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REMARKS

"REPRINT OF THE ORIGINAL LETTERS

WASHINGTON TO JOSEPH EEED,

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION,

REFERRED TO

IN THE PAMPHLETS OF LOED MAHON AND ME. SPAEKS."

By JARED SPARKS.

BOSTON:
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY.
1853.

CAMBRIDGE:
METOALF AND COMPANY, PRINTERS TO TEE DNIVERSITT.

REMARKS.

So much has already been written concerning
the manner in which certain portions of " Wash
ington's Writings " were edited, that perhaps those,
who have bestowed attention upon the subject, may
think nothing more is necessary to enable them to
form a proper judgment of the case. I have no
disposition to protract the controversy by reviving
discussions, that may seem to have been exhausted.
In my " Reply to the Strictures of Lord Mahon and
Others," and in a subsequent " Letter to Lord Ma
hon," it has been my aim to state facts without dis
guise, to explain the principles by which I have
been guided, and to vindicate myself from errone
ous charges and injurious suspicions, without cen
suring the opinions entertained by others on the
general points at issue, or attempting to establish
my own by arguments.
The task of an editor in preparing for the press

confidential letters, which the writer never intended
should meet the public eye, is delicate and difficult.
I felt the full difficulty of this task in regard to a
few of Washington's letters. In fact, it was a ques
tion of serious import, and requiring much delib
eration, whether such letters should be published
at all. I had no doubt, however, at the time, nor
have I any now, that, if they were to be published,
it was the editor's duty to revise them with care,
and to make such corrections as his judgment and
feeling of responsibility should dictate. That this
duty was performed in the best manner it could have
been done, I shall be the last to affirm. Whether
I was too scrupulous or too precise in some in
stances, or negligent and inconsiderate in others,
may safely be left to the decision of those, who are
willing to examine with calmness, and judge with
candor. I claim only to have been actuated by dis
interested motives, and to have followed my unbi
assed convictions. Moreover, the subject in its de
tails is one, upon which almost any two minds,
viewing it under different aspects, may be led to
form conflicting opinions.
But all the particulars touching this point, the
rules which I adopted, and the reasons for them,
are so largely explained in the introductory parts
of the work, and in the more recent discussions,
that I shall forbear to add any thing further on
this occasion.

My present purpose relates to a different topic.
It is wTell known that the animadversions of the
critics, who have found so much to censure in my
editorial decisions, have been directed chiefly to
some ten or twelve private letters from Washing
ton to Joseph Reed, written in the first year of the
war. These letters were strictly confidential ; no
copy of any of them was retained by Washington;
nor did he preserve the answers. In " Washing
ton's Writings" these letters were printed from
copies of the originals, which latter were furnished
to me by their possessor, Mr. William B. Reed,
who afterwards printed them in his " Life of Jo
seph Reed." It was discovered that occasional dis
crepances existed between the two printed texts ;
and these are the materials which have afforded so
fruitful a theme for the ingenious and severe com
ments of the critics.
Mr. Reed has lately reprinted these letters in a
separate volume, placing the variations side by side,
in parallel columns. In pursuing this course, as
he informs the reader, he has been " actuated by a
sense of duty to all parties," and a desire to ren
der justice to Lord Mahon, to himself, and to me.
If an act of injustice had been committed, however
inadvertently or from whatever cause, it was cer
tainly right that every ground of complaint on this
score should be removed. Alluding to his former

work, Mr. Reed says, " I printed the Washington
letters from the originals, the only variations being
occasional corrections of grammar and spelling, and
the omission of one or two sentences, evidently the
result of oversight on my part." Yet he adds in
another place, " At the time of their publication
I had no doubt that it was my duty to print them
exactly as they were written." It happened, how
ever, as indicated by himself in this reprint, that
there were frequent variations from the originals in
his printed text, occasioned either by " corrections
of grammar and spelling," or by accidental mis
takes. The remarkable omission, by which Lord Ma
hon and other writers were led to prefer against
me the heavy and unjust charge of making addi
tions to Washington's text, was, in its consequen
ces, the most important of these mistakes.* An
other, not less important in itself, and scarcely less
so in regard to the animadversions of which it was
the cause, remained a mystery till it was explained
by this reprint. Washington, giving a reason why

* Washington had written, "Is it possible that any sensible nation
upon earth can be imposed upon by such u. cobweb scheme, or gauze cov
ering? " And it thus appeared in " Washington's Writings." But by
some accident the passage in italics was omitted in Mr. Reed's text ;
and hence it was inferred that this passage had been " manufactured "
by me.

he had been prevented from showing all the civil
ities he desired to show to gentlemen in Massachu
setts while his head-quarters were at Cambridge,
adds, as printed by me, " If this has given rise to
the jealousy, I can only say that I am sorry for it."
In Mr. Reed's text it was printed, "I can not say
that I am sorry for it." As it was taken for grant
ed by the critics, that Mr. Reed's text was right,
and mine wrong, they urged with no little acrimo
ny, that I had changed the language and perverted
the sense, making Washington express a sentiment
on a delicate point directly opposite to the one he
intended; and it was ominously inferred, that, if I
would take such a liberty in one case, I might do
the same anywhere and everywhere, from the begin
ning to the end of the work. It turns out, how
ever, that I had printed the words correctly.
These mistakes in Mr. Reed's text were unques
tionably the result of accident, and it would have
been kind in him, if, the moment he saw the com
ments upon them in the public journals, he had
communicated through the same channels a few
words of explanation, especially as he was the only
person who had the means of doing it, and as the
misapprehension had arisen from inadvertences of
his own. This would have saved Lord Mahon from
the error of making, and the awkwardness of re
tracting, an unfounded charge ; it would have saved

