gen. Burgoyne. 
 
 DlAl SIR, 
 
 WHEN we were laft together in fervice I mould 
 not have thought it within the vicilfitude of human 
 affiirs that we mould meet at any time, or in any 
 fenfe as foes : the letter you have honoured me 
 with, and my o\vn feelings combine to prove we 
 arc far from being perfonally fuch. 
 
 I claim no merit from the attentions you fokind- 
 Jy remember, but as they manifefi how much it 
 was my pride to be known for your friend : Nor 
 have I departed from the duties of that character, 
 when I will not fcruple to fay, it has been almoft 
 a general offence to maintain it : I mean fince the 
 violent part you have taken in the commotions of 
 the colonies. It would exceed the limits and pro- 
 priety of our prefent correfpondence to argue at 
 the great caufe in which we are engaged. 
 
 But,
 
 ( 33* ) 
 
 But, anxious to preferve a confident and ingenuous 
 character, and jealous, I confefs, of having the 
 part I fuftain imputed to fuch motives as you inti- 
 mate, I will ftate to you as concifely as I can, the 
 principles upon which, not voluntarily, but molt 
 confcientioufly, I undertook it. 
 
 I have, like you, entertained from my infancy, a 
 veneration for public liberty. I have likewife re- 
 garded the Britifh conflitution, as the beft fafe- 
 guard of that blefling to be found in the hiftory of 
 mankind. The vital principle of the conftitution, 
 in which it moves and has its being, is the fupre- 
 macy of the King in Parliament, a compound, in- 
 definite, indefenfible power, co-evalwith the origin 
 of the empire, and co-extenfive over all its parts : 
 I am no ftranger to the doctrines of Mr. Locke 
 and other of the beft advocates for the rights of 
 mankind, upon the compact always implied be- 
 tween the governing and governed, and the right 
 of refiftance in the latter, when the compact mall 
 be fo violated as to leave no other means of redrefs. 
 I look with reverence almoft amounting to idola- 
 try, upon thofe immortal men who adopted and 
 applied fuch doctrine, during part of the reign of 
 Charles the Firft, and in that of James the Second, 
 mould corruption pervade the three eftates of the 
 realm, fo as to pervert the great ends of their in- 
 ftitution, and make the power vefted in them for 
 the good of the whole people operate like an abufe 
 upon the prerogative of the Crown to general 
 
 oppref- 
 

 
 ( 332 ) 
 
 i ready to ackncv rhe 
 
 fame doctrine of refinance applies as forcibly 
 
 :ift the abufes of the collective bo;l er, 
 
 as againfl thofe of th i, or either of the 
 
 component branches feparately : (till always 
 
 lood that no other means of redrefscan be ob- 
 tained. A c;ife, I contend, much more difficult to 
 fuppofe when it relates to the whole, than when it 
 
 But in all cafes that have ex:!' 
 rn be conceived, I hold, that refiflaiu o, to be 
 !e, muft be dirt ilnfl the ufurpation 
 
 or with, ifc c-f power, and that it is molt 
 
 againfl any power itfelf in- 
 uftitution. 
 
 I here you will difccrn immediately why I 
 alluiion I made above to the 
 j Firft. Toxvurds the cloi 
 
 it the true principle of refiftance was changed, and 
 a new fyftemof government projected accordingly. 
 The patriots, previous to the long parliament, and 
 during great part of it, as well as the glorious Re- 
 volutionifts of 1681, refitted to vindicate and re- 
 ftore theconftitution ; the republicans refifted, to 
 fub 
 
 No our hand upon your heart, as 
 
 yon joined me to do on mine, and tell : 
 
 to which of thcie purpofes do the proceedings oi 
 America tend r Is it the weight of taxes impoicd, 
 and tin -.y of relief after du 
 
 of '. her to take up 
 
 P'
 
 ( 333 ) 
 
 arms ? Or is it a denial of the legiflative right of 
 Great Britain, to impofe them, and coniequently a 
 ftruggle for total independency ? For this idea of 
 a power that can tax externally and not internally 
 and all the fophiftry that attends it, though it may 
 catch the weaknefs and prejudices of the. multi- 
 tude in a fpeech or a pamphlet, is too prepoflerous 
 to weigh ferioufly with a man of your underftand- 
 ing, and 1 am perfuaded you will admit the quef- 
 tion fairly put. 
 
 Is it then for a relief from taxes ? or from the 
 controul of parliament " in all cafes whatfover," 
 that we are in war ? If, for the former, the quarrel 
 is at an end. There is not a man of fenfe and 
 information in America, who does not fee it is in 
 the power of the colonies to obtain a relinquifh- 
 ment of the exercife of taxation immediately and 
 for ever. I boldly afTert it, becaufe fenfe and in- 
 formation muft alfo fugged to every man, that it 
 can never be the interefl of Britain to make a 
 fecond trial. 
 
 But if the other ground is taken, and it is in- 
 tended to wreft from Great Britain a link of that 
 fubftantial, and, I hope, perpetual chain, by which 
 the empire holds, think it not a minifterial man- 
 date ; think it not a mere profeffional ardour ; 
 think it not prejudice againft any part of our fel- 
 low fubjeas, that induces men of integrity, and 
 among fuch, you have done me the honour to 
 clafs me, to ad with vigour. But be allured it is 
 
 con-
 
 ( 334 ) 
 
 conviction, that. the whole of our political fyftem 
 depends upon preserving entire its great and elTen- 
 
 ;>arts ; and none is fo great and cflcntial as 
 the fupremacy of legiflation. It is convidion, 
 th.it as the king of Kngland never appears in fo 
 glorious a capacity as when he employs the cxecu- 
 
 powcr of the ftate to maintain the laws, fo in 
 the prefent exertions of that power, his Majcfty is 
 particularly entitled to our zeal and grateful 
 obedience, not only as foldiers, but a 
 
 Thefe principles, depend upon it, actuate the 
 army and fleet throughout : and let me at the 
 fame time add, there are few, if any, gentlemen 
 among us who would have drawn his fuord in the 
 caufe of flavery. But why do I confine myfclf to 
 the fleet and army ? I affirm, the fentiments I 
 
 , touch, to be thofe of the great bulk of the 
 nation. I appeal even to thofc trading to 
 
 h arefufferers by the difpute, and the city of 
 
 Jon at the head ot them, not withftan ding the 
 petitions and remonfl ranees that the arts of par- 
 
 and factions have extorted from feme indi- 
 viduals ; and lail, becaufe, lead in your favour, 
 I appeal to the majorities of the lad year upon 
 
 .-rican queftions in parliament. The mod 
 
 tious n irer wants afluranre to call thefe 
 
 majorities minifterial ; much lefs will you, when 
 you impartially examine the characters of which 
 they were in a great degree compofed ; men of 
 
 moil IIK: ..t principles and fortunes, and 
 
 many
 
 ( 335 ) 
 
 many of them profeffedly in oppofition in their 
 general line of conduct. 
 
 Among other fupporters of Britifli rights againft 
 American claims, I will not fpeak pofitively, but, 
 I firmly believe, I may name the men of whofe 
 integrity and judgment you have the higheft 
 opinion, and whofe friendmip is heareft your heart : 
 1 mean Lord Thanet, from whom my aid de camp 
 has a letter for you, with another from Sir C 
 Davers. I do not inclofe them, becaufe the wri- 
 ters (little imagining how difficult your conduct 
 would render our intercourfe) defired they might 
 be delivered into your hands. 
 
 For this purpofe, as well as to renew " the rights 
 of our fellowship," I wifli to foe you ; and, 
 above all, I mould think an interview happy if it 
 induced iuch explanations as might tend, in their 
 confequences, to peace. I feel, in common with 
 all around me, for the unhappy deluded bulk of 
 this country : they (orefee not the diftrefs that is 
 impending. I know Great Britain is ready to open 
 her arms upon the firft reafonable overtures of 
 accommodation : I know me is equally refolute 
 to maintain her original right ; and I alfo know, 
 that if the war proceeds, your hundred and fifty 
 thoufand men will be no match for her power. 
 I put my honour to thefe aflertions as you have 
 done to others ; and I claim the credit I am wil- 
 ling to give. 
 
 The place I would propofe for our meeting, is 
 
 the
 
 (' 336 ) 
 
 the houfe on Bofton Neck, juft within our 
 
 ced fentries, called Brown's Houfe : I will 
 obtain authority to give you my parole of honour 
 for your fccurc return. I (hall expect the fame 
 on your part, that no infult be < :ne. If the 
 
 propofal is agreeable to you, name your day and 
 hour: - - - - and at all events, accept a fuii 
 return of the aflfurances you honour me with, . 
 believe me, 
 
 Affectionately You 
 
 J. BURGOV: 
 
 P. 5. I have been prevented, by bufmefs, an- 
 fwering your letter fooner. I obeyed your com- 
 mands in regard to G _ and Clinton ; 
 and I likcwife communicated to Lord Percy the 
 content? of your letter and my anfwer. ! 
 
 n with me in compliments, ;md authorife me 
 to aflure you they do the fame in princi; 
 
 i, Head QuaiUi,, July 
 
 NERAL LKl.'S compliment* to General 
 Burgoyne : would be extremely happy in the in- 
 terview he fo kindly propofed ; but as he ;
 
 ( 337 ) 
 
 ceives, that General Burgoyne has already made 
 up his mind on this great fubjeft, and that it is 
 impoflible that he (General Lee) mould ever alter 
 his opinion, he is apprehenfive that the interview 
 might create thofe jealoufies and fufpicions fo natu- 
 ral to a people ftruggling in the deareft of all 
 caufes, that of their liberty, property, wives, chil- 
 dren, and their future generations. He muft, 
 therefore, defer the happinefs of embracing a man 
 whom he moft fmcerely loves, until the fubverfion 
 of the prefent tyrannical miniftry and fyftem, 
 which he is perfuaded muft be in a few months, 
 as he knows Great Britain cannot fland the con- 
 teft. He begs General Burgoyne will fend the 
 letters which his aid de camp has for him. If 
 Gardiner is his aid de camp, he defires his love 
 to him. 
 
 Camp on Profpeft Hill, Dec. ift, 1775* 
 
 SlR, 
 
 AS I am juft informed you are ready to embark 
 for England, I cannot refrain from once more 
 trefpafling on your patience. An opportunity is 
 now prefented of immortalizing yourfelf as the 
 faviour of your country. The whole Britifh em- 
 
 Z P*
 
 pirc (lands tottering on the brink of ruin, . 
 
 have it in your power to prevent the fatal catnftro- 
 
 phe ; but it will admit of no dcL v 1 
 
 fake avail yourfelf of the precious moment : put 
 
 an end to the dclufmn : exert the voice of a 
 
 brave, virtuous citron ; nnd tell the people at 
 
 home, that they mud immediately rcfeind all 
 
 .politic, .nniral, m:-. 
 
 afts ; that they muft overturn the whole fr: 
 they are ui You afk m 
 
 , if it is independence at which the 
 An- aim? 1 anfwcr, No; the idea never 
 
 ;he mofl 
 
 >ferable oppreffion forced it upon them. All 
 they r . .afters of t 
 
 md be fame equir- 
 
 able laws which they had enjoyed from the firft 
 
 formation of the Coloni-.s. I he ties of connec- 
 
 tion which bound them to their parent cour 
 
 were fo dear to them, tiut b who would have 
 
 tured to touch tht-m, would have been con- 
 
 fidered as the mofl impious of mortals ; but 
 
 e facred !ie fame i. ^.ited 
 
 or baffled the mod precious laws and lights of 
 
 the people at home, dilfipaicd, or to ac- 
 
 count for their treafures, tarnifhed the glory, and 
 
 the importance of the nation: 
 
 . 
 Bute iuJ } . .nd- 
 
 You
 
 ( 339 ) 
 
 You aik, whether it is the weight of taxes of 
 \ :ch they complain? I anfwer, No: It is the 
 principal they combat, and they would be guilty 
 in the eyes of God and men, of the prefent world, 
 and all pofterity, did they not reject it ; for if it 
 were admitted, they Vould have nothing that 
 they could call their own ; they would be in a. 
 worfe condition than -the wretched flaves in the 
 Weft India Iflands, whofe little peculium has 
 ever been efteemed inviolate. But, wherefore 
 mould I dwell on this ? Is not the cafe with Ire- 
 land the fame with theirs ? They are fubordinate 
 to the Britifli empire ; they are fubordinate to the 
 Parliament of Great Britain, but they tax them- 
 felves Why, as the cafe is fimilar, do you begin 
 with them ? But you know, Mr. Burgoyne, au- 
 dacious as the miniflry are, they dare not attempt 
 it. There is one part of your letter which, I con- 
 fefs, I do not underftand. If I recollect right, (for 
 I, unfortunately, have not the letter by me,) you 
 fay, that if the privilege of taxing themfelves is 
 what the Americans claim, the contefl is at an end. 
 You furely cannot allude to the propositions of 
 North. It is impoflible that you mould not think, 
 with me and all mankind, that thefe -proportions 
 are no more or lefs than adding to a moil abomi- 
 nable oppreflion, a more abominable infult. But, 
 to recur to the queftion of Americans aiming at 
 independence : Do any inftructions of any one of 
 the provinces to their representatives, or delegates, 
 
 7 " furnifli
 
 furnifh the leaft ground for this fufp: On 
 
 the contrary, do they not all breathe the Jlron 
 
 attachment and filial piety to their parent o 
 
 But if (he difcards all the natu; 
 
 a mother, and acts the par* ruel ftci 
 
 it mufl naturally K 
 
 will ccafe ; the miniilry le; :ilterna- 
 
 out , out alicnari jubcn: 
 
 nature ; it is a moral obligation to adopt the b.r- 
 
 But r ion has no; 
 
 place, and yourfclf, your fin, 
 may, perhaps, prevent ir. I'pon the mini: 
 I am afraid, you can makv r, to 
 
 repeat a hackneyed quotation, 
 
 They arc in blood 
 far, that, (hould they wadr no morr, 
 To return would be as tcdio. 
 
 But, if you will at once break off all connec- 
 tions with thcfc pernicious men ; if you \\ill v 
 all conlideration, but the fahation oi your coun- 
 
 .md as much indt 
 
 to ( Burgoyne, a^ Rome was to htr 
 
 lus. Do not, I entreat you, my dor Sir, think 
 this the mad rhapfody of an cnthufuft, nor the 
 cant of a factious defigning man ; for, in i 
 colours, I am told, I am frequently painted. I 
 .fvvear by all that's facrcd, as I hope for comfort 
 and honour in this world, and to avoid mifery in 
 the next, that I mod carncfUy and devoutly 
 
 my
 
 my native country ; that I wifh the fame happy 
 relation to fubfift for ages betwixt her and her 
 children, which has railed the wide arch of her 
 empire to fo ftupendous and enviable a height; but 
 at the fame time I avow, that if the parliament 
 and people mould be depraved enough to fupport 
 any longer the prefent miniftry in their infernal 
 fcheme, my zeal and reverence for the rights of 
 humanity are fo much greater than my fondnefs 
 for any particular fpot, even the place of my na- 
 tivity, that, had I any influence in the councils of 
 America, I would advife not to hefitate a fingle 
 inftant, but dedfively to cut the Gordian knot, 
 now befmeared with civil blood. 
 
 This, I know, is ftrong emphatic language, and 
 might pafs, with men who are ftrangers to the 
 Maine which the love of liberty is capable of light- 
 ing up in the human breaft, for a proof of my infa- 
 nity ; but you, Sir, unlefs I have miftaken you 
 from, the beginning, will conceive, that a man, 
 in his fober fenfes, may poflefs fuch feelings. In 
 my fober fenfes, therefore, permit me once more 
 mod earneilly to entreat and conjure you to exert 
 your whole force, energy, and talents to ftop the 
 miniftry in this their headlong career. If you 
 labour in vain, (as, I mult repeat, I think will be 
 the cafe,) addrefs yourfelf to the people at large. 
 By adopting this method, I am fo fanguine, as to 
 allure myfelf of your fuccefs ; and your public 
 character will be as illuftrious as your perfonal 
 
 'L 3 qualities
 
 C 34= ) 
 
 qualities arc amiable to all who intimately know 
 you. By your means the Colonifts will long c 
 tinue the farmers, planters, and ftupwrights of 
 Great Britain ; but if the prefem courfi 
 lifted in, an internal divorce mud inevitably take 
 place. As to the idea of fubdu ro fti- 
 
 vitude, and indemnifying youriclvcs for the ex- 
 pence, you mud be convinced long before this 
 of its abfurdity. 
 
 I mould not, perhaps, be extravagant, if 1 
 vanced, that all the mips of the v. aid be 
 
 too few to tranfport force fufiicient to con - 
 three millions of people, unanii.ioufly determined 
 to facrifice every thing to liberty ; but, if it v. 
 pofiible, th, .y would not be lefs ruinous 
 
 than the defeat. You \\ould only deftroy your 
 own ftrength. No revenue can poflibly be . 
 out of this country. The army of place-men might 
 be encrealed, but her circuitous commerce, 
 founded on freedom, which alone can fur- 
 
 nifh riches to the metropolis, would full ro the 
 ground. But the dignity of Great Britain, it 
 feems, is at ftake. Would you, Sir, if in the 
 heat of paflion you had flruck a fingle drummer 
 of your regiment, and afterwards difcovcud 
 that you had done it unjuflly, think it any for- 
 feiture of your dignity to acknowledge the wrong? 
 No: I am well acquainted with your difpofition, 
 
 : would ivflv him pardon at the head ut" your 
 
 : ;nent. 
 
 I (hall
 
 ( 343 ) 
 
 I fhall now conclude (if you will excufe the 
 pedantry) with a fentence of Latin : Ju/lum eft 
 bcllum quibus nccejfarium, et pi a arma quibus nulla, 
 nlfi in armis, rclinqultur fpes. I mod fmcerely 
 wiih you a quick and profperous voyage, and 
 that your happinefs and glory may be equal to the 
 jdea I have of your merits, as, 
 
 I am, with the greateft truth and affection, 
 Yours, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 Major Gen. Burgoyne, 
 
 SIR, Cambridge, 1776. 
 
 IN my letter, lately fent into Bofton, all politi- 
 cal difquifuion was defignedly avoided. I did 
 not avail myfelf of the advantages which the 
 facred caufe of my country, of liberty, and of 
 human nature, manifeftly gave me over Mn. Gage. 
 I remonftrated with you in decent terms, with 
 refpect to the hard and unworthy treatment fhewn, 
 as I have been informed, to the foldiers and citU 
 zens of America, whom the fortune of war, 
 chance, or an erroneous opinion of your honour, 
 had thrown into your hands. In anfwer to this 
 Z 4 remonilrance,
 
 ( 344 
 
 rcmonflrancc, we are infultcd with the moft out- 
 rageous language, and abufive epithets. \V 
 we, Sir, the worft of traytors ; had we confpired 
 to fubvert the liberties of our fellow fubjeds ; 
 had we confpired to re-eflablifti on the throne the 
 expelled tyrants of the Sluart houfe ; or, could 
 v-c be charged with any notorious breach of tairh ; 
 had we, for inftance, fcduced fome part of the 
 troops under your command, upon certain con- 
 ditions, into a furrender of their arms, and after- 
 
 :\ls violated our engagement, the llyle which 
 you aflumc would fcarcely be justifiable. 
 
 You affe&, Sir, to defpife all rank not derived 
 from the fame fource with your o\vn ; to fpcak, 
 as I think, with becoming pride, it is impof- 
 fible to conceive a more honourable fource than 
 that to which I owe my prefent flation. I was called 
 to it by the voice of the freely chofen delegates of 
 a virtuous and uncorrupt people. Yours, for 
 ought I know, and, as I am told, is frequently the 
 afe, might have been obtained by connection; 
 with fome proilitute part of a proflitute Iloufe 
 of Commr- 
 
 You threaten us, Sir, with a cord : Br^in, Sir ; 
 I dare you to it. Although my nature fhuddi-rs 
 at the thought, neceflity will force u-; to retaliate ; 
 and we have it in our power, Mr. Gage, to 
 make a ten-foM retaliation. 
 