8

me from much obloquy, which flowed from the pens
of writers, who seemed not reluctant to seize such
an opportunity for the exercise of their critical sa
gacity, and for expressing their indignant astonish
ment; it would have saved the public from misap
prehensions and false suspicions.
Another error in Mr. Reed's text, now first cor
rected in this reprint, likewise exposed me to cen
sure. Washington had written, on a certain occa
sion, that he did not consider it " expedient to coun
termand the raising of the Connecticut regiments on
account of the pay," and it was so printed by me.
In Mr. Reed's work the word Continental appeared
instead of Connecticut, and it was again inferred
that I had deliberately perverted the truth of his
tory by assigning to the Connecticut troops what
was intended to be applied to those of the Conti
nental army.
Again, few themes, of so little significance, have
been more amply discussed than the phrase " Old
Put," used in one of Washington's letters. It here
comes forward under an aspect somewhat new. Mr.
Reed says, " It is printed ' Old Put ' in my book,
as a quotation. Hence it has been assumed that
Washington so used it. On reference, now, how
ever, to the original, I find it written without the
quotation marks." As Mr. Reed's text was relied
on, the assumption of its accuracy was not unnat-

9

ural. It happens, however, that the error on his
part is of very little moment in its bearing on the
question, since the letter to which Washington was
writing an answer contained the phrase, and he
evidently adopted it from that source. This con
viction at the time may have induced Mr. Reed to
add the quotation marks, or they may have crept
in by some accident.
But enough has heretofore been said respecting
the letters of this class ; that is, the letters of which
Mr. Reed possesses the originals, and of which
Washington retained no copies. My present object
is mainly to notice another class of letters ; those
to Joseph Reed printed by me from the Letter-
Books. Mr. Reed observes, " I have thought it best to
reprint every one of the letters, which have been
selected by Mr Sparks, even when he copied, not
from the originals, but from the Letter-Books, in
order to show, as a mere matter of literary curi
osity, how far they differ." Here Mr. Reed mis
takes in saying that he has reprinted " every one "
of the letters copied by me from the Letter-Books.
In reality he has taken but about half of them.
The whole number derived from that source is more
than twenty. He reprints only ten as having been
compared with the copies in the Letter-Books.
His method is to divide the page into two par-
2

10
allel columns, printing in one of them the text of
the original letter, and placing in the other the
variations exhibited by the same letter as printed
in "Washington's Writings." "In this way," he
says, " an accurate judgment may be formed of the
real extent of the alterations." If he had written
variations instead of alterations, this statement would
have been more accurate, but even then, as applied
to this class of letters, it would have led to a de
ceptive conclusion. By the way in which the texts
are compared, it is left to be inferred that every
change from the originals as printed by Mr. Reed
has been made by me. The initial of my name is
prefixed to each separate variation, whether con
sisting of a single word or more. As the matter
stands, no reader would suspect that any of these
variations are to be ascribed to the differences be
tween the originals and the copies in the Letter-
Books, from which the text in " Washington's Writ
ings " was printed ; or, if such a suspicion should
arise, the reader would have no means of deciding
which particular variations are chargeable to the
Letter-Books, and which to me.
I cannot but regard this mode of comparison,
however well intended, as exhibiting the case under
a deceptive aspect, and as placing to my account
numerous alterations for which I am in no decree
responsible, and which are plainly nothing more

11

nor less than discrepances between the originals
and the Letter-Books. It is true, in the instance
of a single letter (December 12th, 1778), Mr. Reed
says in a note, " The text of the original and the
Letter-Book certainly do not agree literally"; but
he does not furnish the reader with any guide by
which the disagreements can be detected ; and each
one is marked by the initial of my name, although
sixteen in that particular letter are chargeable to
the Letter-Book, and not to any editorial discretion
or indiscretion on my part.
Under these circumstances, I have felt it to be a
duty, not as " a matter of literary curiosity," but as
an act of justice to myself, to revise this branch of
the subject, and endeavor to place it in a light by
which the facts of the case may be more clearly
perceived and understood. I have accordingly taken
pains to procure exact transcripts from the Letter-
Books, and to compare them with Mr. Reed's re
print from the originals, for the purpose of ascer
taining in what particulars they differ. To these I
propose to call the reader's attention.
Speaking of omissions, Mr. Reed says, " The only
safe rule seems to be that which was adopted by
Chief Justice Marshall long ago. I have before
me an unpublished letter from him to the printer
of his Life of Washington in 1804, in answer to
an urgent request for the suppression of a passage

12

calculated to give pain to living persons. The re
quest was assented to, but explicit direction given
to mark the fact that a passage was omitted."
Whatever direction he may have given to the
printer, as to this particular passage, it would be
difficult to find a mark indicating the omission ;
and still more difficult to prove, that, in practice,
he adopted any such rule as the one here men
tioned. All the evidence would tend to establish
the contrary. In his work are many selections
from Washington's letters, some of them of con
siderable length, and in the midst of them are fre
quent omissions of paragraphs and sentences. In
no instance, it is believed, can any mark or other
indication be discovered, which intimates an omis
sion. I shall produce a few examples illustrative
of this fact ; and also a few others, showing the
kind of editorial revision which Judge Marshall
bestowed upon the manuscript selections in pre
paring them for the press.
In the first place, I shall present the parallel
passages in which discrepances occur between Mr.
Reed's originals and the same letters as recorded
in the Letter-Books. It is here to be observed,
that all the passages from the Letter-Books accord
with the text printed by me in " Washington's
Writings," except the variations mentioned in the
notes.

13

Text as printed by Me. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books.

Having no idea of its being
a private letter, much less
suspecting the tendency of
the correspondence, I opened
it, as I had done all letters
to you from the same place
and Peck's Sill, upon the
business of your office —
— sincerely wish your la
bors may be crowned with the
desired success.*

November 30th, 1776.
Having no idea of its being
a private letter, much less
suspecting the tendency of
the correspondence, I opened
it, as I had done all other
letters to you from the same
place and PeeksMll, upon the
business of your office —
— sincerely wish that your
labors may be crowned with
the desired success.

There is another considera
tion with me. Congress per
haps at this instant are delib
erating on an answer to give
the Commissioners to an ad
dress they have received from
them. Should a letter there
fore from a member, (in which
light you will be considered)
hold out sentiments different
from theirs, an unfavorable
use will doubtless be made of
it.

June 15th, 1778.
There is another considera
tion which iveighs with me.
Congress, at this instant per
haps, are deliberating on an
answer to give the Commis
sioners to the address which
they have received from them.
Should your letter, therefore,
(considered as coming from a
member) contain sentiments
repugnant to theirs, an unfa
vorable use, more than prob
ably, will be made of it.f

* This letter Mr. Reed " prints from the Letter-Book." In two short
sentences there are three errors, being two omissions, and a wrong
name of a place, which latter is important ; thus showing the diffi
culty of securing verbal accuracy in printing from copies of manu
scripts, even when the attention is directed to that point alone.
f The above is an exact transcript from the Letter-Book, and is pre
cisely as printed by me, except the following transposition. The words,
"are deliberating on an answer to give the Commissioners to the ad-

14

Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books.
November 27th 1778.*

— for he was instructed to
collect —
I have ordered an mquiry
into his conduct on this occa
sion. — the infamous practice of
forestalling, and the engross
ing such articles —
— which by these practices
comes to it thro? the hands of
these people —
— by accumulating the
quantum necessary for ordi
nary purposes to an enormous
sum —
— we are not to expect
that the path will be strewed
with flowers —
As my letter to Congress
of this date has carried a full
account of the cantonment of
the troops, and other matters
of public concernment, I have
no need to repeat them to you
as an individual member.
— the committee of ar
rangement will perfect the

— as he was instructed to
collect —
I have ordered an inquiry
into his conduct on that occa
sion. — the infamous practice
of forestalling and engrossing
such articles —
— which by this means
come to it through the hands
of these people —
— by accumulating the
quantum necessary for ordi
nary purposes to an amazing
sum —
— we are not to expect that
the path is to be strewed with
flowers —
As my letter to Congress
of this date has given a full
account of the cantonment of
the troops and other matters
of public concernment, I have
no need to repeat it to you as
an individual member.
— the committee of ar
rangement will perfect the

dress which they have received from them," are printed thus ; " are
deliberating on an answer to the address, which they have received
from the Commissioners." Mr. Reed says this letter "is not in the
Letter-Books"; but in this he is mistaken. It may be found there
recorded in its appropriate place.
* Here again Mr. Reed mistakes in saying that " this letter is not
recorded in the Letter-Books."

15

Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books.
good work they begun in the good work they began in the
summer — summer —
— with sincere regard and — with sincere esteem and
affection — affection —

What did or could prompt
the Knight to this expedition
is beyond the reach of my con
ception, considering the un-
seasonableness of it.
— not conceiving that he
could miss it so much in point
of intelligence as to mistime
matters so egregiously, if ei
ther of the other two was his
object —
— could not help being un
easy lest some disaster might
befall them —
— posted back from Eliza
bethtown on the morning of
the 5th, and got within twelve
or fifteen miles of King's Fer
ry, when I was met by an
express informing me that the
enemy had landed at that
place, set pre to two small
log'd houses, destroyed nine
barrels of spoiled herrings,
and had set sail for New
York.