 You have the confidence to appeal to that 
 Almighty Godwhofe every law you have violated. 
 
 Let
 
 ( 345 ) 
 
 Let that Almighty God, to whom the rights and 
 -happinefs of his creatures cannot be indifferent, 
 judge then between us. When the great and tre- 
 mendous day mall arrive ; when all mortals are to 
 render a ftrict account, which, do you apprehend, 
 Sir, will have the greateft reafon to tremble? 
 The virtuous citizens, now forced to arms by the 
 hands of tyranny ; in arms not to rob, fpoil, and 
 invade ; not as mercenary inftruments to gratify 
 the lufl, ambition, avarice, or revenge of fcep- 
 tered robbers or wicked minifters, but to defend 
 their wives, children, and houfehold goods, and 
 to deliver down to their pofterity the bright in- 
 heritance of freedom they received from their fore- 
 fathers: which, I once more demand, ihall, on that 
 dreadful day, have the greateft reaicn to tremble ? 
 The citizens engaged in this righteous caufe, cr 
 thofe men, who by artifice, mifreprefentation, and 
 falfehood, have not only (tained this fair continent 
 with the blood of her children, but fhaken the 
 mighty empire of Britain to her foundation. 
 
 I (hall now, Sir, clofe my correfpondence with 
 you, perhaps for ever, alluring you, that the in- 
 telligence you have received, with refpecl to the 
 harm treatment of the prifoners in our pofldlion, 
 is as remote from fact, as that which you have 
 conftantly tranfmitted to the miniflry, when fpeakr 
 ing of the principles and defigns of America. Not 
 only the officers and foldiers have been treated \vith 
 the tcndernefs due to fellow-citizens and brethren, 
 
 but
 
 but execrable parricides born amr 
 
 us, \vlio have aimed their daggers at the vitals ot 
 their parent, have been protected from the fury 
 of a raoft juftly enraged people. 
 
 I (hall now, Sir, only add, that for the future, 
 .tcver mode of conduct you fhall think 
 to obferve towards thofe of our people \\Iu> .nre 
 
 our cuftody, fuch exactly are the miniftcria 
 to exped in return. 
 
 I am, v 
 
 ur mod obedient, 
 
 Humble ferv.int, 
 
 C. I.I 
 Gen. Gage. 
 
 DEAK SIR, Cambridge, 1776. 
 
 I LITTLE thought the time could ever arrive 
 when I fhould not run with eagernefs to embrace 
 Mr. Gage. Whether it is from a cynical difpofi- 
 tion, or a laudable mifanthropy, whether it is to 
 my credit or difcredit, I know not ; but it I.- nu.il 
 certain, that I have had a real afic.t! n for very 
 
 2
 
 . ( 347 ) 
 
 few men ; but that thefe few I haye loved with 
 warmth, zeal, and ardour. You, Sir, amongft 
 thefe few, I f\vear by all that is facred, have ever 
 held one of the foremoft places, I refpected your 
 understanding, liked your manners, and perfectly 
 adored the qualities of your heart. Thefe, Sir, 
 are my reafons, paradoxical as they may appear to 
 many, that I now avoid what I heretofore fhou!4 
 have thought an happinefs. Were you perfon- 
 ally indifferent to me, I mould, perhaps, from 
 curiofity, appear in the circle of your levee ; but 
 I hold in fuch abhorrence the conduct, temper, 
 and fpirit of our prefent court ; more particularly 
 their prefent diabolical meafures with refpeel to 
 this country fills me with fo much horror and 
 indignation, that I cannot bear to fee a man, 
 from whom my affections can never be weaned, 
 in the capacity of one of their inflruments ; as I 
 am convinced that the court of Tiberius, or Philip 
 the Second, were not more treacherous and hoitile 
 to the rights of mankind than the prefent court of 
 Great Britain. I cannot help thinking it one of 
 the greateft curfes fallen on mankind, that they 
 ihcujd be endued with fufficient art to feduce or 
 delude men of the befl hearts and heads. My 
 Lord Chatham himfelf was for a time their dupe ; 
 and poor York was entrapped for his deftruction. 
 I believe, Sir, I know the tricks and infidioufnefs 
 of the Cabinet better than you do. I have no 
 iioubt, but they were hard fet to work upon you. 
 
 May
 
 ( 545 ) 
 
 May God A extric-jteyou, \vith honour and 
 
 ) , from their clutchc;;! I know not whether the 
 
 :ica will be fuccefsful in their ftrup- 
 
 I for liberty ; 1 think it mod probable they will, 
 
 hat 1 have ften in my progrefs through the 
 
 .. So i: . ;-:rit pervades all order?. < t 
 
 invin, from the fird edated gentlemen to the lov 
 
 , that I think they mud be victorious. 1 
 
 \ devoutly vifli they may ; for if the maehi- 
 
 ions of ..'-inies prevail, the bright g<>d- 
 
 tleis, Liberty, ir.ud, like her f;di_r Adra:a, utterly 
 
 abandon the earth, and le-ive not a wreck behind. 
 
 blic has, l-y a d;.mned conlpiracy of kings : 
 
 rs, been totally driven from the other 
 is her lad atylum , here I hope 
 Hie may fix her ab^ 
 
 I have now, Sir, only to entreat, that as knaves 
 
 and tools will probably, from delign and mif- 
 
 irnderilanding, exaggerate, disfigure, and didort 
 
 what I do, and what 1 fay, you will be upon your 
 
 ird, particularly when it relates to yourfelf. 
 
 Though it is difficult to leparate the man from the 
 
 office, (hould it be reported that I ever fpeak of 
 
 you in term,-, oi difrefpecl, I entreat, that you will 
 
 flight the report. 1 am not capable of it. A 
 
 .i friendfliip for Mr. Ci.i^e has taken too 
 
 / root in m\ bread ; though, \\ere )nu my 
 
 r, t u i lined at a birth, I mud wifli to defeat 
 
 purpofei f.f ;!;ok by \\liule inliruclion* (io- 
 
 vern-ji Giige mud act.
 
 ( 349 ) 
 
 As to North, my opinion of him is this, (and t 
 have known him a long time,) thaf^did he hear of a 
 fmgle freeman in the remoteft part of the world, 
 he would willingly put his country to the expence 
 of funiifhing forth an army and fleet for the fole 
 plealure of deftroying that fmgle freeman. I know, 
 Sir, you will do me the juftice to believe that I am 
 not acting a part ; that no allegation has place in 
 my conduct. You have known me long enough, 
 I flatter myfelf, to be perfuaded, that zeal for the 
 liberties of my country and the rights of mankind, 
 has been my predominant pafilon. May G< d 
 Almighty blefs you, Sir, and, with honour to you, 
 diffblve the fpell which has charmed you into a 
 fituation fo incompatible with the excellence of 
 your natural difpofition. Excufe the length, and, 
 if it appears to you, the impertinence, of this 
 epiftle, and believe me, 
 
 With great cfteem, 
 Yours, 
 
 CHARI.rS LEE. 
 Gen. Gage.
 
 ( 350 ) 
 
 Mr DYAft Pmrrs, 
 
 I 11AVK not for a lor, time read any per- 
 formance with fo much pleafure, as the { 
 
 :ih in the public papers annoi 
 
 rn. 1 r^nrrratulate your count: 
 and particularly myfclf, on this happy An 
 
 I mofl fmcv .e and honour yo 
 
 j been pleafed, in common uith all manl 
 had your hopes and expectations been anfwered 
 
 heir full extent ; but, a^ nd, 
 
 I am completely fat isficd ; for the attempt is fuf- 
 ficient to immottali'/e you. A you: 
 your rank and afll cumftai up 
 
 his es.fc, plcafure, and connections, t 
 mountains, and even to rifle the taking up 
 refidence in the thrilling regions of thick K 
 bedia, for the public benefit, would have appeared 
 heroic in any age or nation ; but th 
 infipid character of the prcfcnt age height 
 luftre of the enterprize. 
 
 Once more, my dear Phipps, I congratulate 
 you and all your friends on your fufe retu. 
 and the honour \vhich is your due, and v 
 not paid you at ! >me to this count r\ 
 
 your praifcs are fung ar political 
 
 >nduft has the hr^jfl lhare ot ;' 
 panegyrick. ir opinion of your integrity, 
 
 nts, and cor.. high ; and I 1;
 
 you will believe that I do not labour to weaker! 
 it. By all that is facred, thefe are a fine people, 
 liberal, enlightened, fenfible and firm. Your 
 Mansfields and Norths may play over their 
 wretched tricks, have recourfe to their paltry 
 finefies, may blufter and bellow, but they will 
 never be able to trick or frighten thefe men out 
 of their liberties. They are too acute and vigilant 
 for the former to avail, and much too ftrong for 
 the latter. Twelve thoufand freih colonifts, half 
 Germans, half Irifh, were imported this year into 
 Philadelphia alone;, and not a much lefs number 
 into the colonies of Virginia and New- York. The 
 banks of Hudfon's River, of the Mohawk, Suf- 
 quehannah, Juniatta, and the Ohio, from the 
 Monongahela downwards thirty miles, which at 
 the peace were totally a defert, are become one 
 continued chain of villages. Four large military 
 townfhips are immediately to be eftablifhed on the 
 Mifliffipi. I leave you to judge, whether it will 
 be eafy to dragoon fo numerous a people for any 
 length of time. Ships of war, it is true, may in- 
 fult, and put to inconvenience fome of their 
 capital ports ; but thefe teafings and mfults will 
 only ferve to mew the abfurdity of your minifler's 
 policy in a more ftriking light, by giving a una- 
 nimity to thefe people equal to their effectual 
 flrength, when they may fet at defiance the ma- 
 chinations, not only of an earthly, but of the 
 infernal potentate himfelf and his miniftry. Egre- 
 gious
 
 ( 35* ) 
 
 gious block I. >y cncrcafcs every duy ; 
 
 no fooncr arc they out of one bad fcrape, but they 
 -rle. 
 
 uith a refinance 
 
 lull as vi^rrci , ;ular and tem- 
 perate than the it . , i lie coloniiU, one 
 and all, have entered i. >lemn obli- 
 gations to fend it , its expoiters, and con- 
 tinue furniiliing themfelvi/i Iron the Dutch j fo 
 tlut by the ingenuity of our miniflry, imugglim< 
 .red an - 
 
 Cd 
 
 SIK, Stamford, Jan. 2 ad, i 
 
 :ieral \Vafhington has informed the Con- 
 is of his motives for detaching me, it is need; 
 to trouble you upon the fubjed ; I am, therefore, 
 only to inform you, that I have collected a body 
 of about twelve hundred men from the colony of 
 Connecticut, \\hofe zeal and ardour, demonftrated 
 on this occafion, cannot be fufiiciently praifed. 
 With this body I am inarching directly to New- 
 York, to execute the different purpofes for which 
 I am detached. 1 am fenfible, Sir, that nothing 
 can carry the air of greater prefumption, than a 
 iervant's intruding his opinion, unafked, upon 
 
 his
 
 ( 353 ) 
 
 his mailer j but, at the fame time, there are cer- 
 tain feafons when the real danger of the matter 
 may not only excufe, but render laudable, the fezs 
 .vant's officioufnefs. I therefore flatter myfelf that 
 the Congrefs will receive, with indulgence and le-* 
 nity, the opinion I mail offer. The fcheme of dif- 
 arming fimply the Tories, feems to me totally inef- 
 fectual ; it will only embitter their minds and add 
 virus to their venom. They can, and will, always 
 be fupplied with frefh arms by the enemy. That 
 of feizing the moft dangerous will, I apprehend, 
 from the vaguenefs of the inftruction, be attended 
 with fome bad confequences, and can anfwer no 
 good one. It opens fo wide a door for partiality 
 and prejudice, to the different congreffes and com- 
 mittees on the continent, that much difcord and 
 animofity will probably enfue, it being next to im- 
 poffible to diftinguifh who are, and who are not, the 
 moft dangerous * The plan of explaining to thefe 
 deluded people the juftice and merits of the Ame- 
 rican caufej is certainly generous and humane ; but, 
 I am afraid, will be fruitlefs. They are fo rivetted 
 in their opinions, that, I am perfuaded, mould an 
 angel defcend from heaven with his golden trum- 
 pet, and ring in their ears, that their conduct was 
 criminal, he would be difregardecL I had lately 
 myfelf an inftance of their infatuation, which, if it 
 is not impertinent, I will relate.- I took the liberty, 
 without any authority but the conviction of the 
 neeeffity, to adminifter a very ftrong oath to thofe 
 A a tf
 
 ( 354 ) 
 
 of Rhode Ifland, that they would take arms in de- 
 fence of thtir c untrv, if called upon by the \ 
 of the Congrefs. To this Colonel Wanton, and 
 
 rs flatly rcfufed their aflcht ; to take arms 
 againft their fovcrcign they (mid was too monft: 
 This it not a crifis, when every thing is it ftak 
 be over compliant to the timidity of the inl. 
 
 < of any particular fpot. I have now under 
 my command a very refpcclablc force adequat 
 the purpofe of fecuring the place, and purging all 
 its environs of traitors, on which fubjcct I (hall ex- 
 peft, with impatience, the determination of the 
 Congrefs ; their orders I hope to receive bcfoi 
 immediately on my arrival. 
 
 inttant the inclofcd cxprefs from the pro- 
 vincial Congrefs of New -York, was delivered '. 
 my hands ; but as thefc gentlemen probably are 
 not fully apprized of the danger hanging over their 
 heads, as I have received intelligence from camp, 
 that the fleet is failed, ami that it is ncccflar> 
 
 my march, I (hall proceed 
 
 iic farce* under my < udtot!, 
 moment's delay may be i.ii.ii. rcc I (lull 
 
 carry with me ii not ilrong enough to act 01. 
 fively ; but juft fufficient to fccurc the ciiy ag: 
 any dcfigns of the 
 
 brage, if the governor and captain of the . 
 war arc plcafed to conflrue this (lep as :n . 
 fitive hoftiihy, if they arc to prcfcrcibj 
 
 >f your troops, and \vhat m;
 
 ( 355 ) 
 
 to enter the city, all I can fay is, that New- York 
 muft be confidered as the minifter's place, and 
 not the continent's. 
 
 I muft now, Sir, beg pardon for the length of 
 this letter, arid more fo, for the prefumption in of- 
 fering fo freely my thoughts to the Congrefs, from 
 whom it is my duty fimply to receive my orders, 
 and as a fervant and foldier ftrictly to obey, which 
 none can do with greater ardor and affection than, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your mod obedient humble fervant, 
 
 The CHARLES LEE, 
 
 Hon. John Hancock, Efq. 
 
 Pref. of the 
 Continental Congrefs. 
 
 S I.R, New-York, March jth, 1 776. 
 
 I RECEIVED your commands on Sunday 
 evening, and mould have anfwered it immediately, 
 but waited for the refult of an application I had 
 made to Waterbury's and Ward's regiment, re- 
 quefting them to remain here until they can be re- 
 placed by a certain number of troops from Phila- 
 delphia, and the Jerfeys. They have unanimoufly 
 A a 2 con-
 
 confentcd to (lay till the twenty-fifth of this 
 month, which is a fortnight longer than th, 
 they were enlifted for. Before the expiration of 
 this time, I am in hope* that fome meafures will b( 
 
 :n by the Congrcfs for throwing into 
 its environs, and Long Ifland, a force diffident to 
 difpute the ground with any numlu ops we 
 
 e reafon to expeft ; not that I would imply 
 that thefe two Connecticut regiments rcmai; 
 here would be able to prevent the landing 
 lodging themfelves in the ifland, even five batta- 
 lions of the enemy, mould they chufe to attempt 
 it ; but thof .giments will enable us at lead 
 
 to lay the foundation of the neceflary works. 1 
 
 j ordered a regiment fro:.. v.ho 
 
 will be here I hope in a few days. I fhall not, Sir, 
 trouble you uith a detail of our intended works, 
 as I (hall have the power of paying peCb in 
 
 perfon to the Congrefs in a very few days, for on 
 Thurfday it is my intention to let out. I nm in 
 very little pain about the execution of what we 
 have co; <- hands of 
 
 -. ;r, who (hews much intelligence and 
 
 ity. As 1 probably be the fcene 
 
 i good c! prudent to 
 
 :iU- 
 
 tiuit there L in the 
 
 whole color. - <t up t-> J-'^rt Conftitution 
 
 ns and an half, 
 body of pi
 
 ( 357 ) 
 
 and Staten Iflands, with not a few within the walls 
 of the city, is a moft alarming confideration ; the 
 meafures adopted by the Provincial Congrefs, of 
 obliging them to give bonds as a fecurity for their 
 good behaviour, can anfwer no purpofe, but that 
 of rendering them more bitter and violent. The 
 fir/I regiment of our gracious fovereign's cut- 
 throats which arrive here will indubitably cancel 
 thefe bonds. I am well allured, indeed, that thefe 
 bonds are made a public joke of already, by the 
 worthy gentlemen who gave them. In fhort, the 
 friends to liberty are to a man convinced, that the 
 Tories will take up arms, when encouraged by the 
 appearance of any royal troops. The delicacy of 
 of our fituation, the dangerous crifis of affairs, 
 have therefore determined me to take a decifive 
 ftep, which alone, according to my judgment, can 
 fecure us : I have propofed to offer to thefe peo- 
 ple a teft, drawn up in fuch terms, that refufal or 
 confent to take it, muft be a criterion by which 
 we may be able to diftinguifh thofe, whofe fwords 
 are whetted to plunge into the vitals of their coun- 
 try, and whofe, if not drawn in defence of the 
 common rights, may be expected to remain quiet- 
 ly in their fcabbards. The firft I have directed 
 be feized without further ceremony, and I fhould 
 think myfelf highly criminal, in omitting fo ] 
 tary a ftep before it is too late ; perhaps ]'. judge 
 wrong ; if I do, -I muft myfelf take the mame of 
 beiim reputed weak, raft, and precipitate. The 
 A a 3
 
 ( 3S ) 
 
 intelligence I have received from General Wafl. 
 ton will, at all events, juftify, in fomc meafure, my 
 difpenfmg with forms. 
 
 I am, Sir, with the grcatcft rcfpcQ, 
 Your mofl obedient humble fervant, 
 
 IARU 
 
 To his Excellency 
 ThePref.of the 
 
 Continental Congrcfc. 
 
 Mr DBAt Si, Williamflurg, April - 
 
 I HAVE nothing of fufficicnt importance to 
 trouble the Congrefs with ; but mall teaze you with 
 a few words ; I am exactly in the fame fituation I 
 expected, puzzled where to go, or fix inyfclf, 
 from an uncertainty of the enemy's defign : I can 
 therefore only act by furmife ; the general opinion 
 is, that they will aim at this part oi .i.i, \i/.. 
 
 York and \ViUiam(burg, or that they will fix their 
 head quarters in North Carolina : it has been al- 
 ready afterted, that Mr. Clinton was landed with 
 one thoufand fi\c hundred men at Wilmington ; a 
 
 letter 
 -
 
 ( 359 ) 
 
 letter from Brigadier Howe, dated from Edenton, 
 fays, that it is believed, but not afcertained. I 
 \vait for further intelligence ; in the mean time, I 
 mall employ myfelf in rendering this place, and 
 York, as inacceflible as poffible ; for it is my own 
 perfuafion, that they will endeavour to poflefs 
 themfelves of the capitol, not only as it is really a 
 moft tempting and advantageous port, from com- 
 manding two rivers, and a mod abundant country ; 
 but it would give an air of fuperiority and dignity 
 to their arms, which in this flave-country might 
 be attended with important confequences, by the 
 impreflions it would make in the minds of the ne- 
 groes. I wifli we had a couple of good regiments 
 more in South Carolina, it would then be perhaps 
 bors infult. The apathy of this province feems to 
 go pafftbus aqttis, with that of fome other provin- 
 ces, notwithftanding the perfuafion and aflurances 
 of all the officers, that the Tories about Norfolk 
 will moft certainly repair to the King's ftandard, 
 and have propofed means of fecuring them ; they 
 fay, fuch means would be violent and cruel. In 
 fhort, as your affairs profper, the timidity of the 
 fenatorial part of the continent, great and fmall, 
 grows and extends itfelf. By the eternal God, 
 unlefs you declare yourfelves independent, eftablifh 
 a more certain and fixed legiflature than that of a 
 temporary courtefy of the people, you richly de- 
 ferve to be enflaved, and I think it far from impof- 
 fible that it' mould be your lot j as without a more 
 A a 4 fyftema-
 
 C 360 ) 
 
 fyftematical intercourse with France and Holland, 
 cannot, we have not the means pf carrying on 
 the v 
 
 Adieu, 
 
 Yours, 5cc. 
 