December 12th, 1778.
What did or could prompt
the Knight to this expedition,
I am at a loss to discover,
considering the unseasonable-
ness of it.
— not conceiving that he
could be so much out in point
of intelligence as to mistime
matters so egregiously, if ei
ther of the two first was his
object —
— could not help being un
easy lest disaster might hap
pen —
— posted back from Eliza
bethtown at four o'clock on
the morning of the 5th, and
got within twelve or fifteen
miles of King's Ferry, when
I was met by an express in
forming me that the enemy
had landed at that place,
burned two or three logged
houses with nine barrels of
spoilt herrings, and had re-
embarked and sailed for New
York again*

* In connection with this passage Mr. Reed observes, that " Mr.
Sparks in his first pamphlet expresses some doubt as to the accuracy of

16

Text as printed by Mr. Reed.
— and will be led naturally
to conclude that bold and con
fident assertions, uncontradict
ed, must be founded in truth.
— but however convenient
it may have been for his pur
pose to establish this doc
trine —
— I will defy any person
out of my own family to say,
that I have ever mentioned
his name after his trial com
menced, if it was to be avoided ;
and when ii was not, if I have
not studiously declined —
— as I never entertained
any jealousy of, or apprehen
sion from him, so neither did
I ever do more than common
civility —
— but the affairs of the
army requires a constant at
tention and presence, and cir
cumstanced as matters are at
this juncture —
— as peace and retirement
are my ultimate aim, and the

Text of the Letter-Books.
— and will be led naturally
to believe that bold and con
fident assertions, uncontradict
ed, must be founded in truth.
— but however convenient
it may have been for his pur
poses to establish this belief —
— I will defy any person
out of my own family to say,
that I have ever mentioned
his name, if it was to be
avoided ; and, when not, that
I have not studiously de
clined —
— as I never entertained
any jealousy of, or apprehend
ed from * him, so neither did
I ever do more than common
civility —
— but the affairs of the
army require my constant at
tention and presence, and cir
cumstanced as matters are at
this time —
— as peace and retirement
are my ultimate aim, and the

my text." I did not intend to express any doubt. I said only, that
"logged" in the Letter-Book was written " log'd " in his manuscript.
The printers dropped the last syllable, and made it log houses, perhaps
for the same reason that they print brick or stone houses, instead of
bricked or stoned houses.
* This phrase was omitted by me, doubtless because a blunder of
the transcriber left it without meaning in the Letter-Book. Mr. Reed's
copy makes the sense clear.

17

Text as printed by Mr. Reed.
most pleasing and

flattering

wish of my soul —
— will reconcile any place
and all circumstances to my
feelings, whilst I remain in
service.

— as the season is now ap
proaching when either nego
tiation or vigorous exertions
must take place ; and Gen
eral Clinton doubtless will, in
the latter case —
— the sole purpose of this
letter is to suggest to your
consideration —
— for giving an alarm to
the militia of the country, and
for fixing places of rendez
vous for them, that in cases
of sudden emergency they
may be quickly assembled,
free from tumult —
— the preparations for it
will be hid under the darkest
veil —

— any apprehensions I may
entertain on this delicate sub
ject unfounded — happy to find
it your opinion —

Text of the Letter-Books.
most pleasing and flattering
hope of my soul —
— will reconcile any place
and all circumstances to my
feelings, whilst I continue in
service. March 28th, 1779*
¦ — as the season is now fast
approaching when either ne
gotiation or vigorous exertions
must take place of inactivity ;
and as General Clinton doubt
less will, in the latter case —
— the sole purpose of this
letter is to suggest for your
consideration —
— for giving an alarm to
the militia of the country, and
for fixing on places of ren
dezvous for them, that in cases
of sudden emergency they
may quickly assemble, free
from tumult —
— the preparations for it
will be held under the darkest
veil — Mat 8th, 1779.
— any apprehensions I may
entertain on this delicate sub
ject ill-founded — happy to find
it is your opinion —

* Mr. Reed is again mistaken when he says, " This letter, I believe,
is not in the Letter-Book." 3

18

Text as printed by Mr. Reed.
— fixing the trial at that
day week ; you will be pleased
to have delivered to him —

— carries an alloy which no
temper can bear with perfect
composure. The motives, which
actuate this gentleman are bet
ter understood by himself than
me. Whether these, or motives
yet more dark and hidden, gov
ern him —
— I should have thought
myself a proper object for the
lash, not only of his, but the
pen of every other writer, and
a fit subject of pubhc resent
ment. — but little better than a
mere chaos —
— that a plain narrative of
facts —
If this gentleman is envious
of my station, and conceives
that I stand in his way —
— recruits from the state
of Massachusetts —
— Discouraging as all this
is — — Providence having so of
ten taken us up when bereft
of other hope —

Text of the Letter-Books.
— fixing the trial at that
day ; which you will be pleased

to cause
him —

to be delivered to

July 29th, 1779.
— carries an alloy which
no mind can bear with perfect
composure. The motives, which
actuate this gentleman, can be
better accounted for hy himself
than me.
Whether these, or motives
still more hidden and dark,
govern him —
— I should have thought
myself a proper subject for the
lash, not only of his, but the
pen of every other writer, and
a fit object for public resent
ment. — but little more than a
mere chaos —
— that a plain and simple
narrative of facts —
If this gentleman is envious
of my station, and thinks I
stand in his way —
— recruits from the state
of Massachusetts Bay —
— discouraging as this
is — — Providence having so of
ten taken us up when bereft
of every other hope —

19

Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books.

— till the effect of the pres
ent exertions of G-. B., this
campaign, is known, when, pos
sibly, a new scene may open.

— till the effect of the pres
ent exertions of Great Britain,
this campaign, is known, and
some new scene opened to our
view.