 To 
 
 :w. Rut ledge, Efq. 
 Member of the 
 Continental Congrcfs. 
 
 Sit, iiamfburg, April jth, 1776, 
 
 THE fubjccl of this letter appearing to me of 
 
 exceeding importance, I have rcfolved to difpatch 
 
 an txprefs to inform you, that the Roebuck, a 
 
 King's fliip of forty-four guns, has for fome time 
 
 the Capes of Virginia, and, as v now 
 
 ^ off the Bay of Delaware, with a dcfign to 
 
 intercept the continental fleet. At Norfolk remain 
 
 the Liverpool, a thirty gun frigate ; the Otter 
 
 (loop of fourteen guns, and fomc tcndc; :hcr 
 
 h a fliip, Lord Dunmore on board, of little or 
 
 no force ; and a number of vcflcU bcl)ngin^ to 
 
 Tories, with valuable cargoes . /es, 
 
 amount
 
 {amounting, by a reafonable efiimate, to an hundred 
 and forty thoufand pounds fterling : If Mr. Hop- 
 kins is at Cape Fear, would it not be a good mea~ 
 fure to inform him, how fure a prey thefe {hips at 
 Norfolk, with their immence treafure of goods, 
 arms, ammunition, and other military flores would 
 be to him, were he to come into the Capes of Vir- 
 ginia ? It is not probable our fleet can keep the 
 fea much longer, a number of Brjtifh mips of war 
 being expected foon on the American coaft ; this 
 lad mentioned ftroke would then be a glorious 
 conclufion ; and if it ihould be neceflary after- 
 wards to keep in a fafe harbour, by erecting a bat- 
 tery at the mouth of the river leading to Norfolk, 
 the navy of Great Britain might be, from the na- 
 ture of the navigation, prevented from getting up. 
 I am extremely anxious to know the Hate of your 
 province, and of the ftate, number, and quality, of 
 ypur troops ; any affiflance which can be afford- 
 ed you by this province, as far as depends on me, 
 you may command. I mould have fet out before 
 this, for your province, but the confufion, diforder, 
 and deficiences of Virginia, oblige me to pafs a 
 few more days in my prefent quarters. 
 
 I am, Sir, with the greatefl refpecl, 
 
 Your molt obedient humble fervant, 
 
 To C. LEE, 
 
 The Hon. the Pref. of the 
 Council of Safety, 
 North Carolina,
 
 DtAR Sit, Wtlliamfeurj?, Ap 
 
 AS I know not to whom I can adJrcfs this mod 
 important note, with fo much propriety and aflu- 
 rancc of fucccf* as to yourfelf, the crifis will not 
 admit of ceremony and procraftinatinn ; I (hall, 
 therefore, irregularly addrefs you in the 1 
 and with the fpirit of one bold dctt 
 
 /.en to another ; and conjure you, as you value 
 the liberties and rights of the commur. hich 
 
 you area member, not to lole a moment, and in 
 my name, i .tote it of coafequence enough, 
 
 tu direct the commanding officer of your troops at 
 Annapolis, immediately to fcize the perfon of go- 
 vernor Eden j the fin and blame be on my head. 
 1 will anfwer for all to the Congrefs. The jufticc 
 and neceffity of the meafure will be bed explained 
 by the packet, tranfmitted to you by the ( 
 mittce of Safety from this place. God Alrni 
 us wifdoin and vigor in this hour of trial. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 moft affectionately, 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 
 To 
 
 Samuel I'urviance, Efq. 
 rmanof the Committee.
 
 SR, Williamfburg, April 8th, 1776. 
 
 NOT only propriety and decency, but an ear- 
 nefl defire to ad in concert with fo refpe&able a 
 body, as the Committee of Safety, enjoin me to 
 lay before them my thoughts, on fome meafures 
 necefiary for the defence and very being of the 
 colony. 
 
 After having confidered the number and qua- 
 lity of your troops, the ftate and condition of your 
 arms, artillery, and ordnance apparatus, the weak- 
 nefs and difadvantages you labour under from the 
 numerous interfering rivers, the multitude of your 
 flaves, &c. I fuppofe to myfelf, that, the enemy 
 will make this province their immediate object ; 
 and fmce the defeat of their fchemes in North 
 Carolina, by Colonel Cafwel, it is the moil natural 
 fuppofition. I fay, Sir, after having confidered 
 your flrength and weaknefs, no circumftance ap- 
 pears to me fo ferioufly alarming as the difpofi- 
 tion and fituation of the inhabitants of the lower 
 counties, Norfolk, and Princefs Ann ; but that I 
 might not reft entirely on my own opinion, I have 
 called together fome of the field officers who are 
 beft acquainted with that diftrift, and they unani- 
 moufly agree, that it will be difficult, if not impof- 
 fible, to fecure and preferve the province, unlefs 
 thefe inhabitants, thus dangeroufly difpofed, are 
 removed from the very fpot where they can do fuch 
 
 infinity
 
 C 364 ) 
 
 infinite mifchief. I am fenf.blf , Sir, that their re- 
 moral mud be attended -with very confiderablc 
 ficultics, and perhaps muchdiftreft to individuals ; 
 but when the prefervation and being of the pro- 
 vince, if not of the whole continent, are at f: 
 were thcfc difficulties and diftreflesa thoufand i 
 greater, they mufl be fubmitted to. 1 ..:: in hopes, 
 therefore, that the gentlemen of the Comm: 
 will immediately devife fome means for rcmo 
 fhcfc people, as well as their flock : at lead their 
 wives and children mould be carried to a place of 
 fecurity, as hodages for the good behaviour of the 
 hufbandsand fathers. I fhould be extremely furry 
 to find myfelf under the ncccflity of dcflroying all 
 their cattle, (lore, and granaries ; and forcing the 
 inhabitants, at the point of the bayonet, from r. 
 homes ; but unlefs their removal can be accom- 
 plifhed by fome other means, I (hall be condrui- 
 to thefc harfli methods ; as otherwife, I cannot be 
 tnfwerable for the execution of the important 
 trull committed to my hands. 
 
 I am, 
 
 th the greated refpcS, 
 Your mod obedient humble fcrvanr, 
 
 To CHARM'S I | 
 
 H,>n. thePrcf, 
 of thi- 
 Committee of Safe-
 
 SIR, Williamfburg, April 1 Qth, 1776. 
 
 THE difagreeable uncertainty I have been in, 
 of the enemies' defigns, from the circumftance of 
 their being able to fly in their mips from one fpot 
 to another, hath kept me at Williamfburg. It 
 is evident that their original intention was againfl 
 North Carolina, but the apparently total over- 
 throw of their whole fcheme by Colonel Cafwell's 
 victory, makes it more probable that they will 
 bend their courfe to fome other quarter ; whether 
 to this province, or South Carolina, it is impoflible 
 to divine. I am myfelf more inclined to think 
 that this will be their object, as the numerous in- 
 terfe&ing navigable waters prefent them fuch fu- 
 perior advantages ; though, at the fame time,I con- 
 fefs myfelf in great pain for South Carolina ; the 
 force in that province feems alarmingly fmall. I 
 \vifh I could afford to detach from hence at leaft 
 three battalions ; but neither our numbers of men, 
 the date and condition of our arms, nor the vaft 
 extent of this province open to attack, will admit 
 of the thought. If Pennfylvania could fpare three 
 or four battalions for the defence of Virginia, 
 Virginia or North Carolina might detach the fame 
 number to South Carolina ; and as the army 
 which was employed in the blockade of Bofton is 
 now fet at liberty, I mould imagine this force 
 
 might be afforded us. 
 
 We
 
 ( 3*6 ) 
 
 arc fo extremely deficient in arms, ti. 
 have been under the ncceflity of fending an or 
 into the back parts of the country to pur chafe all 
 the rifles he can procure fur the continental 
 vice. The an any mem I have made of arming 
 two companies of each bat . \\\\\ 
 
 render mufqucts and bayonets lefs necefiary ; and 
 cafe I find in reconciling the men to thcfc kind 
 of anus, is a flattering fymptom of their fpirit. 
 The price of th , I am told, will be five 
 
 pounds each ; but as thv article of cartouches and 
 bayonets will be faved, "upon the whole, : 
 u ill not be more, if fo cxpenfivc. 
 
 The defence and fccurity of the capital r'. 
 
 i their creeks, is an objed of fo great impor- 
 tance, that I have thought it necenary to direct as 
 great a number of half gallics as poflible, to be 
 conitroded with the utrooft expedition ; but as 
 the carpenters and other artificers in this country 
 are fo lazy trace of mortals, th.it it i in vain to 
 exped any fruits from their labours, unlcfs there 
 is a coer five power over them, I thought it the 
 iurcil and fafeft method to cflabliili two compa- 
 nies of carpenters on the fame terms with thofc 
 in the Jcrfeys ; the meafure is abfolutcly m 
 fury, and I flatter myfelf it will prove occo: 
 
 The nature of the fcrvicc here is fuch, tlir 
 
 : not being collected into one point, but fcat- 
 
 tered in fragments, that a greater number of fub- 
 
 ordinate
 
 t 367 J 
 
 ordinate flaff officers are requifite than in the 
 Northern and Eaftern armies. I have therefore 
 taken the liberty, till the pleafure of the Congrefs 
 is further known, to appoint a few who could not 
 be difpenfed with : inclofed is a lift of them. 
 
 The Committee of Safety, I find, Sir, had not 
 apprized you of their having already raifed a 
 company of artillery, and appointed officers. 
 Captain Innes, who was placed at the head of it, 
 though he profefles himfelf utterly ignorant of 
 this particular branch, is a man of great zeal, 
 capacity and merit j and as there is a vacant ma- 
 jority in the ninth, or captain Flemming's regi- 
 ment, I have ventured to appoint him to acl in 
 that Ration, in hopes that the Congrefs will con- 
 firm his commiffion. A body of horfe is a fine 
 qua non in a country circumftanced like this ; I 
 take the liberty of enclofmg you an addrefs I 
 publifhed to the young gentlemen of this colony 
 on the fubject, and wifh it may meet with your 
 approbation. 
 
 I fliall make Monfieur Arundel accountable 
 for the fixty dollars, but at the fame time beg 
 leave to fubmit to the confideration of the Con-, 
 grefs, whether the expences of his journey {hould 
 not be allowed'; they amount to thirty dollars: 
 indeed the pay of the artillery officers and engi- 
 neers is fo wretched, that I do not fee any chance 
 of procuring men fit for the fervice on the terms | 
 _if they are procured, they cannot poflibty 
 
 fcbfift,
 
 fubfift, unlefs the expences of their freq 
 journeys are paid ; for they are obliged, from the 
 nature of their bufinefc, to make more journeys 
 than other officers, and not in corps, but fmgh , 1 
 have been obliged to fubfiit ' MalVcnburg, as 
 
 wife to furnifh Captain Smith, who is now at 
 York, with money for his expences. 
 
 I am, Sir, w ith the grcatcft refpecl, 
 
 Your mofl obedient humble fcrvnnt, 
 
 IARLL.S J 
 
 His Excellency 
 John Hancock, I'rcf* 
 
 of the 
 ConiinentaJ Congrefs. 
 
 Su, William/burg, April 19, 
 
 AS I am an cmirc ftran^er to the character, 
 integrity, and abilities of ir; ? in this coun- 
 
 fry, I muft requeft the L f the ( 
 
 mittee will appoint, or recommend ; /, a 
 
 proper perfon as coir. He fliould be a 
 
 man of activity without doubt j but his integrity 
 
 h
 
 .( 
 
 is ftill more important, as he has it in his power, 
 if inclined, to rob the public moft horribly. 
 
 I am, Sir, with the greateft refpeft, 
 
 Your moft obedient fervant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 John Page, Efq. V. P. 
 of the Committee* 
 
 SIR, Suffolk, April 23d, 1776. 
 
 YOU are to march this night to Brickels : 
 Leave the entrenching tools under the care of the 
 commanding officer of that poft, with directions 
 to fortify, as well as he is able, a poft capable of 
 containing three hundred men. To-morrow 
 you are to proceed to Portfmouth with all the 
 waggons j you are to poft your party in fuch an 
 advantageous fituation, that no infult from the 
 enemy can be apprehended. You are to fecure 
 Shedden's, and Mkchel's effects, and fend them up 
 immediately. You are to fecure the perfons of 
 Jarvia, Muter, and Mitchel, as well as their ef- 
 fects; Mrs. Grimes, with her effects, are likewife 
 B b imme-
 
 ( 570 ) 
 
 immediately to be fent up. You are to 
 the beft intelligence what men arc on boar 
 Dunmore's fleet, who have families at Portfmouih ; 
 the wives and children men are to be 
 
 lent up to Suffolk immcdi You are to ap- 
 
 prize the red of the inhabitants that they mull 
 quit Portfmouth in five days $ that waggons fliall 
 be allowed for their beds, doaths, a< lute 
 
 neceiTary cooking utcnfiU; their tables, cl. 
 and ot her cooking utcnfiU, cannot be carried off 
 at the public ex pence. 
 
 All the negroes capable of bearing arms to 
 fecurcd immediately, and fern up to Suffolk. 
 Bownas and Company's property is to be colic 
 and brought out of their dangerous fitua 1 
 
 You are to order any detachment you mall 
 meet with, from Colonel Fipp's corps, i ..icly 
 
 to return to their command. 
 
 >r Gen 
 Colonel Mughlenburg. 
 
 THE committee noth.-w- 
 
 veftcrdr, 1 i report to them (r.s 1 think
 
 ( 37' ) 
 
 it my duty,) of every tranfaftion which is not 
 merely military ; but they were fo much employed 
 in the bufmefs of the Princefs Ann petition, that 
 I thought it better not to enter on the fubjed. 
 As I found that the inhabitants of Portfmouth 
 had univerfally taken the oath to Lord Dunmore, 
 and as that town was, I believe, juftly confidered 
 as the great channel through which his Lordfhip 
 received the moft exa6t and minute intelligence 
 of all our motions and defigns, I thought it in- 
 cumbent on me, and agreeable to the fpirit of 
 your inftructions, to remove the people without 
 exception ; for even the women and children had 
 learnt the art, and pra&ifed with addrefs, the office 
 of fpies. A confiderable quantity of very valu- 
 able articles were found in the houfes of Mrs. 
 Sprowle, Goodrich, and Nuil Jamiefon, fuch as 
 molafies, fait, and other things much wanted for 
 the public. A lift of thefe articles will be made 
 out by the officer commanding the party, and 
 laid before your board. 
 
 As the town of Portfmouth will afford fo con- 
 venient flielter and quarters to refrefh the enemy, 
 on a fuppofition that they make this part of the 
 world their objea, it would perhaps be politic to 
 deftroy it totally ; but the houfes of fome of the 
 moft notorious traitors I thought abfolutely necef- 
 fary to demolim, in hopes of intimidating the 
 neighbourhood from trifling any longer, ^and 
 flvino- in the face of your ordinances j for it isin- 
 
 B b 2
 
 ronccireable, unlefs I have been grofsly mifin- 
 formcd, into what barefaced open intcrcourfc 
 with the enemy they had been encouraged by 
 examples having been made. Spro* <iood- 
 rich's, Jamicfon'i and Skeddan's houfes wer< 
 this principle deftroyed ; the laii , .n, now 
 
 a prifoner at Suffolk, accufed, and, I believe, con- 
 ed, of having been on board Lord I)r 
 fleet, fmce his acquittal by the comr 
 Norfolk. As we hod undoubted intelligence that 
 the fleet and army of I :nmore were amply 
 
 and regularly fupplicd with protiftom and re- 
 frefhments of every kind, from that fracl of coun- 
 try lying between the Sour hern and Kail cm I 
 chef, as well as firom 
 
 finding the pofitive ordinances levelled againit 
 this fpecies cf treafon; an ma habit of 
 
 any fort or" aclion, be it ever 1< . he who 
 
 commits it, infallabiy, in the end, pcriuades himfolt 
 Acre is no crime in it at all : fo thcfe vror: 
 not only every day openly and condantly car 
 on this dangerous commerce, but it is faid juili- 
 flpd it in their convcrf.uion ; it, thcrctorr. Sir, in 
 toy opinion, as well as of the other officers, 
 the committee of gentlemen from Suffolk, bo* 
 j indifpenfably neceifary to take igo- 
 
 rows (leps on the fpot, which might intimidate 
 hole knot of thefc mifcrcants from their per- 
 nix traffic. 
 
 A Mr. Hopkim, infamous for 
 i
 
 < 373 ) 
 
 conduct, and who has a fon, now a foldier In Dun- 
 more's army, was fortunately the firfl man detect- 
 ed ; he was feized in his return from the fleet. 
 He prevaricated and perjured himfelf very hand- 
 fbmely on the occafion ; but at length the fa& was 
 proved, and he confefled. The fentiments of the 
 committee and other officers concurring with my 
 own, we determined, after having feized his furni- 
 ture, to fet his houfe on fire in his prefence : This 
 itep was not quite confident with the regular mode 
 of proceeding ; but there are occafions, when the 
 neceflity will excufe deviations, and this I hope 
 svill appear to the committee to be one of thefe oc- 
 cafions. I mud here, Gentlemen, beg leave to re- 
 peat my affurances, that if ever in my military 
 capacity, I fhould fall into any meafure, which is 
 more properly within the province of the civil, it 
 will entirely proceed from miftake, or inadver- 
 tency, never from defign j and upon thefe occa* 
 fions, fo far from being offended by the admo- 
 nition, or even reprimand, of your committees, I 
 (hall think myfelf obliged to them, 
 
 I am, Sir, with the greateft refpect, 
 Your mod obedient humble fervant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE* 
 
 To 
 
 Edmund Pendleton, 
 Pref. of the 
 . of Safety. 
 