But this concern received
additional poignancy from two
considerations, which were but
little known, and one of them
never will be known to the
world, because I shall never
attempt to palliate my own foi
bles by exposing the error of
another, —
The other was a Resolve
of Congress in the emphatic
words, —
When I came to Fort Lee,
and found no measures taken
for an evacuation —
— when I found other opin
ions coinciding with his —
— I conceived that every
impediment which stood in
their way —
— when thrown into the
scale of those opinions —
— the pen of a malignant
writer, who is always less re
gardful of facts —
— where concealment of a
few circumstances will answer
his purpose, or where a small

August 22d, 1779.
But this concern received
additional poignancy from two
considerations, which did not
appear; one of which never
will be known to the world,
because I shall never palliate
my own faults by exposing
those of another, —
The other was a Resolve of
Congress, in the strong and
emphatical words following, —
When I came to Fort Lee,
and found no measures taken
towards an evacuation —
— • when I found other opin
ions so coincident with his —
-— I conceived that every
impediment that stood in their
way —
— when thrown into the
scale with those opinions —
— the pen of a malignant
writer, who is less regardful of
facts —
— where concealment of a
few circumstances answers his
purposes, or where a small

20

Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books.

transposition of them will give
a very different complexion to
the same transaction.
— but abundant reason to
confirm me in it.
— our money would have
been upon a very different es
tablishment in point of credit
to ivhat it is at this day —
Such men as compose the
bulk of an army are in a dif
ferent train of thinking and
acting to what they were in
the early stages of the war,
and nothing is now left for it
but an annual and systemati
cal mode of drafting, —
— it will come to this, for
there are people enow, old sol
diers —
— the difference will be,
that instead of the public's
emitting or borrowing money
to pay their bounties (which is
enlarged greatly every new
enlistment), these sums will
be paid by individuals —
— raise the value of it by
multiplying the means of its
use —
— weakened by intestine di
visions have energy enough to

transposition of them will give
a very different complexion to
the same thing.
— but abundant reason to
confirm it.
— our money would have
been upon a very different es
tablishment in point of credit
to* what it now is —
Such men as compose the
bulk of an army are in a dif
ferent train of thinking to*
what they were in those early
stages of the war, and nothing
is now left but an annual and
systematical mode of draft
ing, —
— it will come to this, for
there are people now, old sol
diers —
— the difference will be,
that in lieu of the public's
emitting or borrowing money
to pay the bounties, which in
crease rapidly every new en
listment, these bounties will be
paid by individuals —
— raise the value of it by
multiplying the means for us
ing it —
— weakened by internal di
visions have energy enough to

* In these places to was printed from, probably as a grammatical cor
rection.

21

Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books.

carry statutes of this nature
into execution —
— it cannot in my opinion
be justified upon any principle
of common policy —
— appears substantial jus
tice to the public, and each in
dividual —

— to what they esteemed
their rights —
— influence the conduct of
by far the greatest part —
— yet the ties are not suf
ficiently strong to induce their
submission —
— depreciation of money
on one hand —
— I wish you to be con
vinced, that I do not want in
clination to comply where I
can do it consistently with any
of your wishes.

— different from that which
for a long time prevailed —

carry statutes of this kind into
execution —
— it cannot in my opinion
stand justified upon any prin
ciples of common policy —
¦ — appears substantial jus
tice to the public, and to indi
viduals — October 22d, 1779.
— to what they esteem their
rights —
— influence the conduct of
by far the greater part —
— yet the ties are not *
strong to induce their submis
sion —
— depreciation of money on
the one hand —
— I wish you to be con
vinced, that I do not want in
clination to comply with your
wishes in any instance that f
is within the reach of my pow
er consistently to aid them.
Mat 28th, 1780.
— different from that which
has for a long time prevailed —

* Here was evidently an omission in the text of the Letter-Book.
To complete the sense, the passage was printed — " are not so strong
as to induce," — a sense borne out by the original.
f The word that was printed when it, probably by design, as the sen
tence in its present construction is obscure, and scarcely grammatical.
That this was perceived by Washington himself is evident from the
change he made in the copy which he sent to General Reed, as here
printed.

22

Text as printed by Mr. Reed.
— you would be convinced
that these expressions are not
too strong, and that we have
almost ceased to hope.
— in such a state of insen
sibility to its interest, that I
dare not flatter myself —
— from every account I
have been able to collect will
be very inconsiderable —
The abilities of her present
financier has done wonders.
Commerce and industry are
the best means of a nation.
If we do our duty, we may
even hope to make the cam
paign decisive on this conti
nent.

Text of the Letter-Books.
— you would be convinced
that these expressions are not
too strong, and that we have
every thing to dread. Indeed,
I have almost ceased to hope.
— in such a state of insen
sibility to its interests, that I
dare not flatter myself —
— from every account I
have been able to collect will
be inconsiderable —
The abilities of her present
financier have done wonders.
Commerce and industry are
the best mines of a nation.
If we do our duty, we may
even hope to make the cam
paign decisive of this conti
nent*

When any great object is
in view, the popular mind is
roused into expectation and
prepared to make sacrifices
both of ease and property ; if
those to whom they confide the
management of their affairs do

July 4th, 1780.
When any great object is
in view, the popular mind is
roused into expectation and
prepared to make sacrifices
both of ease and property ; if
those to whom the\ confide the
management of their affairs do

* Printed, " decisive of this contest," possibly by an error of the tran
scriber, but probably by design, as the phrase "decisive of" does not
here suit the word " continent." Mr. Reed's text is apparently more
correct. \ It is obvious that some word is here omitted in the Letter-Book.
The vacancy was filled by " people," which the sense clearly requires.
" They," in the other text, has no appropriate antecedent.