 B b 3
 
 ( 374 ) 
 
 Sit, Wliliamfcurg, ^fay 71]!, t 
 
 I I IXD the part I have afted in the bud 
 Mr. Eden, has given great umbrage to the c 
 cil of Maryland; 1 take the liberty of cnclofmg a 
 copy of my letter to that board on the occafion ; as 
 J hope it uill appear to the Congrefi, a fu 
 nation and jufiificatton of my conduct, I (hall not 
 trouble them any more on the fubjcct. 
 
 anfports with troops are arrived at Cape 
 Fear; I (hall therefore fct out on Thurfday for \Vil- 
 mington, by the way of Hallifax. 
 fider, Sir, the vafl extent of the vulnerable parts 
 of this country; the numerous navigable inter- 
 fcHng waters, the multitude of flaves ; that we 
 have not more than five thoufand regulars fit for 
 duty in the province ; that of thefc five thou 
 not more than three are properly armed ; that to 
 arm them, defective as they are, the has 
 
 been drove to thcneceffity of difarming the minute 
 men ; I fay, Sir, that when thefe circumstances arc 
 confidercd, I ihall appear, 1 hope, rcafonab! 
 entreating the Congrefs to fpare us, if poflible, 
 fome battalions, and of thofe battalions which are 
 bed armed. If indeed our minute men were 
 properly furnimed with mufquets and ammuni- 
 tion ; if our rivers were already fccurcd in the 
 manner I propofe ; I fhould tJ. capable 
 
 of baffling all their attempts with our prcfcut 
 force i but fuuaied as we are, my anx. the 
 
 common
 
 (' 375 ) 
 
 common fafety obliges me to folicit a reinforce- 
 ment. A letter from one of your members informs 
 me, that five thoufand blankets, and five thou- 
 fand pair of fhoes, are on the road for the ufe of 
 this army ; they were much wanted ; the num. 
 her is, I believe, fufficient. We are, as I obferv- 
 cd before, wretchedly in want of medicines, as 
 well as of a director to our hofpital. Doctor 
 M'Clurg is a very able man, and univerfally ef- 
 teemed, qualified for the office : the pay of the 
 regimental furgeons eftablifhed by Congrefs is fo 
 low, that it is in this part of the world, where the 
 common country practice of furgery is fingularly 
 lucrative, impoffible to find capable men, who will 
 accept ; but I am in hopes that the convention 
 will make fuch additions out of the provincial 
 purfe, as to enable us to fill the commiffions with 
 proper and competent perfons : Now I am on 
 the fubject of pay, Sir, 1 muft beg leave to urge 
 the neceffity of confiderably increafing that of 
 the engineers. It is impoffible that men, qualified 
 for this important office, mould be prevailed upon 
 to ferve on fuch miferable terms. You have no 
 American engineers j they muft of courfe be fo- 
 reigners ; and foreigners expect, in their language, 
 de quoi manger, that is, fomething which will enable 
 them to eat and drink. Twenty dollars per 
 month will not enable them to eat and drink, 
 and wear linen, or indeed any kind of cloaths ; 
 befides, it muflbe confidered, that thefe gentlemen 
 B b 4 are
 
 ( 376 ) 
 
 are obliged, by the nature of their dun 
 more journeys than any other officers ; that horfes 
 nruft be purchased and fed; that the cxpc; 
 of travelling in tiiele Southern provinces arc Tcry 
 high : from thcfc reafons, and many others, the 
 pay of engineers ought to be, as it is in all i 
 ferviccs, greater than that of other offi, 
 Upon the whole, Sir, I really do not think that 
 
 ought or can do with Ids than forty doi 
 per month, and cations at Icait for their horfes. 
 On more moderate terms I am purl'uadcd you 
 cannot procure men equal to the talk : as 
 corps is diftinct, and not numerous, this ncccf- 
 fary addition of pay u ill be a: .cc beneath 
 
 the confidcration of Congrcfe. 
 
 Colonel Richard Henry Lee informs mc 
 that it was not the intention of thi U that 
 
 Captain Innis's company fhould be reduced, to 
 make way for Arundel's; but tl.- 
 be cilablifhed. I think, Sir, it would a ufclefs 
 expence. Captain Innis, who mult, I amfurc, be 
 an excellent officer in any other department, pro- 
 fefled himfelf ignorant of this branch ; his offi- 
 cers were equally ignorant : Arundcl has got 
 poflcffion of the company, and by his activity 
 and knowledge vill, I am pcrftiadcd, make them 
 fit for fcrvice. Indeed, to eflablilh an artillery 
 company, captain, fubaltcrns, and non-ccmmini- 
 oned officers, being entirely compofed of novices, 
 can anlwer AO end or purp ofe. It L my opinion, 
 
 th.
 
 ( 377 ) 
 
 therefore, Sir, that inftead of thefe two compa- 
 nies propofed, that the addition of thirty or for- 
 ty men to Captain Arundel's, and two fubakera 
 officers, will not only be better, but that it pro- 
 miles more advantage to the fervice. 
 
 As I am on the fubjecl: of Captain Arundel, I 
 beg leave to remind the Congrefs of what I men- 
 tioned on the fubject of his expences on the road : 
 There is one circuinftance of which, Sir, I could 
 \vifli to be afcertained ; it is the expence of the 
 defence of thefe rivers, that is, the conftruftion 
 of row gallies, floating batteries, &c. to be 
 brought to the account of the continent or of 
 the provjnce ? I wifh to be informed on this head : 
 if it is at the expence of the latter, I mail regu- 
 larly propofe to the Convention, or Committee of 
 Safety, every fcheme which may be attended with 
 expence before it is entered upon. If the quar- 
 ter mafler-general, or his deputies, when they dif- 
 patch any teams from, Philadelphia with powder, 
 or other neceflaries, were to purchafe the horfes 
 throughout, for the continental ufe, inftead of 
 hiring them, the faving would be confiderable ; 
 for in this country the hire is intolerably dear ; fo 
 great indeed, that I have ventured to order a num- 
 ber of teams to be purchafed. 
 
 I have juft received a vague return of the 
 forces of North Carolina, of their powder and 
 cannon ; it does not appear that they have effec- 
 tive regulars, properly armed, more than two thou- 
 
 fand 5
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 find ; of powder than two tun anJ an half; and 
 as to cannon, they are almnfl totally dcflitutc. As 
 the enemy's advanced nay fo exprefs 
 
 rayfelf, is actually arrived, I mult, I cannot a 
 detaching the ftrongeft battalion we have to their 
 afliftance ; but, I ow n, I tremble at the fame time at 
 the thoughts of dripping this j pan 
 
 of its inadequate force. 1 am pi 
 my motions from the i uty of the cncn 
 
 plan, but not difpirited, as I am confident that 
 the Congrefs will afford me c\ 
 power, and am not in the lead diffident of the 
 courage and zeal of the men and officers. I have, 
 as yet, heard nothing of Mr. StabL 
 1 ought, in fact, to have at leaft halt A Jo 
 for we have a variety of pods to throw up, 
 there is not a man or officer in the army that 
 knows the difference between a tlcvcux de Ji 
 and a cabbage garden. I .. Congref* would 
 
 indulge me wit. :aith, uhom 1 knuw to be 
 
 an able and active : 
 
 I am, Sir, with the grcatcft i 
 Your mod obedient, 
 
 Humble fcrva: 
 
 His F.xccIK 
 Jo: 
 of the Con. Conjrcfs. 
 
 S:R,
 
 ( 379 ) 
 
 SiR, Williamfburgh, May 9th, 1776. 
 
 AS I am obliged, by the arrival of the enemy, to 
 icpair to North Carolina, and am not lefs prompted 
 by my zeal and affection for this province, than 
 obliged by my duty, to take every precaution 
 for its fafety before my departure : on this prin- 
 ciple, I beg leave to lay before the Convention 
 the following meafures, which I conceive to be 
 neceflary : 
 
 i ft. To devife fome means for eftablifhing a 
 corps of cavalry ; without which, an army is fo 
 extremely defective in every part of the world, 
 and in none more than in this, for reafons which 
 it might be tedious to enumerate. 
 
 2dly. Without delay to order fome able pilots 
 of every river, to examine accurately the narroweft 
 part of the channel of each river ; what is the na- 
 ture of the moals which form thefe channels; 
 whether they are folid, firm fand, gravel, or rock ; 
 what is the diftance of the neareft part of the 
 channel from either more ; what is the nature of 
 the fhore ; whether it is high or low ; for I am 
 fanguine enough to hope, when thefe circumftances 
 are afcertained, the navigation of mod of the 
 rivers may be fliut up to the enemy, by means 
 of batteries, either floating or fixed. 
 
 3dly. As thefe purpofes cannot be effected with- 
 out a large body of carpenters, fmiths, and arti- 
 ficers
 
 ( 3* ) 
 
 ficcrs of every fort, to cflablifli fomc companies 
 of them, fubjcd to the military laws ; for, with- 
 out a coerfive power, it is difficult in this part of 
 the world to prevail on them to work. 
 
 4t'ily. As I undcrftand there are prodigious 
 flocks of ihccp and cattle on the iflands near the 
 eaftern more, and as ray authority does not ex- 
 tend to whatever concerns property, that you 
 order immediately all this (lock to be tranfported 
 to the com;: ;:nd if this is imprafticabU 
 
 kill them, as o:' they mull indifputably 
 
 into the hands of the enei 
 
 fthly. As the eailern counties are, from 
 great abundance of all the ncccflarics of life, fo 
 tempting object* to the incurfions of the cm 
 and as 1 unJcriianJ there will be no difiicuh 
 procuring good men, I would humbly propo! 
 the Convention, to augment Colonel Fleming's 
 regiment to the fame ilrength of numbers \ 
 the other battalions. 
 
 I mud now, Sir, beg leave to mention to the 
 gentlemen of the Cor .portant 
 
 matter of confederation ; n. an the prcfcrva- 
 
 tion of the lives of your fo!. . The continental 
 allowance to furgeons and fur peon';-- mates of the 
 regiments is fo miferably final!, ami, at the fame 
 time, the common count r qcons is 
 
 fo very lucrative in this province, that it is 
 poflible to find men qualified lor the flation who 
 i and as I caanot venture to propofe, 
 
 to
 
 to the Continental Congrefs, the increafe of the pay 
 of the furgeons of the whole army, merely be- 
 caufe this encreafe is neceflary in my divifion, I 
 muft fubmit it to the judgment of the Convention, 
 whether fuch an addition, as to bring up the pay 
 of thefe gentlemen to the original provincial ordi- 
 nance, will not be money well and neceffarily 
 expended. 
 
 I am, Sir, with the greateft refpeft, 
 
 Yours, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 To 
 
 Edmund Pondleton, Efq. 
 Prefident of the Convention. 
 
 DEAR SIR, Willlam&urgh, March 25th, 1776. 
 
 I KNOW not whether, in the whole courfe of 
 my life, I ever read any thing which fo much 
 moved my pity and indignation as the late decla- 
 ration, profeflion of faith, or political creed, (for 
 Iconfefs I am at a lofs what title to give it,) of the 
 Convention of Maryland. The inftruaion of 
 your auembly to their delegates (which, inter nos, 
 was a mod wretched piece of bufmefs) was Ro- 
 man
 
 man magnanimity comparatively with this fuivel* 
 produc 1 .1 Annapolis. They declare, 
 
 that they, (hall efteem reparation from Great 
 Britain as the lad of misfortur. 
 
 re it a (lory of a Morocco flavc, 
 of JVlulcy IH'.nv.J, who pulhcv 
 that \vlxn the monarch, in the %aite Je ftr 
 plunged his dagger into his bread, he drev, 
 and moil loyally prefentcd it again to his facred 
 matter, who a v a iecond ftrokc, 
 
 patched him. I 1 .: :: :;. is fcarccly credible, but 
 the poflibility of the fad is now \ 
 conduct of c of Convention of Man-land. 
 
 What ! when an attempt has been made to rob 
 you and your potter ity of your bird 
 
 Ids have been laid wa(le, your towns have 
 been burnt, and your citizens butch. hen 
 
 r property is fcized and con! -all parts of 
 
 the world; uhcn an inexorable tyrant, an abandon- 
 ed parliament, and a corrupt pufilaninious people, 
 have formed an hcliilh league to rob you oft 
 thing men hold moll dear ; is it poliiblc that t ! 
 (hould be creatures who march on two legs, and 
 call thcmfclvcs human, uho can be fo ilcftitutc of 
 
 at, courage, and feeling, as fobbing 1. 
 proteft, they (hall confider feparation from thcfe 
 butchers and robbers as the lad of misfortu: 
 Oh, i could br. ur ladies fans 1 
 
 ORDERS,
 
 C 383. ) 
 
 Charles-town, June 191!], 1776. 
 
 ORDERS. 
 
 AS it now appears almoft a certainty, (from 
 the intelligence of fome deferters,) that the 
 enemy's intention is to make an attack on the 
 city ; and as the General is confident, that the 
 numbers and fpirit of the garrifon will prevent 
 their landing, it only remains to guard againft the 
 injury which the city may receive from their' can- 
 non. 
 
 The continental troops, provincials, and militia, 
 are, therefore, moft earneftly conjured to work 
 with no lefs alacrity, than fight with courage. 
 Courage alone will not fuffice in war ; true fol- 
 diers and magnanimous citizens muft brandifh the 
 pick-axe and fpade, as well as the fword, in de- 
 fence of their country : one or two days labour, 
 at this critical juncture, may not only fave many 
 worthy families from ruin, but many worthy in- 
 dividuals from lofs of limbs and life. On this 
 principle the General does not, fnnply in his 
 capacity of commanding officer, order, but en- 
 treat the whole garrifon, (thofe on the neceflary 
 duties excepted,) to exert themfelves in forward- 
 ing the requifite works of protection. 
 
 The
 
 f 384 ) 
 
 The colonels or commanding officers of the 
 corps are to review ien*s arms this < 
 
 at roll calling i to take care they are in as good 
 order as poffible, and that they are furnifhcd with 
 good flints. Tne officers commanding the diffe- 
 rent guards are to do the i. !i their re. 
 
 For the future it muft be obfervcd, as an eftab- 
 H&ed rule, that no artillery officer fires a fingle 
 cannon without previoufly acquainting t 
 neral. 
 
 Fort Sullivan, June j.: 
 
 RAL LEE ; orders, that the 
 
 fcreen behind the aperture of the l-e 
 
 immediately bt .1 fmifhcd with all pofliblc 
 
 expedition; that a bread-work of timber, fix 
 feet high, be raifed on the rampart, 
 a continuation of the traverfc ; that a banquet be 
 raifed behind the rraverfe, fo as to enable the 
 mufquetry to fire o\ ;. I he prefent work round 
 the near guard room to be confidcrably flrength- 
 cned ; the parapet raifed, and the ditch dc 
 and wider ; a fcreen to be thrown up behind the 
 entrance ; a facade of i r old timber, is ne- 
 
 cefi- keep up the light fand, of which tl^ 
 
 rfc of t 1 guard is compofed. 
 
 SIR,
 
 C 385 ) 
 
 Charles-town, June 21 ft, 17 yd. 
 
 IT is a certain truth, that the enemy enter- 
 tain a moft fortunate apprehenfion of American 
 rifle-men. It is equally certain, that nothing can 
 diminifh this aprehenlion fo infallibly as a frequent 
 ineffectual fire. It is with fome concern, therefore, 
 that I am informed, that your men have been 
 fuffered to fire at a mofl prepoflerous diflance. 
 Upon this principle I mufl entreat, and infift that 
 you confider it as a {landing order, that not a man 
 under your command is to fire at a greater diflance 
 than one hundred and fifty yards, at the utmofl : 
 in fhort, that they never fire without almoft a 
 moral certainty of hitting their object. Diflant 
 firing has a double bad effect j it encourages the 
 enemy, and adds to the pernicious perfuafion of the 
 American foldiers, viz. 'That they are no match 
 for their antagonifts at clofe fighting. To fpeak 
 plainly, it is almoft a fure method of making them 
 cowards. Once more I mufl requefl, that a flop 
 be put to this childim, vicious, and fcandalous 
 practice. I extend the rule to thofe who have the 
 care of the field pieces ; four hundred yards is 
 the greatefl diflance they mould be allowed to fire 
 at. Atranfgreffion of this rule will be confidered 
 as the effect of flurry and want of courage. 
 
 Thofe who are accufed of tranfgreffing, will be 
 
 proceeded againfl, as ading from thefe principles. 
 
 C c I nave '
 
 I have, Sir, the greatcft opinion of your goocF 
 fenfe and fpirit, and natter myfelf, that you will 
 not only iflue orders of rcftriclion on this head, 
 but that you will be attentive that they are vigor- 
 oufly put in execution. 
 
 I am, 
 
 Your mod obedient, 
 
 Humble fervant, 
 
 CHARLES IT I 
 To 
 Col. Thompfon. 
 
 P. 8. I am likewifc informed, that your men 
 pafs without order, or orders, to Long IflanJ. 
 Is this wife ? Is it foldicr like ? Is it to mew t!.<: 
 enemy where our weaknefs is ? 
 
 Sm, Oiarlo-tow*, July ad, 
 
 I SHOULD have done myfelf the honour 
 
 fooner of informing the Congrefs of the attack 
 
 !cby the enemy's fquadron on Sullivan's Ifland, 
 
 and their repulfc; but conjectured, that by waiting 
 
 a day or tw^ I might probably be furnifhcd with 
 
 the
 
 ( 38? ) 
 
 the means of fending a more minute, full, and 
 fatisfactory account. My conjecture was right ; 
 for yefterday five feamen made their efcape, one 
 of whom is a more intelligent fellow than is com- 
 monly found amongft men of his level. Inclofed 
 is a copy of their narrative ; fome parts of it are, 
 perhaps, too whimfical and trivial to merit the 
 attention of Congrefs, but I think it my duty to 
 prefent it as it is, without adding or curtailing a 
 circumftance. I think, Sir, I may venture to con- 
 gratulate the Congrefs on the event: not only 
 the advantages muft be confiderable, but the 
 affair reflects no fmall credit on the American 
 arms. 
 
 On Friday, about eleven o'clock, the Commo- 
 dore, with his whole fquadron, confifting of two 
 line of battle-lhips and fix frigates, the rates ofwhich 
 are marked in the inclofed narrative, anchored 
 at lefs than half mufket mot from the fort, and 
 commenced one of the mod furious and inceffant 
 fires I ever faw or heard. It was manifeflly their 
 plan to land at the fame time their whole regulars 
 at the eaft end of the ifland, and, of courfe, in- 
 vert the fort by land and fea. As the garrifon 
 was compofed entirely of raw troops, both men 
 and officers; as I knew their ammunition was 
 fhort ' y and as the bridge by which we could rein- 
 force, or call off the troops from the ifland, was 
 unfinifhed, you may eafily conceive my anxiety. 
 It was fo great, that I was in fufpence whether I 
 C c a
 
 ( 3" ) 
 
 (hould evacuate it or no. Fortunately, while I 
 was in this itate of fufpence, fomc ammunition 
 arrived from the town, an :! dc camp, Mr. 
 
 Byrd, returning from the ifland with a flattering 
 report of the garrifon's fpirit, I determined to 
 ;ort it at all hazards. On r; Ie I 
 
 thought it my duty r over to the 
 
 to encourage the garrifon by my prefence ; hut I 
 faved n ouble; for 1 found, 
 
 on my arrival, they had no occalion for 91 
 of encouragement : I found t!.. .mined and 
 
 cool to the lad degree: thtix behaviour \\ uld, 
 in fa&, have done honour to the oldeft troops. 
 I beg leave, Sir, therefore, to .end, in the 
 
 ngefl terms, to the Congrefs, the commanding 
 officer, Colonel Moultric, and his whole garr: 
 as brave foldiers and excellent citi/ . >r mud 
 I omit, at the fame time, mentioning Colonel 
 Thompfon, who, with the South Carolina rangers 
 and a detachment of the North Carolina regulars, 
 repolfed the enemy in two feveral attempts to 
 make a lodgment at the other extremity of the 
 ifland. 
 
 Our lofs, confidering the heat and duration of 
 the nconfidcraK had only ten 
 
 men killed on the fpot and twenty-two wounded; 
 feven of whom k>!t th-.-'r li!ii><, but with their 
 limbs they did not loie their fptrits ; for they 
 enthulhllically encouraged their comrades never 
 to abanJ.m thcr Standard of liberty and their 
 
 country.
 
 ( 389 ) ' 
 
 x'ountry. This, I do allure you, Sir, is not in the 
 ftyie of Gafconading romance, ufual after every 
 fuccefsful aftion, but literally fad j I, with plea- 
 fare, mention the circumftance, as it -augurs well 
 to the caufe of freedom. At eleven the fire 
 ceafed, having continued juft twelve hours with- 
 out the lead intermiffion. What the enemy's 
 intentions are now, it is impofiible to divine/ I 
 am inclined to think, they will, if they can repafs 
 the bar, bend their courfe to Chefapeak or 
 Hampton Bay : perhaps fliame and rage may 
 prompt their land forces to foni attempt before 
 their departure : on my part, I (hall ipare no -pains 
 to difcover their intentions and baffle their fchemes. 
 As Georgia is a diftrift of the command with 
 which you have honoured me, I thought it pru- 
 dent to requeft fome of their members to a con- 
 ference with the prefident of this province, and 
 rayfeif. They accepted the invitation, and gave 
 us great Satisfaction from their intelligence and 
 good fenfe: m-elofed i$ the fubflance of their 
 deliberation. 
 
 The province is <:rtainly of the laft impor- 
 tance to the common caufe, and the mode of pro- 
 tecting it, pointed out by thefe gentlemen, is, in 
 my opinion, in all its parts wife and neceflary. 
 They had conceived a notion that I had powers 
 to augment their eftablifhrnent ; I aflured them I 
 had no fuch powers ; but both Mr. Rutledge and 
 njyfelf gave it as our opinion, that any expenses 
 C c 3
 
 C 39 ) 
 
 manifcftl) beyond their faculties wi iniglii 
 
 incur in the comm , >uM be repaid by 
 
 the Congrefs ; and in this perfuafi 
 to encourage them to augment their cavalry with- 
 out lofs of time, and make the propofod prefent 
 of cattle to the Indians, hick 
 flrong corps , of cavalry, I do n< pof- 
 
 fible to protect thefe Southern colonies, 
 \\ith one thoufand good cavalry, I think I could 
 infure their protection. From the want of 
 fpccics of troop>, Charles-t 
 cies had certainly been lo(t, if the enemy 1. 
 ed with the vigor and expeditL 
 expecl ; but a mod unaccountable lang, 
 inertnefs on their parts have favcJ us. 
 fcheme I nropofed in Virginia had been appr 
 and adopted, it would have been not only a fccu- 
 rity but ccnfiderable ccconomy. 'I'he forage was 
 to have been the only expence. Now I am upon 
 the fubjecl, I cannot help mentioning, that I have 
 been informed that the proj<. been confi- 
 
 dered by fome gentlemen, as a fort of a 
 ; ,:umption in me, in arrogating fuch a power ; 
 but I fancy the affair was not properly underflood : 
 I law the immediate neceflity of fuch a corps. I 
 
 w they could be raifed immediately ! 
 meaBs,-and at the fame time I w<i given to un- 
 derftand, by fevcnil gentlemen of the Virginia 
 convention, that mould the Continental Congrefs 
 tfbpprove of the expence (trifling as it was) 
 there was little doubt of their convention de- 
 fraying
 
 fraying it ; but, in fad, Sir, the meafure feemed 
 neceflary for the falvation of the provinces, and 
 not a day was to be loft ; which, I hope, will fully 
 juftify my conduct: and I mud beg leave to 
 repeat my affertion, that without cavalry thefe pro- 
 vinces cannot eafily be defended. 
 
 I wifh fome means could be devifed of reduc- 
 ing Ead Florida to an American province. Had 
 1 force fufficient, I mould, with your permiffion, 
 certainly attempt it ; the advantages would be 
 great and manifold. The augmentation of the 
 Georgian cavalry, I fmcerely hope may be ap- 
 proved of by the Congrefs. Inclofed is the edab- 
 lifhment and pay propofed for them j I think the 
 terms not high, 
 
 I mail now, Sir, conclude with exprefling the 
 high fatisfaclion I have received from the zeal, 
 activity, and public fpirit of the gentlemen and 
 inhabitants of this city and province, from the 
 prefident and council, down to the lowed order 
 of the people ; and with alluring you, that I have 
 not, in my military capacity, met with the lead ob- 
 ftrudion or difficulty ; but that we have all 
 \vorked in concert and harmony for the common 
 good. I mod earneftly requeft you will pay my 
 refpe&s to the Congrefs, and be perfuaded, Sir, 
 that I am moil entirely and devotedly, 
 
 Your mod obedient fervant, 
 To the CHARLES LEE. 
 
 Hon. John Hancock, Pref. 
 
 of the Continental Congrefs. 
 
 C C4 P. S.
 
 P. S. Lord Dunmore has, I believe , \vith him 
 at prcfent only one (hip of war ; if any part of 
 the continental fleet IhouM happen to vim I lamp. 
 ton Bay at this juncture, it would defeat the 
 \\holc fchcme of the enemy'* operations, at 
 lead for this campaign ; but it is impoflible to 
 fay how long his Lonlfhip may remain in this 
 weak condition* 
 
 SIK, Gurlevtow! 
 
 MR. Rutlcdge will inform you by this exprefo 
 of the outrages committed by ihe Chcrokees, 
 which mud be condrued as the commencement 
 of a war. As it is now certain that a capital and 
 favourite part of the plan laid down by our ene- 
 mies, is to lay wade the provinces, burn the inha- 
 bitants, and mix men, women, and children in one 
 common carnage, by the hands of the Indians ; 
 and as this part of the plan, though a piece of 
 inhuma; certainly more big with mif< ! 
 
 vous confequences than the reit, it appears to me 
 absolutely necefiary to crufli the evil before it 
 arifes to any dangerous height. Indeed if we 
 avail ourfelves of the event, it may prove a for- 
 tunate one. Perhaps we ought, in policy, to have 
 uiihed for it. We can now, with the greateft 
 
 juflice,
 
 ( 393 ) 
 
 jufKce, ftrike a blow which is neceflary to intimi- 
 date the numerous tribes of Indians from falling 
 into the meafures of our enemies ; and as thefe 
 Cherokees are not eftcemed the mofl formidable 
 warriors, we can, probably, do it without much 
 rifque or lofs. I think then, Sir, that without a 
 moment's delay, a body of your frontier rifle-men 
 mould be immediately furniihed, and march into 
 the country of the Overhiii Cherokees, and make 
 a fevere lading and lalutary example of them. 
 The Carolinians propofe at the fame time attack- 
 ing their lower towns, and, wkh the co-operation 
 of Virginia, entertain no doubt of fuccefs. 
 
 Clinton's army and Parker's fquadron are pret- 
 ty much in the fame fituation as when I wrote 
 laft. They daily, indeed, make fome alterations 
 in the pofition of their land troops from one 
 ifland to another ; perhaps for new air or water, 
 of which, the deferters fay, they are in great want. 
 They tell us likewife, that confiderable ficknefs 
 prevails in the army, and greater difcontents from 
 hard duty and bad diet. The fpirit of defertion 
 begins to (hew itfelf, five foldiers came over 
 thefe two laft nights, who affure us, that were they 
 not on an ifland, from which it is difficult to ef- 
 cape, two-thirds of their army would foon be with 
 us : I am myielf inclined to believe them. 
 Upon the whole, when I confider the difficulties 
 which the enemy's Generals have to encounter, 
 flie temper and difpofition of their troops, and 
 
 the
 
 ( 394 ) 
 
 the improving fpirit of ours, I aflurc myfelf, that 
 the game is in our hand*. God give us move 
 grace than to (hufllc it away. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your moft obedient humble fen ant, 
 
 To the .:LES 1 : 
 
 Hon. TJm Pcndlctoii, 
 
 "' Prcf. of 
 Convention of V 
 
 Mr pm FULNP, Quuk4owo, July 15- 
 1 il A VI. received yours, of the iSth <; 
 and did not think it po&ble th.i ; could 
 
 come from your hand to give me fo difagrccable 
 frnf ? tir>nt You tell me a dark myfterious I; 
 of a certain great General of whom prince \\r- 
 die and ha* declared, Ji I* on Mcut tat tffit 
 this great General in the clouds, vill, it fccms, 
 graciouily coadeicc: America, on 
 
 diiion that Congrefc vill give him aflnra: 
 of ttepping over the heads of every but 
 
 and this hi. tiott 
 
 of
 
 ( 395 ) 
 
 of the confidence due to an American. You 
 afk my opinion on this fubjec~t ; but the palpable 
 meaning of your letter is, to prepare me for a 
 ceflion of my rank in favour of fome impudent 
 adventurer. Buckwith is the man, as you con- 
 jedure, from his known political principles and 
 military abilities, which are fo tranfcendent, that 
 I ought for the public intereft to make a fecond 
 facrifice. I am not, I believe naturally proud ; 
 I do not think myfelf conceited of my talents ; 
 but to be put in competition, much more to be 
 fpurned afide, to make room for fo defpicable a 
 character as Buckwith, a generally reputed coward, 
 
 (and a b d fycophant,) I fay, to be kicked 
 
 out of my flation for fuch a creature as this, 
 would fwell a man more humble than myfelf 
 into a trumpeter of his own merits. Great God ! 
 is it come to this? lam not, it feems, an American ; 
 but am I not, (if I may fo exprefs myfelf,) Ame- 
 tlcanlor ipfa Americans ? Have I not, fuch has 
 been my zeal for your caufe, once already waved 
 my military claims in deference to the whim and 
 partiality of fome of your members ? Did I not 
 confent to ferve under an old church-warden, of 
 whom you had conceived a molt extravagant and 
 ridiculous opinion? Your eyes were at length 
 opened, and deacon Ward returned to his proper 
 occupation ; and would you now a fecond time, 
 (do you think it confident with decency, I may fay, 
 gratitude or common honefty) to load me a fecond 
 3
 
 time vith t fimilar dlfgrace ? Hare 1 bttrayed 
 tny ignorance in n lion? H.-vr I fhe\vn a 
 
 deficiency in courage ? Ami flackened in my zeal 
 or induftry ? What have I done to merit fuch an 
 rndigni- ' can juftify 
 
 your harbouring fuch an idea? Have not I A 
 
 fortune, life, and reputation in afc ? Is 
 
 there a fcrvice in Europe, to fpcak proudly, (your 
 injurious propofai force* me to it,' U the: 
 vice i:i Europe, where with fome fmall repurat 
 and my powerful friends, I might not expect the 
 lame rank I now hold? \\-.\\\- I not nude myfelf 
 a voluntary flavc for the infuranccs of American 
 freedom? Have I, fleeping or waking, cmpl< 
 a finglc thought, but for htr .-, glor\ 
 
 advantage ? But enough of this You afk my 
 opinion, and I will freely, explicitly, andconti 
 give it to you. If the Congicfs fuperccde n. 
 uill, I mud obey ; but, I hope, in common juftice, 
 and for their o\vn honour, that they uill re-eftalv 
 lifh me, at leaft in part, in the eafy fortune \\hich 
 I h,v .ted, fo ai to enabk: me r<i reti: 
 
 a fervicc to which I am no longer thought ;i 
 
 JuJe, let me once more 
 repeat confide: you, that if Buckwii! 
 
 the man, in whole favour you meditate fo groi 
 of injuilice, you will make a very bad V 
 . 
 
 ^outage, abilities, or integrity. 
 In God's name, if a rciil genius, or acknow-
 
 ( 397 ) 
 
 kdged hero, favoured by Heaven with a more 
 than common portion of etherial fpirit, fliould 
 prefent himfelf, (a la Lippe, or BraganfaJ re- 
 ceive him with open arms, as an immediate pre- 
 Jent from God ; invefl him with the command of 
 the whole. No man loves, refpefts, and reverences 
 another more than I do General Wafhington. I 
 efteem his virtues, private and public. I know 
 him to be a man of fenfe, courage, and firmnefs, 
 but if a hero mould ftart up, endowed with the 
 attributes, which, according to my perfuafion re. 
 fide in the two I have mentioned, and who 
 would charge himfelf with the mighty talk of 
 your political falvation, General Wafhington 
 ought, and, I am convinced, would refign the trun- 
 cheon ; but that a little paltry impudent adven- 
 turer mould fneakingly ftipulate for the fecond 
 rank, when, if his motives were pure, he could 
 be equally Serviceable in the third, fourth, fifth, 
 or fixth ; it is not to be endured, it is a grofs 
 impofition on common underftanding, and a 
 groffer attempt to rob an individual. I muft 
 beg and conjure you, my dear friend, for fuch I 
 am fure you are, to confider the delicate, perhaps, 
 you will fay, falfe notions in which foldiers are 
 bred ; and that you will be careful of putting to 
 fo fevere a trial the fenfibility of one, who is mofl 
 fmcerely, devotedly, and affectionately, 
 Yours, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 
 To * * * 
 
 P. S.
 
 P. S. I am extremely (hocked with the pallid 
 complexion of your public councils ; is it pof- 
 fible that fuch a dcfpicablc group as the Maryland 
 
 ivention, fhould lay an embargo on the grc.it 
 veflfel oi" the common-wealth ! Can you be fo 
 to hunt for the rhi' -rcra, abfolute unani- 
 mity ! Why do you not advife the aggregate of the 
 people to enfrancliife thcmfelves ? Your idea of 
 quitting Canada from \vant of fpccie is to me 
 
 nccivablc, when you can or ought to com- 
 mand plate fufficicnt to purchafc ten Canadas. 
 
 .rlcs-town, July agtli, 1776. 
 ! ) to regret not being thrown into the 
 world, in the glorious third or fourth century of 
 the Romans, but I am now thoroughly reconciled 
 to my lot. The reveries which have frequently 
 for a while ferved to tickle my imagination, (but 
 v. hich when awakened from my trance, as con- 
 flantly I conftdered as mere golden caftles built 
 in the air,) at length bid fair for being realized. 
 We (hall now, moll probably, fee a mighty empire 
 eftablifhcd of freemen, -whofe honour, property, 
 and military glories are not to be at the difpofal 
 
 of
 
 ( 399 ) 
 
 of a fceptered tyrant ; nor their confciences to 
 be fettered by a proud domineering hierarchy. 
 Every faculty of the foul will be now put in mo- 
 tion, no merit can lye latent ; the higheft offices 
 of the ftate, both civil and military, will now be 
 obtained, without court favour, or the rafcally 
 talents of fervility and obfervance, by which 
 tourt favour could alone be acquired. Senfe, 
 valour, and induftry will conduct us to the goal : 
 very fpark of ability which every individual 
 polfelTes, will now be brought forth and form the 
 common aggregate for the advantage and honour 
 of the community. The operations of war will 
 be dire&ed by men qualified for war, and carried 
 on with that energy natural to a young people. 
 True unartized knowledge, unfophifticated learn- 
 ing, fimple genuine eloquence and poetry will be 
 carried to the higheft degree of perfection. This 
 to many, I am fenfible, would appear rant, but 
 to you, who, I think, have congenial feelings 
 with my own, it needs no apology. However, I 
 (hall now endeavour to deliver myfelf more like 
 a man of this world. 
 
 I moft fmcerely congratulate you on the noble 
 conduct of your countrymen ; and I congratulate 
 your country on having citizens, deferving of 
 the high honour to which you are exalted ; for 
 the being eleded to the firft magiftracy of a free 
 people is certainly the pinnacle of human glory ; 
 
 and
 
 C 400 ) 
 
 and am perfuaded that they could not have 
 ahappier choice. 
 
 "Will you excufe me ? but I am myfelf fo ex- 
 tremely democratic;!!, that I think it a fault in your 
 coniUtution that the governor mould be eligible 
 for three years iu y. It appears to me 
 
 that a government of three years may furnifh an 
 opportunity of acquiring a very dangerous influ- 
 ence ; but this is not the v.-orft ; Tacitus 1. 
 flitra pcccantur. >r;wr, quam dum nffen- 
 
 dimiu. A man who is fond of office, and has 
 his eye upon re-election, will be courting favour 
 and popularity, at the expence of his duty. He 
 \vill give way to the popular humours of the day, 
 let them be ever fo pernicious. In fliort, his ad- 
 miniilration will be relaxed in general, or par- 
 tial to thofe whom he conceives to have the great- 
 eft intercft : Whereas were all hopes of re-tlec- 
 tion precluded, till airer the intervention, of a 
 certain number of years, he would endeavour to 
 iHuftrate ihe year of hU government by a find, 
 rigorous, and manly performance of his duty. 
 Thefe notions may perhaps be weak and fooliihj 
 but fuch as they are, I am lure you will excufe my 
 uttering them. 
 
 There is a barbarifm crept in among us that ex- 
 tremely {hocks me, I mean thofe tinfel epithets* 
 with which (I come in for my mare) we are fo- 
 bcf laddered : Uis Excdluuyy and His Jrlonour ; 
 
 The
 
 The Honourable Prefident of the Honourable Con- 
 grefs, or the Honourable Convention. This fulfome 
 naufeating cant may be well enough adapted to 
 barbarous monarchies ; or to gratify the adulte- 
 rated pride of the magmfici in pompous ari/locracies ; 
 but in a great, free, manly, equal commonwealth, 
 it is quite abominable ; for my own part, I would 
 as lief they would put rats-bane in my mouth, as 
 the Excellency with which I am daily crammed. 
 How much more true dignity was there in the fim- 
 plicity of addrefs amongft the Romans ! Marcus 
 Tullius Cicero, Decimo Bruto Imperatori, or 
 Caio Marcello Confuli, than to his Excellency 
 Major General Noodle, or to the Honourable John 
 Doodle. My objections are perhaps trivial and 
 whimfical ; but, for my foul, I cannot help darting 
 them. If, therefore, I mould fometimes addrefs 
 a letter to you without the Excellency tacked, 
 you muft not efteem it a mark of perfonal or 
 official difrefpeft, but the reverfe. 
 
 The difcontent of the troops which you men- 
 tion as arifmg from the want of regular pay- 
 ment, might have been remedied by General 
 JLewis ; his warrant is undoubtedly fufficient 
 for the pay- matter: however, I have written to 
 that gentleman- on this fubjed, and am in hopes 
 that affairs for the future will be more fatisfac- 
 torily conducted. 
 
 An old rice-boat which we converted the other 
 day into a row-battery, has made a confiderable 
 prize j no left than a brig with a whole com- 
 
 D d
 
 pany of the royal highland emigrants on be 
 confiding of two officers and fifty men : although 
 they faw that they were inevitably our prize, had 
 the impudence to throw their armt overboard, 
 for which they ought to have their can cut off, 
 as it was contrary to all the rules of v 
 I f.nJ -.r-J mcloftd the flate of the f 
 
 i think there is no doubt of the 
 having ftccred their conrfe Northward ; 
 prefumption I mall dircft my courfc to- 
 inia, but firft muft aflift to regulate 
 v affairs of this province, in the bed .-. 
 
 ' 
 
 igh, in facl, that will be doing 
 the irvconvcnicncies of this complex play we are 
 ig, of Duke and no Duke, are irambc 
 it. The prcudent is thought by feme to 
 
 i commander, 1 am thought f 
 .1 !h. rt, there muft be no troops ' 
 inenta!. The council b at prefent cmp! 
 cttljag a more regular poft. \Vc have re, 
 .one thdc eighteen days ; for my own parr, i 
 
 .1: mail has been intercepted and 
 oa board the man of war. Seven tons and a 
 half of powder ucrefafcly landed four days ago, 
 at George 
 
 , and believe me to be 
 Mod entirely and fincerely yours, 
 His Kxccllency ARLES LEC. 
 
 P. , Jun. 
 
 Governor of \
 
 C 403 ) 
 
 SIR, Charles-town, Aug. 2d, 1776. 
 
 I WISH I had been informed how I am to ad- 
 drefs myfelf in writing to the Board of War; 
 whether to the board in general, to the firft 
 members on the lift, or to the fecretary. I have 
 ventured on the laft mode ; if it is wrong, I hope 
 I (hall be excuied and corrected. The irregula- 
 rity and tardinefs of the poft are now become 
 a matter of my ferious concern : we never receive 
 a letter from Philadelphia in lefs than fix or feven 
 weeks ; that from the members of the Board of 
 War and Ordnance is only juft now arrived, though 
 dated the twelfth of June. I have been preffed, 
 Sir, by feveral members of the Convention of 
 Virginia, to eftablilh a poft for this diftridj but 
 am apprehenfive, that it might interfere with the 
 continental poft j however, the confequences 
 arifing from the irregularity of the poft are fo 
 very ferious, that all other confi derations rnuft 
 be waved : In the mean time, I am conftrained 
 to the neceflity of putting the continent to the 
 cxpence of an exprefs almoft on every occafion. 
 
 I am extremely rejoiced at the eftablimment of 
 a Board of War ; for the bufmefs of Congrefs 
 was fo complex and heterogeneous, that it was 
 impoflible they mould give the neceflary attention 
 to the affairs of any one diftinct department; 
 their regulations with refpeft to returns, &c. fhall 
 D d 2 be
 
 be punctually obferved. I have ordered General 
 Arroflrong to collcft the returns from the different 
 corps, to digeft them into one, and tranfmh them 
 immediately to the Congrefs. 
 