23

Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books.
not call them to make these not call them to make these
sacrifices — sacrifices —
I am of a very different sen- I am of very different senti-
timent. ment.*

That overruling Providence
which has so often and so re
markably interposed in our
favor, never manifested itself
more conspicuously than in the
timely discovery of his horrid
intention to surrender the Post
and Garrison of West Point
into the hands of the enemy.
— the command of that
Post —
— for which he was appoint
ed, seems to have made —

October 18th, 1780.t
That overruling Providence,
which has so often and so re
markably interposed in our
favor, never manifested itself
more conspicuously than in the
timely discovery of his horrid
design of surrendering the Post
and Garrison of West Point
into the hands of the enemy.
— the command of ihe
Post —
— for which he was appoint
ed, seem to have made —

In the above examples, all the variations from
Mr. Reed's copy exist in the Letter-Books, from
which the text in "Washington's Writings" was
printed; andj I repeat, they agree with that text
except in the instances here specified in the notes.
I am not answerable, therefore, for these variations.
On the contrary, I had no copy to follow or con
sult but the one recorded in the Letter-Books.
There are a few other variations, and for these

* Printed " sentiments."
f Mr. Reed is mistaken in supposing that this letter " is not in the
Letter-Books."

24

I am willing to be responsible, because they were
made under a full conviction of their propriety ;
but they rarely extend beyond a single word or
phrase, and are for the most part grammatical cor
rections ; such as altering the singular number to
the plural, or the contrary, when the construction
required it, the insertion of a particle or a rela
tive pronoun, the change of one preposition for an
other, or of an adjective to an adverb, and the like.
Special care was also taken to print all the proper
names correctly, however they may have been writ
ten ; and this was not so easy a task as might at
first be imagined. Nor should it be overlooked,
that the variations, whatever may have been their
origin, are in the words, and not in the substance.
The sense of the writer, as to any point he is aim
ing to present, is clearly the same in the different
texts. As Chief Justice Marshall's testimony has been
appealed to, with reference to this subject, it may
not be out of place here to add a few examples
illustrative of the method followed by him in edit
ing the selections, which he made from Washing
ton's letters. Mr. Reed thinks he adopted a rule
by which he indicated to the reader the omission
of a passage, whenever it happened, by some mark.
I have not been able to discover any indications

25

of this kind in his " Life of Washington," although
omissions frequently occur. The following selec
tions are taken at random from various parts of the
work. The passages in italics are supplied from
the Letter-Books, and they were omitted by him
without any mark denoting the fact. I believe the
same will be found true in all other cases, so that,
if he had any rule at all, it must have been not to
mark the places where passages were left out.
LETTER TO GENERAL SCHUYLER. July 15th, 1777.
" The evacuation of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence
is an event of chagrin and surprise, not apprehended nor
within the compass of my reasoning. I know not upon what
principle it was founded, and I should suppose it still more
difficult to reconcile, if the garrison amounted to five thou
sand men, in high spirits, healthy, well supplied with pro
vision and ammunition, and the Eastern militia marching to
their succor, as you mention in your letter of the 9th to
the Council of Safety of New York. This stroke is severe
indeed, and has distressed us much. But, notwithstanding
things at present wear a dark and gloomy aspect, I hope a
spirited opposition will check the progress of General Bur
goyne's arms, and that the confidence derived from success
will hurry him into measures, that will in their consequences
be favorable to us. We should never despair. Our situa
tion has before been unpromising, and has changed for the
better. So, I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise,
we must only put forth new exertions, and proportion our
efforts to the exigency of the times." — Vol. III. p. 254.
4

2G

LETTER TO CONGRESS. August 20th, 1780.
" It will be an interesting winter. Many circumstances
will contribute to a negotiation. An army on foot, not only
for another campaign, but for several campaigns, would de
termine the enemy to pacific measures, and enable us to in
sist upon favorable terms in forcible language. An army
insignificant in numbers, dissatisfied, crumbling to pieces,
would be the strongest temptation they could have to try
the experiment a little longer. It is an old maxim, that the
surest way to make a good peace is to be well prepared for
war. " I am inclined to hope a draft for the war, or for three
years, would succeed. Many incentives of immediate interest
may be held up to the people to induce them to submit to it.
They must begin to consider the repeated bounties they are
obliged to pay as a burthen, and be willing to get rid of
it by sacrificing a little more once for all. Indeed, it is prob
able the bounties may not be much greater in that case than
they have been. The people of ihe States near the seat of
war ought to enter into such a plan with alacrity, as it
would ease them- in a variety of respects ; among others, by
obviating the frequent calls upon the militia.
" I cannot forbear returning in this place to the necessity
of a more ample and equal provision for the army. The dis
contents on this head have been gradually matured to a dan
gerous extremity. There are many symptoms that alarm and
distress me. Endeavors are using to unite both officers and
men in a general refusal of the money, and some corps now
actually decline receiving it. Every method has been taken
to counteract it, because such a combination in the army
would be a severe blow to our declining currency. The most
moderate insist that the accounts of depreciation ought to be
liquidated at stated periods, and certificates given by gov
ernment for the sums due. They will not be satisfied with a
general declaration that it shall be made good.