 I am myfelf bufied in arranging matters for an 
 expedition into orida. nuch to be 
 
 lamented, that thefe Southern colonies fuffcred 
 the whole of laft winter to pafs over their heads 
 without preparing the means either of offerer > 
 defence. Not a rmgle row. galley or armed boat 
 was rurnifhed by Virginia* North, or South Caro- 
 lina ; were we provided with a moderate fleet of 
 thefe fort of teflcls, 1 think I could enfure the re- 
 duclion of Eaft Flrrida, an objcft, though not 
 equal with Canada, U ccitainly of very 
 importance. Here the useafores of the Southern 
 Indians are concerted and planned, their treaties 
 negociated and concluded ; here they receive their 
 bribes, for their murderous operations, and from 
 hence they arc fupplied with all the means and 
 inArumenuof war: from hence they have lately 
 made fome alarming incurfions into Georgia, 
 carried off m considerable number of negroes, and 
 not lefs than two thoufend head of cattle : they 
 have likewife thrown up a pod on the river St. 
 Mary's, which, if fuffcred to remain, may prove 
 extremely troublefome to Georgia, by affording 
 i ready afylum to negro defer ters. 
 
 From thefe confident ions, although I car. * 
 .s. of laying fiegc to Auguftine, having 
 
 thcr
 
 ( 4*5 ) 
 
 ther boats, horfes, waggons, nor any other mean* 
 of conveying cannon, ammunition, or provifioa 
 for the purpofe. I think it both a prudent and 
 neceifary meafure to attempt breaking up the 
 whole province of Eafl Florida. It will be a 
 fecurity to Georgia, occafion infinite diflrefs to 
 the garrifon of St. Auguftine,but, above all, make 
 a falutary imprefiion on the minds of the Creeks, 
 who now are thought to fland wavering. They 
 profefs a good difpofitjon towards the American 
 caufe ; but if, by a flrong predatory expedition 
 into the province of the enemy, we give an idea 
 of ourprowefs and fuperior flrength, they will be 
 revetted in our interefl. If I was fure Mr. Clin- 
 ton and his army had fleered their courfe. to New- 
 York, as the deferters all agree, and a letter 
 which was left in Long Ifland confirms, (a copy 
 of which is here enclofed,) I mould, as I have 
 nothing immediately elfe to do in my diflrict, 
 march in perfon with this party; but the bare 
 pombility of his being gone to Virginia will de- 
 tain me. Every fhip of the enemy has now re- 
 parted the bar. It appears by this fame inclofed 
 letter that they were more roughly handled than 
 even the deferters reprefented. 
 
 The Congrefs I make no doubt have been in- 
 formed of the incurfions made, and the ravages 
 committed by the upper and lower Cherokees ; 
 an expedition I underfland is furnifhed forth by 
 Virginia, againft the upper nations j another by 
 D d 3 this
 
 ( 406 ) X 
 
 this province againfl the Jower ; the fuccef, 
 Tnifcarriage is of the lafl confequence ; I am 
 therefore defirous of forming a ftcond line, or 
 / de reffrve, and detaching for this purpofe, 
 giment of regulars, bu' cen 
 
 able to procure waggor icnt for two . 
 
 panies. It will be neceflary that Congrefs flxwld 
 make fome regular ei^bHfhment for waggons. 
 I fhould think one waggon at leaft, if not two, 
 mould be purchafed and appointed to each com- 
 pany of the whole army, and regiments made ref- 
 ponfible for theirs refpe&ively. We mould thi-n 
 be able to march when occafion requires cxp 
 tion ; at prefent it is fometimes as much impof. 
 fible to march an hundred miles although the 
 fate of a province depended upon it, as if the 
 foldiers wanted legs. 
 
 I hope the Congrefs and Board of War will cx- 
 cufe my giving an opinion on a fubjeft on which 
 it has not been alked ; but I conceive it to be 
 my duty not to remain filent on any affairs oi 
 fuch moment. 1 find, Sir, that rep ions 
 
 have been made, that many inconveniences 
 would arife from putting the troops of this : 
 vince on the continental cftaHilhment. I can 
 aflure the Congrefs, that it is almofl impoflible to 
 carry on the fervice, if they remain on the colo- 
 nial eflablimmcnt ; the difference of the 1 
 the diftinftion of rank, occafion fo much confu- 
 fion; ami the ridiculous farce of Duke and no 
 
 Duke
 
 ( 497 3 
 
 Duke, we are playing, (the officers not always 
 comprehending who is their proper commander, 
 whether the prefident, or continental general,) 
 occcafions very dangerous diffractions j but there 
 are other matters of more ferious confideration, 
 of which I fhall not trouble you with a detail -, 
 nor do I find that the officers of this province 
 object to a continental eftablifhment, on the con- 
 trary, all thofe I have converfed with, feem de- 
 firous of it. Upon the whole, I think it abfo- 
 lutely eflfential to the public fervice, that thefe re- 
 giments mould inimediately be put on the fame 
 footing, and be governed by the lame laws, with 
 the reft ; nor am I fingular in opinion : the two 
 brigadiers, all the officers of every rank, and 
 the greater part of the gentlemen of the country 
 concur with me. 
 
 Colonel Muhlenburg of the eigthth battalion 
 of Virginians has been made very uneafy by fome 
 letters he has lately received with refpecl to the 
 rank of his regiment. Thefe letters intimate, 
 that it was never the intention of the Congrefs to 
 confider the feventh, eighth, and ninth, battalions 
 of the Virginians on the continental eftabliihment 
 until they were entirely complete. That his re- 
 giment never was entirely complete ; and that, con* 
 fequently, after having fo long thought himfelf 
 on the continental eftabliihment ; and on this'pre- 
 fumpiion having marched five hundred miles from 
 his own province, under the command of a con- 
 D d 4 tinental
 
 tinental general, he now, at lead, finds himfclf 
 only a provincial olticer. 
 
 I have ventured to aflure him and hi> officers, 
 v ho are equally uneafy, that there muft be fome 
 miftake in this affair ; in facl, the hardfiiip would 
 be fo great, that I cannot 1 ir apprehen- 
 
 fions are well founded. It I remember 
 
 lit, notified in April, by the Committee of 
 Safety in Virginia, that they were then taken upon 
 the contii. tablifln ud though in 
 
 this, I maybe miftaken, without tlu ) of 
 
 their being complete. 
 
 It happened at thistimc, though not complete to 
 a man, (for no regiment e\v >plete to 
 
 that Muhlenbu iment was not only the 
 
 complete of the province, but, 1 
 continent ; it was not only the mod complete in 
 numbers, but the beft armed, cloathed and equip 
 all refpec"b for immediate ftrvice; I muft rcpeat,that 
 I cannot conceive that ir v. as ever iht n of 
 
 Congrek that the eflullifhnunt JlnniKI be filial 
 man; but that they fliould be competent to 
 
 e in or out of their province. In mofl ft-r- 
 \ ices when new \c\ raifed, one half of the 
 
 propofed complement tntitlo them to cflablifh- 
 ment. Muhlenburg's regiment wanted only 
 forty atmoft. It was the Urcngth and g(^ 1 
 dition of the regiment, that induced me t. 
 it out of its own province, in preference to ;my 
 other. I certainly confidcred them at that i
 
 as continental troops, otherwife I could have no 
 -authority to order them out of the province. 
 
 I mull now fubmit it to the confideration of 
 the Congrefs, if it would not really be the great- 
 eft cruelty, that their flrength and good condi- 
 tion Ihould be turned againft them. It was their 
 llrength and good condition whi~h carried thcift 
 out of their province, where, had they remained 
 and known that it was a necefiary condition of 
 their eitabliihment to be complete to a man, 
 they certainly could have accomplimed it in three 
 days. I do, therefore, mod fmcerely hope, and 
 confidently perfuade myfelf, that Muhlenburg's 
 regiment will at lead date their rank from the 
 (lay I ordered them to inarch out of iheir pro- 
 vince ; not only juftice, but policy requires it, 
 for you will otherwife lofe a moft excellent regi- 
 ment. 
 
 I ofcen reprefented to Congrefs how difficult' 
 or impofiible it would be to engage or retain, 
 after they were engaged, any engineers of tolerable 
 qualification on the wretched pay eftablifhed. 
 The two appointed to my diftrid have (as I ex- 
 pected) quitted the fervice ; it was indeed im- 
 poflible for them to exift. Stadler, I hear, has 
 entered into the fervice of Virginia. Mafien- 
 burg is retained by this province, at fifty- four dol- 
 lars per month, a fervant, rations, and his travel- 
 ling expences. He formerly begged his difmiflicn 
 from me, affuring me, (and, I believe, fmcerely,) 
 
 '
 
 he \vas zealous in the caufe of America j tliat he 
 \vould willingly, if I chofe it, tnlifl as a common 
 foldier ; but that to ride about the continent from 
 north to fouth, find horfes, and appear like a gen- 
 tleman was impoflible. I could not in confci- 
 cnce force him to ftarve, fo confented to his en- 
 gaging in this fen-ice. I am now without a Tin- 
 gle engineer, and really know not how to carry 
 on the bufmtfs. I hope the Board will confider 
 the neceflity of fupplying me. 
 
 I fhall : . , conclude, with alluring t! 
 
 that I am, 
 
 With the grcatcft refpc 
 
 their moil obedient humble fervant, 
 
 To CHARLL6 LLL. 
 
 Richard P :lj. 
 
 Secretary to the Board 
 
 t 
 
 of War and Ordnance. 
 
 Sit, Savannah, in Georgia, 23d Auguft, i 
 
 YOUR letter, with the thanks of the Conti- 
 nental Congrefs, reached me at Purifburg. The 
 approbation of the freely chofen delegates of a 
 free and uncorrupt people, is certainly the highcfl 
 honour that can be conferred on mortal man. I 
 
 fhall
 
 ( 4U } 
 
 {hall confider it, as a frefh ftimuhis- to excite my 
 zeal and ardour in the glorious caufe in which I 
 am engaged. May the God of Righteoufnefs 
 profper your arms in every part of the empire, 
 in, proportion to the juftice with which they were 
 taken up ! Once more, let me exprefs the high 
 fatisfa&ion and happinefs I feel in this honourable 
 teftimony ; and once more, let me aflure the Uni- 
 ted States of America, that they cannot meet 
 with a fervant (whatever may be my abilities) ani- 
 mated with a greater degree of ardour and en- 
 thufiafm, for their fafety, profperity, and glory. 
 The prefent ftate of this province, its ftrength 
 and weaknefs, I mail tranfmit to the Board of 
 War, according to the directions I have receiv- 
 ed j and let me entreat you to be perfuaded that 
 
 I am, Sir, with the greateft refpect, 
 Your mod obedient and 
 Very humble fervant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 His Excellency 
 John Hancock. 
 
 GENTLEMEN, Savannah, Augufl 24th, 1776. 
 
 ANY irregularity of returns of the forces 
 under my command, will not, I hope, be im- 
 puted
 
 ( 4'* ) 
 
 puted to me ; the extenfive bufmefs of fuperintend- 
 ing the fafety of fo vaft a territory, as that which 
 the Congrefs have committed to my charge, ren- 
 ders it impoflible for me to attend to the detail 
 of the regiments, or, in any reasonable time, to 
 collect and digeft the various returns ; but I have 
 en orders to the brigadiers to be as accurate 
 as poffible on this fubjeft in their refpeflive dif- 
 ftrifts, and have no reafon from my knowledge 
 of the men, to think they will be deficient. As 
 a thorough knowledge of the prefent condition 
 of this colony, of its flrength and veaknefs, is 
 certainly a matter of very ferious consideration, 
 I (hall lay before the Board the bed and mod ac- 
 curate information I am able. 
 
 Georgia is a ftate of much greater importance 
 to the empire of America than generally fuppofed, 
 at leaft, than what I myfclf imagined before I 
 vifited it. Thr of navigable rivers, com- 
 
 modious harbours, and fine inlets ; the prodi- 
 gious quantities of rice, and immenfe flocks of 
 cattle, both on the iflands, and on the main ; but, 
 above all, the gentlenefs and falubrity of the 
 winter feafons, with the conveniency of its fitu- 
 ation for commerce with the Weft India Iflands, 
 would render it a moft valuable pofieflion to the 
 enemy ; the Altamaha, a very noble river, al- 
 ready furnifhes a confiderable quantity, and may, 
 in time, furnifh any quantity of lumber ; the 
 garrifon of St. Auguftine, and, indeed, the 
 
 whole
 
 ( 413 ) 
 
 whole province of Eaft Florida* draw their fub- 
 fiftence from Georgia j and, if all inter courfe 
 with her were cut offj that neft of robbers and 
 pirates would probably fall to the ground, and, 
 of courfe, the empire of the United States become 
 more round and entire. Thefe circumftances fum- 
 med up together, muft evince the importance of 
 keeping Georgia or any part of it out of the 
 hands of the enejny ; the means of doing it, de- 
 mands the utmod attention. I have turned my 
 thoughts to the fubject, and mall beg leave to fub- 
 mit the refult to the confideration of the Con- 
 grefs. The prefent date of the ftrength of this 
 colony, confifts of Colonel M 4 Intom's battalion, 
 a return of which, is here enclofed, a company 
 of independent artillery, confiding of three offi- 
 cers and twenty-three privates, with about twenty- 
 five hundred militia of all forts ; but in a very 
 great part of thefe, (as I learn from the autho- 
 rity of their own captains,) very little confidence 
 can be placed, their principles being extremely 
 contaminated by a mod pernicious banditti of ene- 
 mies to the common liberty. M'Intom's bat- 
 talion is really a very fine one, (one of the bed, I 
 think, on the continent,) but as, perhaps, it might 
 appear a harfh talk, to infift on this battalion's 
 acting with the neceflary rigour againd fome of 
 their neared connections and relations, accufed 
 of being concerned in treafonable practices j it 
 is my intention to remove them either into South 
 
 or
 
 ( 4'4 ) 
 
 or North Carolina, where they can be more fef- 
 \iceable, and have an opportunity of complete- 
 ing themfelves, which, in this ftate, from the 
 dearth of men is imroiiible, and replace them with 
 mi cqu?.l or greater number from South Carolina, 
 h is the prefent condition of the ftrength 
 rgia, ven p far from being adequate to its 
 . My fcheme for its fecurity is, as row- 
 gallies, and armed boats are fo well calculated 
 for what is called the inland navigation, give 
 them an i: Mitage over vefiels merely 
 
 fail '.ich in 'it confined waters 
 
 have no room for nunccuvering ; they will fecure 
 the rivers againft the predatory incurfions of the 
 en; vent the dcfertion of negroe*, 
 
 the coafh clca ; but, above all, faci- 
 
 litate the means of the dirL-rcnt ilati-s mutually 
 ^f^fling each other with troo -ion, pro\i- 
 
 fion, and other requifttcs, which is now effected 
 '-[ difliculties, flowncfs, and monftrous expcnce. 
 '1'lir^c gallies are already on the flocks in this 
 port, and we have armed and equiped feverat 
 bo?.ts with fwivcls, and one gun on the bow of 
 each. The leaft of them capable of containing 
 men, and rowed with fourteen oars ; fai- 
 lors, of whom we find fo great a fcarcitv, nre not 
 neccffary for this fpecies of veifels, the foldiers 
 ?.re competent to -the bufintfs ; befidcr, the equip- 
 ment of thefc gaJiics and boats, I propo r ed ef^ablim- 
 ing" little forts or redoubts, in certain fituation:-, 
 
 on
 
 en the river St. Mary's, Satilla, Sapello, and Alta* 
 maha, which may enable us to make incurfions 
 from time to time, when circumflances require 
 it, into Eafl Florida, and render it dangerous for 
 them to make attempts of a fimilar nature into 
 Georgia. Thefe redoubts, or little forts will 
 likewife ferve as places of rendezvous, refrefh- 
 ment, and retreat for bodies of horfe rangers which 
 ought continually to be patroling on the frontier. 
 Such are the befl methods, after having confulted 
 the moft intelligent people, which, in my opinion, 
 can be devifed for the defence and fecurity of this 
 State, unlefs, indeed, we could prevail on the pro- 
 vince, to contract their frontier, by breaking 
 up all their fettlements on the other fide of the 
 Altamaha, which, to me, I confefs, appears a wifef 
 and more ceconomical meafure j but this I am 
 afraid, is not to be accomplished. 
 
 I muft now beg leave to lay before the Board, 
 a matter of the higheft concern, and which cer- 
 tainly demands the moft ferious attention of Con- 
 grefs, as, unlefs remedied, it may not only diftrefs 
 the circumflances of the public, but bring a dif- 
 grace on the American character ; I mean the 
 unconfcionable advantages which individuals, 
 merchants, mechanics, farmers, and planters are 
 fuffered to take of the public neceffities. If boats, 
 waggons, horfes, drugs, clothing, fkins, necef- 
 faries, even little refremments, fuch as fruit or 
 garden fluff, are wanting for the foldiers, no price 
 being regulated, the extortion is monflrous : the 
 3 expences
 
 ( 416 ) 
 
 expences of the war mufl not only be prodigioufly 
 fwellcd by this want of regulation, but the 
 officers and foldicrs are difgufted to the fervice by 
 the toleration of fuch impofitions ; for inflance, 
 the Virginians and North Carolinians are fo much 
 out of temper with diaries-town on this head, that 
 fhould it be again attacked, and the afliftance of 
 thefe troops be again requifite, I am afraid we 
 (hall find a dangerous repugnance in them to 
 inarch, when ordered. I moil d.voutly wifh, 
 therefore, that the Congrefs will make it an object 
 to remedy this evil. Might they not recommend 
 or enjoin to the legislatures of the different fl;r 
 to appoint a committee of afleflbrs, from their 
 I to fix the prices of the iliUercnt 
 articles in their province : Whether this method 
 
 : is not proper, I cannot pretend to fay ; but 
 fomething, I mud repeat, mould be done. 
 
 wade, difficulty, and expcnce arifing from 
 a want of method in provifioning the troops, 
 when afiembled in any particular fpot, upon an 
 emergency, are fo great, that magazines ought to 
 be eftablifhed in every province, more particu- 
 larly in thofe, \\hich . it probabi- 
 
 of being attacked : by thelV . , the tro 
 will not only be better fed, but be an immcnfc 
 faving to the continent ; for the conn , . not 
 being pieiled ior time, can, at their leifurc, pur- 
 chafe every fpeeies of nee- in thcfe parts, 
 where they are beft and cheapefl ; but, v.l.cn ;i 
 great and fudden demand is m.ide, either r < 
 
 tie
 
 tie, corn, fpirits, &c. they are under a neceflity of 
 taking that which is next at hand, and giving the 
 fellers their own price* On this confideration, in 
 concurrence with the prefident and council of South 
 Carolina, I have thought it expedient to eftablifh 
 fome magazines in South Carolina, of pork, beef, 
 corn, &c. befides ftraw and whifkey, which, in thefe 
 low damp countries, are abfoliitely necefTary j at all 
 events, this eftablifliment can be no lofs to the 
 continent, as the beef and pork, at leaft, can al- 
 ways, with advantage, be exported to the Weft 
 Indies. Were I at a lefs diflance from the Con* 
 grefs, I mould not take the liberty of laying out a 
 fmgle dollar without having obtained their appro- 
 bation ; but, at this diftance, I muft aflume fuch 
 a power > or let the public affairs go to wreck, and 
 of courfe, prove myfelf totally unworthy of the 
 great truft the Congrefs have repofed in me. 
 
 I am, Gentlemen, 
 
 With the greateft refpect, 
 Your moft obedient, and 
 Very humble fervant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 
 , The Board of 
 War and Ordnance. 
 
 E e
 
 SIR, Savannah, Aug. 3Oth, 1776. 
 
 IT will be neceflary in addrefling a letter of 
 this nature, fo abruptly to your Excellency, that 
 1 fhould inform you who the writer is. I have 
 ferved as lieutenant. colonel in the Englifh fervice, 
 colonel in the Portuguefe, afterwards as aid du 
 cainp to his Polifii majefly, with the rank of ma- 
 jor general. Having purchafed a (mail eftate in 
 America, I had determined to retire, for the re- 
 dder of my days, to a peaceful afylum : when 
 the tyranny of the miniflry, and court of Great 
 Britain, forced this continent to arms, for the 
 prefcrvation of their liberties, I was called, by the 
 voice of the people, to the rank of fecond in com- 
 niand. I make no doubt of this letter's being 
 kindly received by your Excellency, both in the 
 character of a good Frenchman, and friend to 
 humanity. The prefent conjuncture of affairs 
 renders the intereft of France and of this conti- 
 nent one and the fame thing ; every obfcrvation 
 drawn from hiftory mufl evince, that it was the 
 cxclufive commerce of thefe colonies, \\hich en- 
 abled Great Britain to cope with France, gave to 
 her a decided fuperiority in marine, and, of 
 courfe, enabled her in the frequent wars betwixt 
 the two nations to reduce her rival to the laft 
 extremity. This was the cafe, fo peculiarly in the 
 laft war, that had the Britifli miniflry perfevered, 
 
 Heaven
 
 ( 419 ) 
 
 Heaven knows what would have been the fate of 
 France. It follows, that if France can obtain the 
 monopoly, or the greater part of this commerce, 
 her opulence, ftrength, and profperity, mufl grow 
 to a prodigious height ; and nothing can be 
 more certain, than that if America is enabled 
 to preferve the independence me has now de- 
 clared, the greater part of this commerce, if not 
 the monopoly, mufl fall to the (hare of France. 
 
 The imaginary plans of conqueft of Lewis the 
 Fourteenth, had they been realized, would not 
 have eflablimed the power of that monarchy, on 
 fo folid and permanent a bafis, as the fimple af- 
 fi fiance, or rather friendly intercourfe with this 
 continent, will inevitably give. Without injuftice, 
 or the colour of injuftice, but, dn the contrary, 
 only amiming the patronage of the rights of man- 
 kind, France has now in her power to become 
 not only the greatefl, but the mofl truly glorious 
 monarchy which has appeared on the flage of the 
 world. In the firft place, her pofleflions in the 
 iflands will be fecured againft all poffibility of at- 
 tack ; the Royal Revenues immenfely increafed, 
 her people eafed of their prefent burdens, an 
 eternal incitement be prefcnted to their induflry, 
 and the means of increafe by the facility of pro- 
 viding fuftenance for their families multiplied. In 
 {hort, there is no faying what degree of eminence, 
 happinefs, and glory, flie may derive from the in- 
 dependence of this continent. Some vifionary 
 E e 2 writers
 
 ( 
 
 writer! hire indeed affcrted, that couM th 
 try once fluke off her European trammel 
 uould foon become more formidable alone, from 
 the virtue and energy, natural to a young peo- 
 ple, than Great Britain with her colonies u: 
 in a (late of dependency. But the men uho 
 have butit fuch hypothefcs mud be utter (han- 
 ger* to the manners, genius, difpofition, turn of 
 mind, and circumftances of the continent. 1 
 difpofition is manifeftry to agriculture, and the 
 fimple life of (hepherds. As long as vaft traces oC 
 Und remain unoccupied, to which they can 
 colonies (if I may fo exprefr it) of their off- 
 fpring, they wiil never entertain a though- 
 marine or manufactures. Their ideas are folcly 
 confined to labour and to planting, for thofe 
 nations, who can, on the cheapeft terms, fur 
 them with the neccflary tenfils for labouring ami 
 planting, and cloatii for their fa; anJ 
 
 till the wMc raft extent of continent U full/ 
 ftocked uith people, they uill never cntci 
 another idea. 1 hit cannot be effected for age* ; 
 and what then may happen, it U out of the 
 
 to lay any flrcs upon : mod probably, I 
 
 they will be employed in wars among H th 
 fclves, before they aim at foreign conqaefts. 
 (hort, the apprchcnlion is too remote to roufc 
 jealoufy of any reasonable crttten of a foreign 
 State. On the other hand, it is worthy y 
 Excellency's attention, to confiJer what will be 
 
 the
 
 ( 4" ) 
 
 die coniequences, would Great Britain fucceed 
 in the prefent conteft. America, it is true, will be 
 \vretched and enflaved ; but a number of flaves 
 may compofe a formidable army and fleet. The 
 proximity of fituatiou, with fo great a force, en- 
 tirely at ihe difpofal of Great Britain, will put it 
 in her power to take poffeflion of your iflands on 
 the firft rupture. Without pretending to the fpi- 
 rit oi~ prophefy, fuch, I can aflert, will be the 
 event of the next war ; upon the whole, I mud 
 repeat, that it is for the interefl, as well as glory 
 of France, to furnifh us with every means of 
 fupporting our liberties, to effect, which, we only 
 demand a conftant fyftematic fupply of the necef- 
 laries of war. We do not require any aid of 
 men, we have numbers, and, I believe, courage 
 fuflicient to carry us triumphantly through the 
 (Iruggle. We require fmall arms, powder, field- 
 pieces, woollen and linen to cloath our troops ; alfo 
 drugs, particularly bark : in return for which, 
 every necefiary provifion for your iflands may be 
 expected, as rice, corn, lumber, &c. If, indeed, 
 you could fpare us a few able engineers, and ar- 
 tillery officers, they may depend upon an honour- 
 able reception and comfortable eftablifhmejtt. 
 i The Sieur de la Plain, one of your countryman, 
 now engaged in the cuufe of the United States of 
 America will have the honour of delivering this 
 letter to your Excellency. I have no doubt of 
 being received with that politenefs, and kindnefs, 
 
 E e 3 to
 
 ( 422 ) 
 
 to be expected from a gentleman of your rank 
 and character. 
 
 I am, with the highefl refpecl, 
 Your Excellency's 
 
 Moft obedient fervant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE 
 His Excellency, 
 The Governor at Cape Fraiifois, 
 
 CHARACTER OF GENERAL HOWE. 
 
 Camp at Valley- Forge, June 4th, 1778, 
 MY DEAR RUSH, 
 
 THOUGH I had no occafion for frefh aflur- 
 ances of your friendfhip, I cannot help being much 
 pleafed with the warmth which your letter, deliver- 
 ed to me by Mr. Hall, breathes; and, I hope, it is 
 unneceflary to aflure you, that my fentiments, with 
 refpecl: to you, are correfpondcnt. 
 
 You will think it odd, that I mould feem to be an 
 apologift for General Howe: I know not how it hap- 
 pens, but when I have taken prejudices in favour, 
 or againft a man, I find it a difficulty in fluking 
 
 them
 
 ( 423 ) 
 
 them oft*. From my ftrft acquaintance with Mr. 
 Howe, I liked him : I thought him friendly, can- 
 did, good natured, brave, and rather fenfible than 
 the reverfe. I believe flill, that he is naturally fo ; 
 but a corrupt, or, more properly, no education, the 
 fafhion of the times, and the reigning idolatry 
 amongft the Englifh, (particuhrly thefoldiery;) for 
 every fceptered calf y ivo/f, hog^ or #/}, have fo 
 totally perverted his understanding and heart, that 
 private friendfhip has not force fufficient to keep 
 a door open for the admittance of mercy towards 
 political heretics. He was, befides, perfuaded 
 that I was doubly criminal, both as a traitor and 
 deferter. In Ihort, fo totally was he enebriated 
 with this idea, that I am convinced he would have 
 thought himfelf both politically and morally 
 damned had he acted any other part than what he 
 did. He is, befides, the molt indolent of mortals: 
 never took farther pains to examine the merits or 
 demerits of the caufe in which he was engaged, 
 than merely to recollect, that Great Britain was 
 faid to be the mother country, George the Third 
 King of Great Britain, that the parliament was 
 called the reprefentatives of Great Britain, that the 
 King and Parliament formed the fupreme power, 
 that a fupreme power is abfolute and uncontrolable, 
 that all refiftance muft, confequently, be rebellion ; 
 but, above all, that he was a foldier, and bound 
 to obey in all cafes whatever. 
 
 Thefe are his notions, and this his logic ; but 
 
 through thefe abfurdities I could diflinguim, when 
 
 Ee 4 h<3
 
 ( 424 ) 
 
 he was left to himfelf, rays of friendiliip and good 
 nature breaking out. It is true, he was feldom 
 left to himfelf ; for never poor mortal, thruft into 
 high flation, was furroundcd by fuch fools and 
 fcoundrels. IVPKenfey, Balfour, Galloway, were 
 his counfellors : they urged him to all his ads of 
 harfhnefs j they were his fcribes : all the damned 
 fluff which was iffued to the aftonilhcd world was 
 theirs. I believe he fcarcely ever read the letters 
 he figned. You will fcarcely believe it, but I can 
 aflure you as a fact, that he never read the curious 
 proclamation, iflued at the head of Elk, till three 
 days after it was publiflied. You will fay, that 
 I am drawing my friend Howe in more ridiculous 
 colours than he has yet been reprefcnled in j but 
 this is lus real character. He is naturally good 
 humoured, complarfant, but illiterate and in- 
 dolent to the lail degree, unle($ as an executive 
 foldier, in which capacity he is all fire and activity, 
 brave and cool as Julius Civfar. His underfland- 
 ing is, as I obferved before, rather good than, 
 otherwife; but was totally confounded and ftupified 
 by the immenfity of the tafk impofed upon him. 
 He fhut his eyes, fought his battles, drank his 
 bottle, had his little whore, advifed with his coun- 
 fellors, received his orders from North and Ger- 
 main, (one more abfurd than the other,) took 
 Galloway's opinion, fhut his eyes, fought again, 
 and is now, I fuppofe, to be called to account for 
 acting according to inftructions ; but, I believe, 
 his eyes are now opened j he fees he has been an 
 
 inltrumenfc
 
 C 425 ) 
 
 inftrument of wickednefs and folly : indeed, when 
 I obferved it to him, he not only took patiently 
 the obfervation, but indirectly affented to the truth 
 of it. He made, at the fame time, as far as his 
 mauvais hcntc would permit, an apology for his 
 treatment of me. 
 
 Thus far with regard to Mr. Howe. You are 
 ftruck with the great events, changes, and new 
 characters which have appeared on the Itage 
 Once I favv you lafl ; but I am more ftruck 
 with the admirable efficacy of blunders. It 
 feemed to be a trial of ikill which party mould 
 outdo the other ; and it is hard to iay which 
 played the deepefl ftrokes ; but it was a capital 
 one of ours, which certainly gave the happy 
 furn which affairs have taken. Upon my foul, it 
 was time for Fortune to interpofe, or we were 
 inevitably loft ; but this we will talk over another 
 time. I fuppofe we mail fee one another at Phila- 
 delphia, very foon, in attendance. God blefs 
 you j 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 
 Philadelphia, Oct. joih, 177??. 
 
 WHEN it i coniulcred I hold a high rank in 
 the fervice of one of the mod reipe&able princes 
 
 of
 
 C 426 ) 
 
 of Europe ; that I have been honoured with the 
 truft of the fecond command in your army ; that 
 I have hitherto ferved, with fome reputation, as a 
 foldier ; that I now ftand charged, and have been 
 achially tried for fome of the moft heinous mili- 
 tary crimes ; and, to the aflonifhment, not only 
 of myfelf, but, I can venture to fay, of every man 
 in the army who was prefent at this court, and of 
 every man out of the army who has read the pro- 
 ceedings, found guilty of thefe crimes ; when, at 
 the fame time, I am myfelf inflexibly perfuaded, 
 that I am not only guiltlefs, but that the fuccefs of 
 the 2Sth of June ought principally, in juflice, to 
 be alcribed to me ; I fay, Sir, when thefe circuma 
 fiances are confidcrcd, it muft be allowed that my 
 preient fituation is extremely aukward; that a man 
 of my military rank, lingering in fufpence, whilft his 
 fame and fortune are fvb judlee^ is rather a difgrace- 
 ful fpeclaclc; that it is natural for him to wifli, and 
 feafonable for him torequeft, that Congrds will 
 no longer delay the final decifion of my fate. An 
 additional motive for my requeuing it is, that I 
 find Congrcfs is every day growing thinner; and, 
 1 confefs, that I could mod ardently wifh, that 
 the Congrefs was not only as complete as poflible 
 in numbers, but that if it was agreeable to the 
 rules of the Houfc, that the people at large might 
 be admitted to form an audience when the difcuf- 
 fion is entered into, of the juftice or iniquity, wif- 
 tlom or abfurditv, of the fentence which has been 
 
 pafled
 
 ( 42? ) 
 
 paffed upon me. I do now, Sir, therefore, molt 
 humbly, but, earneftly, entreat, that a day may be 
 immediately fixed for the final determination of 
 this affair. 
 
 I am, Sir, with the greateft refpect. 
 
 Your moft obedient fervant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE, 
 His Excellency 
 Henry Laurens, Fref. 
 
 MADAM, Philadelphia, Dec. 2oth, 1778. 
 
 WHEN an officer of the refpeclable rank I bear 
 is grofsly traduced and calumniated, it is incum- 
 bent on him to clear up the affair to the world, 
 with as little cjelay as poffible. The fpirit of de- 
 famation and calumny (I am forry to fay it) is 
 grown to a prodigious and intolerable height on 
 this continent. If you had accufed me of a defigu 
 to procraftinate the war, or of holding a treaibn- 
 able correfpondence with the enemy, I could have- 
 borne it : this I am ufed to ; and this happened 
 to the great Fabius Maximus. If you had ac- 
 cufed
 
 C 428 ) 
 
 cufed me of getting drunk as often as I could get 
 liquor, as two Alexanders the Great have been 
 charged with this vice, I mould, perhaps, have fat 
 patient under the imputation ; or, even if you had 
 given the plained hints, that I had itolen the fol- 
 diers* fliirts, this I tould have put up \vith, as the 
 great Duke of Mailborough \vould have been an 
 example ; or if you had contented yourfelf with 
 averting, that I was fo -abominable a ficven as 
 never to part with my Ihirt, until my ihirt parted 
 with me, the anecdotes of my illuftrious name- 
 fake of Sweden * would have adminillered fome 
 comfort if- me. But the calumny you have, iu 
 the fertility of your malicious wit, chofen to in- 
 vent, is of fo new, fo unprecedented, and fo hellifh 
 a kind, as would make Job himfelf fwear like a 
 Virginia Colonel. 
 
 O 
 
 Is it poflible that the celebrated Mifs F s f , 
 
 a lady who has had every human and divine ad- 
 vantage, who has read, (or, at lead, might have 
 read,) in the originals, the New and Old 
 Teftaments ; (though I am afraid fhe too feldom 
 looks even into the tranflations :) I fay, is it pof- 
 fible that Mifs F - - - - s, with every human and 
 divine advantage, who might, and ought to have 
 read thefe two good books, which (an old Welfii 
 nurfe, \vhofe uncle was reckoned the bed preacher 
 
 * Charles XII. 
 f This young lady was a Jc\vcfs. 
 
 in
 
 ( 429 >. 
 
 la Merionethfliire, affured me) enjoins charity, and 
 denounces vengeance againfl flander and evil fpeak- 
 ing; is it pofiible, I again repeat it, that Mifs 
 F - - - - s fhould, in the face of the day, carry her 
 malignity fo far, in the prefence of three moft 
 refpe&able perfonages ; (one of the oldefl religion 
 in the world, one of the neweft ; for he is a new- 
 light man ; and the other, mofl probably, of no 
 religion at all, as he is an Englifli failor ;) but, 
 I demand it again and again, is it poffible, that 
 Mifs F - - - - s mould aflert it, in the prefence of 
 thefe refpe&able perfonages, " That I wore green 
 breeches patched with leather?" To convict you, 
 therefore, of the falfehood of this mofl diabolical 
 ilander ; to put you to eternal filence, (if you are 
 not paft all grace,) and to cover you with a much 
 larger patch of infamy than you have wantonly 
 endeavoured to fix on my breeches, I have 
 thought proper, by the advice of three very grave 
 friends, (lawyers and members of Congrefs, of 
 courfe excellent judges in delicate points of ho- 
 nour,) to fend you the faid breeches, and, with 
 the confcioufnefs of truth on my fide, to fubmit 
 them to the moft fevere infpedion and fcrutiny 
 of you and all thofe who may have entered into 
 this wicked cabal againfl my honour and reputa- 
 tion. I fay, I dare you, and your whole junto, to 
 your word : turn them, examine them, infide and 
 outfide, and if you find them to be green breeches 
 patched with leather, and not actually legitimate 
 
 Jherry
 
 C 43 ) 
 
 f.crry mUics *, fuch as his Majefly of Poland 
 wears, (who, let me tell you, is a man that has 
 made more faftiions than all your knights of the 
 Mefchianza f put together, notwithftanding their 
 beauties :) I repeat it, (though I urn almoft out of 
 breath with repetitions and parcmhefes,) that it 
 thefe are proved to be patched green breeches, and 
 not real legitimate merry vallies, (which a man of 
 the firft ben ton might be proud of,) I will fubmit 
 in filence to all the fcuriility which, I have no 
 doubt, you and your abettors are prepared to 
 pour out againft me, in the public papers, on this 
 important and interefting occafion. But, Madam ! 
 Madam ! reputation (as " Common Senfe," very 
 fuifibly, though not very uncommonly obferves J 
 is a feiious thing. You have already injured me 
 in the tendereft part, and I demand fatisfaction ; 
 and as you cannot be ignorant of the laws of duel- 
 ling, having converfed with fo many Irifh officers, 
 \vhofe favourite topic it is, particularly in the 
 company of ladies, I infill on the privilege of the 
 injured party, which is, to name his hour and 
 weapons ; and as I intend it to be a very fcrious 
 affair, will not admit of any feconds ; and you 
 
 * A kind of long 1 o the ancle, with a 
 
 broad flripe of leather on the infule of the thi^h, for the con- 
 veniency of riding. 
 
 j* An entertainment given by Ger.CTal Howe juit before the 
 evacuation of Philadelphia; at winch were introduced Tilt ; and 
 in favour ui the ladies, of whom Mifs F was one, 
 
 may
 
 ( 43* ) 
 
 may depend upofl it, Mifs F s, that what- 
 ever may be your fpirit on the occalion, the world 
 fhall never accufe General L - - with having turned 
 his back upon you. In the mean time, 
 
 I am, 
 
 Yours, 
 
 C. L - -. 
 
 JMifs F s, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 P. S. I have communicated the affair only to 
 my confidential friend , who has men- 
 tioned it to no more than feven members of Con- 
 grefs and nineteen women, fix of whom are old 
 maids ; fo that there is no danger of its taking 
 wind on my fidej and, I hope, you will be equally 
 guarded on your part. 
 
 MADAM, Philadelphia, Jan, 28th, 1779. 
 
 NOTHING has happened to me of late, that 
 has given me more concern than the ferious light 
 in winch I am told you are perfuaded to confider 
 the harmlefs jocjular letter I wrote to you ; I fay, 
 perfuaded to confider ; for, on the firft receipt of 
 it, when you were dire&ed alone by your own 
 
 excellent
 
 ( 432 ) 
 
 *"xcellent undemanding, you cbnceived it as it 
 \tas meant, an innocent jeu d'cfprit. 
 
 1 do not mean to compliment, when I aflfure 
 you, upon my honour, that it was the good opi- 
 nion I had of your underdanding which encou- 
 raged me to indulge myfelf in this piece 
 of raillery, which is, in efFe>, not in the leaft 
 directed againft you, but againfl: myfelf and fome 
 
 _TS ; if it contains any fatire, you are ob- 
 vioufly the vehicle, not the objeft. 
 