27

" This is one instance of complaint. There are others
equally serious. Among the most serious is the inequality of
the provision made by the several States. Pennsylvania main
tains her officers in a decent manner ; she has given them
half-pay for life. What a wide difference between their sit
uation and that of the officers of every other line in this
army, some of whom are actually so destitute of clothing as
to be unfit for duty, and obliged for that cause only to con
fine themselves to quarters. I have often said, and I beg
leave to repeat it, the half-pay provision is in my opinion the
most politic and effectual that can be adopted. On the whole,
if something satisfactory be not done, the army (already so
much reduced in officers by daily resignations, as not to have
a sufficiency to do the common duties of it) must either cease
to exist at the end of the campaign, or it will exhibit an ex
ample of more virtue, fortitude, self-denial, and perseverance,
than has perhaps ever yet been paralleled in the history of
human enthusiasm." — Vol. IV. p. 298.

LETTER TO GENERAL LINCOLN. October 2d, 1782.
" I repeat it, when I reflect on these irritable circumstan
ces, unattended by one thing to soothe their feelings, or
brighten the gloomy prospect, I cannot avoid apprehending
that a train of evils will follow, of a very serious and dis*
tressing nature. On the other hand, could the officers be
placed in as good a situation, as when they came into ser
vice, the contention, I am persuaded, would be, not who should
continue in the field, but who should retire to private life.
" I wish not to heighten the shades of the picture so far as
the real fife would justify me in doing, or I would give anec
dotes of patriotism and distress which have scarcely ever been
paralleled, never surpassed in the history of mankind. But,
you may rely upon it, the patience and long sufferance of
this army are almost exhausted, and there never was so great
a spirit of discontent as at this instant.'* — Vol. IV. p. 580.

28

LETTER TO HENRY LEE. September 22, 1788.
" It was for a long time doubtful whether we were to survive
as an independent republic, or decline from our federal dig
nity into insignificant and wretched fragments of empire. The
adoption of the constitution so extensively, and with so lib
eral an acquiescence on the part of the minorities in general,
promised the former ; but lately, the circular letter of New
York has manifested, in my apprehension, an unfavorable, if
not an insidious tendency to a contrary policy. I still hope for
the best ; but before you mentioned it, I could not help fear
ing it would serve as a standard to which the disaffected
might resort. It is now evidently the part of all honest men,
who are friends to the new constitution, to endeavour to give
it a chance to disclose its merits and defects by carrying it
fairly into effect, in the first instance. For it is to be appre
hended, that by an attempt to obtain amendments before the
experiment has been candidly made, ' more is meant than meets
the ear,' that an intention is concealed, to accomplish slily,
what could not have been done openly, to undo all that has
been done. If the fact so exists, that a kind of combination is
forming to stifle the government in embryo, it is a happy cir
cumstance that the design has become suspected. Preparations
should be the sure attendant upon forewarning. Probably,
prudence, wisdom, and patriotism were never more essentially
necessary than at the present moment : and so far as it can
be done in an irreproachably direct manner, no effort ought to
be left unassayed io procure the election of the best possible
characters to the new Congress. On their harmony, delibera
tion, and decision every thing will depend. I heartily wish Mr.
Madison was in our Assembly ; as I think, with you, it is of
unspeakable importance Virginia should set out in her federal
measures under right auspices.
" The principal topic of your letter is to me a point of great
delicacy indeed ; insomuch that I can scarcely, without some
impropriety, touch upon it. In the first place, the event to

29

which you allude may never happen, among other reasons
because, if the partiality of my fellow-citizens conceive it to
be a mean by which the sinews of the new government would
be strengthened, it will of consequence be obnoxious to those
who are in opposition to it, many of whom, unquestionably,
will be placed among the electors." — Vol. V. p. 138.

LETTER TO DAVID STUART. New York, June 15, 1790.
" Before the custom was established, which now accommo
dates foreign characters, strangers, and others who from mo
tives of curiosity, respect to the chief magistrate, or any other
cause, are induced to call upon me, I was unable to attend to
any business whatsoever. For gentlemen, consulting their own
convenience rather than mine, were calling from the time I
rose from breakfast, often before, until I sat down to dinner.
This, as I resolved not to neglect my public duties, reduced
me to the choice of one of these alternatives, either to refuse
them altogether, or to appropriate a time for the reception of
them. The first would, I well knew, be disgusting to many ;
the latter, I expected, would undergo animadversion from
those who would find fault with or without cause. To please
every body was impossible. I therefore adopted that line of
conduct which combined public advantage with private con
venience, and which in my judgment was unexceptionable in
itself. That I have not been able to make bows to the taste of
poor Colonel B  (ivho, by the by, I believe never saw one of
them) is to be regretted, especially too as, upon those occasions,
they were indiscriminately bestowed, and the best I was master
of. Would it not have been better to have thrown the veil of
charity over them, ascribing their stiffness to the effects of age,
or to the unskilfulness of my teacher, than to pride and dig
nity of office, which Grod knows has no charms for me ? For I
can truly say, I had rather be at Mount Vernon with a friend
or two about me, than to be attended at ihe seat of government

30

by the officers of state and the representatives of every Power
in Europe.
" These visits are optional. They are made without invita
tion. Between the hours of three and four every Tuesday,
I am prepared to receive them. Gentlemen, often in great
numbers, come and go, chat with each other, and act as they
please. A porter shows them into the room, and they retire
from it when they choose, and without ceremony." — Vol. V.
p. 165.