 My acquaintance with you is too flcnder to 
 
 o any liberties \\ hich border on familiarity ; and 
 I had been taught to believe, that the liberality 
 of your mind and difpofition, would be pleafed 
 with any effort to make you laugh for a moment 
 in theie melancholy times. Upon the word of an 
 honefl man, if I had thought a fmgle fentence of 
 this trafh could have given you uneafmefs, I would 
 fooner have put my hand into the fire than have 
 written it. Thank God, I have not that petulant 
 itch of fcribbling, and vain ambition of patting 
 for a wit, as to 
 
 Give virtue fcr.ndal, innocence a fear, 
 Or from the foft-cy'd virgin Heal a tear. 
 
 And, to fpeak my real thoughts, I am thoroughly 
 perfuaded, that you muft fufier yourfelf to be 
 biafled by people infinitely your inferiors in ca- 
 pacity ; and if you really are offended by what 
 nobody, who is not below mediocrity in under- 
 
 (landing,
 
 ( 433 ) 
 
 ftanding, can miftake for any thing but an harm- 
 lefs joke, founded on the good opinion of the 
 perfon to whom it is addrefTed, I confefs I have 
 been much deceived in you. I muft:, therefore, 
 think, that by confulting yourfelf alone, you will 
 confider it in its proper light, and believe . me to 
 t>e, with the greatefl refpect, 
 
 Madam, 
 
 Your moft obedient, 
 And very humble fervant, 
 
 To 
 
 Mifs F s, 
 
 Philadelphia, 
 
 MY DEAR SISTER, Prato Rio, Sept. 24th, 1779. 
 
 I HAVE juft received your letter of January 
 the 3d : I know not whether you have received 
 them, but in the courfe of this and the lafl year, I 
 wrote you two letters, informing you fully of my 
 health and fpirits ; the two points which, from 
 your natural tendernefs and affection, I knew you 
 muft be mod felicitous about ; they have both, 
 thank Heaven, and the good conflitution we re- 
 
 F f ceived
 
 cd from our father and mother, never failed 
 a fingie day ; and until I am confcious of having 
 committed fome unwoithy action, *hich, 1 can 
 aflure you, is not at prefent the cafe, the iniquity of 
 men mall never bear me down. I have, it is true, 
 uneafy fniiBji,i i but not on my own perfonal ac- 
 count. I feel for the emp.re of Great Britain, I 
 feel for the fortunes of my relations and frier 
 which mufi receive a dreadful (hock in this great 
 convulfion. As to my perfond honour, for I fup- 
 pofe you allude to the affair of uih, all I 
 
 ihall fay is, that as I belie proceedings of 
 
 the court have been fent to England, and as 
 hare eyes to read, and capacity : anci make 
 
 proper comments, I may be qui:e eafy on the 
 lubjea. 
 
 What has not our quondam friend Gage to 
 anfwer for ? I laboured, at B* , to 
 
 open his eyes, and he treated i: . rhe 
 
 efiecU of republican infar.iiy. Had he liftened to 
 me, the empire of Greu BirainwouK} 
 the aaWtions and allegiance cf this great people 
 continued for ages. He is, in fad, anfwer- 
 able for the fubverfton of the Britifti empire, and 
 for the blood of, at leaft, one hundred the aland 
 
 ^liihmen, or the :endam? 
 
 gliihmen. I fancy too, by this time, Lord Piercy 
 and General Burgoyne lament that they considered 
 my letters as the ebullition of madncfs or fadion. 
 But as iny letter muft be opened before it reaches 
 
 >
 
 ( 435 ) 
 
 vbu, any thing like politics mufl. be improper. 
 God blefs you, my dear lifter. My love to the 
 fownfhends, Hurt?, Bur.buiy?, Mrs. Hinks, : 
 the P 
 
 Your'ij moft afFecticnately, 
 
 IARLE5 LEE. 
 
 Sidney Le?. 
 Chefter. 
 
 DEAI SISTEI, Virginia, June d, i - 
 
 THE other day, by a kind ad of Proridence, 
 a letter of yours fell into my hands, of fo late date 
 as the 2cth or" March, and what is more, it had the 
 appearance of never having been opened. You trill 
 better conceive* than I can exprefs, the pleafure 
 which I received from it ; for I affure you, that 
 my American enthufialm is at prefent fo far Trom 
 off", that the greateft fetisfacrJon I can recdre. 
 to be informed of the health and welfare of my 
 EngOOi friends, who, with all their political 
 corruptions and follies, ftill poffefs more virtues, 
 at lead ?,$ individuals, than all the nations of the 
 
 : 2
 
 to the Americans, though I onctf 
 thought othenvife, \vhen their characters are im- 
 partially and minutely difcuffed, I am fure they 
 will appear not onlv deftitme of the perfonal vir- 
 tues and good qualities which render thole they 
 defcended from fo eftimable in the e\ es of other 
 
 ions, fuch as truth, honeilv, fmcerity, and 
 good underftanding ; hut, I am much miftaken, 
 if the great public qualities which YOU at a diftancc 
 fuppofe them to be endowed with, will ftand a 
 fcrutiny ; but a fcrutiny of thi- in a letter, 
 
 is not poflible : all that I mail fay is, that, the New 
 
 ;!<md-men excepted, the reft of the Americans, 
 though the- .ad cadLtheatfelves republicans, 
 
 j not a fingle republican qualification or idea. 
 They have always a god of the day, \vhofe infalli- 
 bility is not to be difputed : to him all the people 
 muft bow down and fmg Hofannas. 
 
 You are curious, my d.ar filter, on the fubject 
 of my finances, and are defirous to know whether 
 thefe people, to whom I have facrihced every thing, 
 have fhewn the fame black ingratitude with re- 
 fpecl to my circumtlances as they have in other 
 
 'ten* ; I can afiure you, then, that their actions 
 are all of a piece. Was it not for the friendmip 
 of Mr. Robert Morris and a fortunate purchafe 
 I made, more by luck than cunning, I might 
 have begged in the ftreets, but without much 
 chance of being relieved ; not but that, to be juft, 
 there are many exceptions to the general character 
 
 of
 
 ( 437 ) 
 
 of the Americans, both in and out of the army, 
 and I think the greater number are of the lar 
 clafs, men of fome honour, and who, I believe, have, 
 from the beginning, acted on principle ; and all 
 thefe I may, \vithout vanity, fay, have been my 
 friends and advocates. Among the worthies of 
 America I reckon Mr. Robert Morris of Philadel- 
 phia ; Richard Henry Lee of Virginia ; Adams 
 and Lovel, and fome others of New England ; the 
 Morris's of New-York; and Dr. Rufh of Philadel- 
 phia. In the army there are many worthy to be 
 mentioned, Generals Schuyler, Miflin, Sullivan, 
 Muhlenburgh, Wayne, \Veedon, Green, Knox, 
 &ft 
 
 I have been particularly fortunate in my aid du 
 camps all young gentlemen of the beft families, 
 fortunes, and education of this continent ; but 
 above all, I mould mention young Colonel Harry 
 Lee, who has fignalized himfelf extremely in this 
 accurfed contell, the ruinous confequences of 
 which to the whole empire, I predicted to Lord 
 Piercy and to my friend General Burgoyne. To 
 do the Americans juftice, they certainly were not 
 the aggreiTors, but the retrofpect now is of no ufe. 
 In all civil contefts the people, in general, have 
 not been the aggreiTors; they only wiih to defend, 
 not to encroach. The monarchs or magnates 
 generally commence by their oppreifions. Wit- 
 nefs the difputes betwixt the patricians and the 
 plebeians of Rome, and our wa r s in the time of 
 
 Ch
 
 Charles the Firft - r but the people in the contefl 
 lorget the principles on which they fet out, which 
 ultimately brings deftrudion on both parties ; 
 and this I extremely apprehend will be the cafe at 
 prefent. I fhall now quit the labyrinths- of politics , 
 and return to the fubjed of my own finances. 
 Mr. Mure has ufed me moil cruelly and villain- 
 ouily ; notwithflanding the vaft fums he owes me 5 
 he has protefted a bill of three hundred pounds, 
 which has thrown me into unfpeakable diftrefs. 
 He has afteded a delicacy in honouring the bills of 
 a rebel ; but if he will coniult the proclamation 
 of Sir Henry Clinton, in the year feventy eight, 
 he will iind that I am exempted from the appre- 
 hcnfion of confifcarion by the terms of this procla- 
 mation, which declares, That no man, from the 
 date hereof, whr; does not pofitively ad in a civil 
 or military rapacity, is fubjed to the confifcation 
 of his properly ; bur as I have reafon to think 
 that the man will avail himfelf of every chicane, 
 when money is in the cafe, 1 mud entreat that 
 you will urge Sir Charles Bunbury and Davers 
 endeavour to influence him, at lead to furnifh 
 Mr. Garton, for my ufe, with rive, four, or at leaft 
 three hundred pounds until the conteft is over, 
 and the law, according to the terms of peace, tells 
 us what is to be done ; but, at any rate, he, Mr. 
 Mure, can have no claim as an individual to my 
 ortune : he mud account for it to fomebody. 
 I am cxU'cuujly concerned at the crabarafiment 
 
 our
 
 ( 439 ) 
 
 our coufm S gives you with regard to tlie 
 
 legacy, but it is the very error of the moon ; fhe 
 comes more near the earth than fhe was wont 
 to do, and makes men mad. Is my worrhieft 
 friend Butler alive, and amongft you ? If he is, 
 a thoufand bleffings, in my name, on his head. 
 Ood Almighty, my dear fitter, give you long life, 
 eafe, and fpirits, is devoutly the wifh of 
 
 Your mo.fi: affectionate brother, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 CONSISTING OF 
 
 'Communicated to the Editor fince the Publication of the Firfi 
 Edition. 
 
 J- HE American Congrefs having appointed 
 General Lee to the rank of Major-General of the 
 Continental Army, he ai rived in that capacity at 
 the American camp before Bofton, early in the 
 month of July, 1775. Upon this occasion, the 
 Congrefs of MafTachufetts Bay prefented to him 
 the following addrefs : 
 
 To the Hon. CHARLES LEE, Efq. Major -General 
 
 of the Continental army. 
 SIR, 
 
 THE Congrefs of the Maflachufetts Colony, 
 pofiefled of the fulleft evidence of your attach- 
 ments to the rights of mankind, and regard to 
 Gg the
 
 ( 440 ) 
 
 the diftrefles which America in general, and thi* 
 colony in particular, are involved in, by the im- 
 politic, wicked, and tyrannous fyftem adopted by 
 adminiitration, and purfued with rclentlels and 
 lavage fury, do, with pleaiure, embrace this op- 
 portunity to exprefs the great latisfaclion and 
 gratitude they feel on your appointment as a 
 Major-General in the American army. 
 
 We iincerely congratulate you on your fafe ar- 
 rival here, and \\ilh you all poflible happinefsand 
 luccefs in the execution of ib important a trull. 
 \Ve ailmire and rcfncft the character of a man, 
 who, difregarding the allurements of profit anil 
 diftih&ion his merits might procure, engages in 
 the caufe of mankind, in defence of the injured, 
 and relief of the opprdfed. From your character, 
 Irom your great abilities and military experience, 
 united with thole of the Commander in Chief, 
 under the fmiles of Providence, we flatter our- 
 fclves with the profpcdl of difcipline and order, 
 fuccefs and victory. 
 
 Be allured, Sir, that it will give us great plea- 
 fure to be able to contribute to your happinefs. 
 May the favours and blellings of Heaven attend 
 you ! May divine Providence guard and protect 
 you conduct you in the paths of honour and 
 virtue grant you the rewards of the brave and 
 virtuous the applaufes of mankind, and the ap- 
 probation of your own confcience and eternal 
 happinefs hereafter. 
 
 HIS
 
 HIS HONOUR'S ANSWER. 
 
 Ta tie Gentlemen of tie Provincial Congrefs of 
 Majfacbufetts. 
 
 GENTLEMEN, 
 
 NOTHING can be fo flattering to me a* the 
 good opinion and approbation of the Delegates of 
 a free and un>_orrupt people. I was educated in 
 the higheft reverence for the rights of mankind, 
 and have acquired by a long acquaintance a moft 
 particular regard for the people of America. You 
 may depend therefore, Gentlemen, on my zeal 
 and integrity I can promife you nothing from 
 my abilities. God Almighty grant us fuccefs 
 equal to the righ'teoufnefs of the caufe ! I 
 thank you, Gentlemen, for an addrefs which does 
 me fo much honour, and fhall labour to deferve 
 it. 
 
 In the year following, that is, in the year 1776, 
 the Continental Congrefs had entertained fo high 
 an opinion of General Lee's conduct and fervices, 
 that on the 2Oth of July, 17/6, it was in Congrefs 
 refolved, That the thanks of the United States 
 of America be given to Major-General Lee, Col. 
 William Moultrie, Col. William Thompfon, and 
 the Officers and Soldiers under their commands, 
 who, on the 28th of June laft, repulfed with ib 
 much valour the attack which was that day made 
 on the State of South Carolina, by the fleet and 
 army of his Britannic Majefty. 
 
 G g 2 That
 
 ( 442 ) 
 
 That Mr. Preiident tranfrnit the foregoing ref- 
 lation to General Lee, Col. Moultrie, and Col.. 
 Thompfon. 
 
 By order of Congrefs, 
 
 JOHN HANCOCK, Prefidcnt, 
 
 'till of a Letter from the ]1<m. ,11? n FItnn-f>ck, 
 Prejident of the Continental Congrefs 9 : 
 General Lee, dated Philadelphia t July 22, 1776. 
 
 " Vccept, therefore, Sir, the thanks of the In- 
 dependent States of America, unanimoufly de- 
 clared by their Delegates to be due to you, and the 
 brave Officers and Troops under your command, 
 \vho repulfed with fo much valour the attack made 
 on the State of South Carolina, on the 28th of 
 June, by the fleet and army of his Bri tan nick 
 ; and be plea led to communicate to them 
 this diftinguiihed mark of the approbation of 
 their country the molt valuable tribute which a 
 free people can ever beftow, or a generous mind 
 willi to receive, the juft tribute of gratitude for 
 rendering important ierviccs to an opprelfeci 
 country." 
 
 /'/. 1 1. On Monday laft General 
 ; ved from Georgia, and immediately fet out 
 for the northward. In orders of the 9th 1m 
 was plcaled to fignify his approba- 
 tion of the conduct of our troops in the follo\\ - 
 
 terms : 
 
 " General Lee thinks it his duty, before his 
 
 .irture, to exprcfs the high fenfe he entertain- 
 
 >i the conduct and behaviour of the Colonels 
 
 and
 
 and Officers of the battalions of South Carolina,, 
 both as gentlemen and foldiers ; and begs leave 
 
 O O 
 
 to allure them, that he thinks himfelf obliged ta 
 report their merits to the Continental Congrefs." 
 
 The following is a copy of General Lee's laft 
 letters to the American Congrefs. Letters written 
 in the fituation that General Lee then was, can- 
 not fail to be interrefling. 
 
 ILxtrafts from the Journal of the American Con* 
 grefs, Monday, Jan. 10, 1780. 
 
 A letter was read, figned Charles Lee, but not 
 in his own hand-writing, in the words following : 
 
 SIR, Berkeley County. 
 
 " I underftand that it is in contemplation of 
 Congrefs, on the principles of oeconomy, to ftrike 
 me out of their fervice. Congrefs muft know 
 very little of me, if they fuppofe that I would 
 accept of their money, fince the confirmation of 
 the wicked and infamous fentence which was 
 pafled upon me. I am, Sir, 
 
 Your moft obedient fervant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 
 " P. S. Excufe my not writing in my owa 
 hand, as it is wounded." 
 
 Superfcribed, 
 
 " To the Plon. Prefident of 
 Congrefs, Philadelphia." 
 
 A motion was made by Mr. M'Clene, fe- 
 conded by Mr, Penn, Tiiat Major-general 
 
 Charles
 
 ( 444 ) 
 
 Charles Lee he informed, that Congrefs hare no 
 her occa.ion lor his icrviccs in the armies of 
 Uniteil States." 
 
 A m.jtion was made by Mr. M'Kean, feconded 
 by Mr. Livingfton, " That tiie conlideration of 
 the motion be pofrponed ;" on which the yeas 
 and nays were required, and it palled in the 
 negative, 
 
 ():i the qucftion to agree to the main queftion, 
 the yeas and nays xvere required, and it was re- 
 folved in the afTirmati\ 
 
 r,/,/v, 7v/>. 12, 1780. A letter from Gene- 
 ral Lee was read, in the words following : 
 
 Berk '. -y, Jan. 30, j;8o. 
 " SIR, 
 
 *' I \\.\\ F, this day received your letter, with 
 my diirniHion from the lervice of the United 
 States ; nor can I complain of it as an acl of 
 injuftice; t!ic ' relpect is indifputably 
 
 due to every public body of men, and above 
 all, to thofe who are the rcprefentatives, and 
 the fame time the legiflaturc of a FRF.F, 
 nd I in^i nuoully confefs, that the 
 note which I dictated w;-.i io far from being dref- 
 ;n terms properly refj)rrtiul, thar they were 
 liighly improper, difrefpeciful, and even contu- 
 macious. But although I do not mean to jufrify 
 the meafure, I flatter myfelf I mall be able to 
 t xtenuate the offcnfivcncfs, by relating the cir- 
 i umftances which gave birth to it. I unfortu- 
 nately, Sir, received letters from two friends, 
 
 whofe
 
 ( 445 ) 
 
 whofe zeal for my fervice was greater then theft" 
 intelligence was authentic, informing me that the 
 lame men, who by art and management had 
 brought about, in a thin Houfe, the confirma- 
 tion of the abfurd and iniquitous fentence of the 
 court martial, were determined to purfue the 
 matter ftill further, and on the pretence of ceccr- 
 nomv, to make a motion for the final removal of 
 
 j ' 
 
 me from the army, as an incumbrance. It hap- 
 pened, that at the very moment thefe letters came 
 to my hands I was very much indifpofed, fo as 
 not to be able to write myfelf, and at the fame time 
 my horfes were at the door to carry me down the 
 country, where buiinefs called me. The bodily 
 pain I was in, joined to the mifinformation I re- 
 ceived, ruffled my temper beyond all bounds, 
 and the neceffity of fetting out immediately pre-- 
 vented me giving myfelf time to coniider of the 
 propriety or impropriety of what I -was about ; 
 and thus thefe two circumftances concurring, 
 gave birth to the note which I dictated, which 
 no man can more iincerely reprobate than I dc 
 myfelf, and for which I moft iincerely beg pardon 
 of the Congrefs. But, Sir, I muft intreat, that 
 in thus acknowledging the impropriety and inde- 
 corum of my conduit in this affair, it may not 
 be tuppofed I mean to court a reftoration to the 
 rank I held ; fo far from it, that I do allure them, 
 had not this incident fallen out, I fhould have 
 requefted Congrefs to have accepted of my reilg- 
 narion, as, from obvious reafons, vvhilft the 
 
 army
 
 ( 446 ) 
 
 army is continued in its prefent circumftances, I 
 could not have ferved with fafety and dignity. 
 
 " My prefent acknowledgments, therefore, 
 of the impropriety and indecorum of the meafure 
 I furFered myfclf to be hurried into, and my lub- 
 miflion, without a complaint, to the confequent 
 decifion of Congrefs, will, I hope, be attributed 
 to the real motive, the conviction of having 
 !ly done wrong. I fhall now, Sir, conclude 
 with wifh'mg that Congrels may rind many fervants 
 ready to make as great fieri rices as I have made, 
 and pofll-Hed with the fame degree of zeal for 
 their fervice as has from the beginning governed 
 all my actions ; but with the good fortune never, 
 by one act of imprudence, to incur their dif- 
 pleafure : and I can, without arrogance, afiert, 
 on felf-cxamination, that this is the only ftep in 
 the whole line of my conduct which could juftly 
 furnifh matter of offence to that honourable 
 body. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 With the greateft refpcft, 
 
 Your molt obedient, 
 
 .Humble fervant, 
 
 CHARLES LEE." 
 " To His Excellency the Prefident 
 of Congrefs."
 
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