Such was the practice of Judge Marshall in re
gard to omissions. But it should be observed, that
the writer's train of thought, as to the points in
tended to be presented by the selections from any
letter, is nowhere interrupted. The parts retained
have a clear connection. It would have added
nothing to the reader's instruction, if he had been
informed at certain places, by a mark or other
wise, that passages were omitted. He might have
gained more, if the whole letter in each case, in
stead of parts, had been printed ; but, as this was
not consistent with the plan of the work, there
seems no good reason why he should be told, that
other parts were left out, which were irrelevant to
the matter in hand.
A letter frequently treats of topics totally dis
tinct from each other, and in this respect it is the
same as a collection of letters written upon differ
ent subjects. In such a letter, the omission of one
or more topics has no effect upon the others, and

31

is the same in reality as the omission of a sepa
rate letter, which has no bearing upon the matter
intended to be represented. When, for any reason,
the train of the writer's ideas is suddenly broken
off, or his meaning obscured, by the omission of a
paragraph, sentence, or phrase, it certainly is essen
tial that the fact should be noted; but such is not
the case in any of the above selections, and prob
ably not in any others comprised in the " Life of
Washington." The following selections are introduced for the
purpose of a comparison between Judge Marshall's
text and that of the Letter-Books. The italics in
dicate the discrepances.
Judge Marshall's Text. Text of the Letter-Books.
LETTER TO CONGRESS. Sept. 2d, 1776.
" Great numbers of them " Great numbers of them
have gone off, in some instan- have gone off, in some instan
ces almost by whole regi- ces almost by whole regi
ments, in many by half ones, ments, by half ones, and by
and by companies at a time, companies at a time. This
This circumstance of itself, circumstance of itself, inde-
independent of others, when pendent of others, when front-
fronted by a well-appointed ed by a well-appointed ene-
enemy, superior in number my, superior in number to our
to our whole collected force, whole collected force, would
would be sufficiently disagree- be sufficiently disagreeable,
able ; but when it is added but when their example has
that their example has in- infected another part of the

32

Judge Marshall's Text.
fected another part of the ar
my ; that their want of dis
cipline, and refusal of almost
every kind of restraint and
government, have rendered a
like conduct but too common
in the whole ; and have pro
duced an entire disregard of
that order and subordination
necessary for the well-doing
of an army, and which had
been before inculcated as well
as the nature of our military
establishment would admit,
our condition is still more
alarming." — Vol. II. p. 455.

Text of the Letter-Books.
army, when their want of
discipline, and refusal of al
most every kind of restraint
and government, have pro
duced a hke conduct but too
common to the whole, and an
entire disregard of that order
and subordination necessary
to the well-doing of an army,
and which had been inculcat
ed before, as well as the na
ture of our military establish
ment would admit of, our
condition is still more alarm-
ing."

LETTER TO CONGRESS.

" It is now extremely ob
vious from their movements,
from our intelligence, and
from every other circum
stance, that, having their
whole army upon Long Isl
and, except about four thou
sand men who remain on Sta-
ten Island, they mean to in
close us in this island by tak
ing post in our rear, while
their ships effectually secure
the front ; and thus, by cut
ting off our communication
with the country, oblige us

Sept. 8th, 1776.
" It is now extremely ob
vious, from all intelligence,
from their movements and
every other circumstance, that
having landed their whole ar
my on Long Island (except
about four thousand on Sta-
ten Island) they mean to in
close us on the Island of New
York by taking post in our
rear, while the shipping ef
fectually secures the front, and
thus either by cutting off our
communication with the coun
try, oblige us to fight them

33

Judge Marshall's Text.
to fight them on their own
terms, or surrender at discre
tion ; or, if that shall be
deemed more advisable, by a
brilliant stroke endeavor to
cut this army to pieces, and
secure the possession of arms
and stores, which they well
know our inability to replace.
" Having their system un
folded to us, it becomes an
important consideration how
it could be most successfully
opposed. On every side there
is a choice of difficulties, and
experience teaches us, that
every measure on our part
(however painful the reflec
tion) must be taken with some
apprehension, that all the
troops will not do their duty."
— Vol. II. p. 466.

Text of the Letter-Books.
on their own terms, or sur
render at discretion, or by a
brilliant stroke endeavor to
cut this army in pieces and
secure the collection of arms
and stores, which they well
know we shall not be soon
able to replace.
" Having therefore their
system unfolded to us, it be
came an important considera
tion how it could be most suc
cessfully opposed. On every
side there is a choice of diffi
culties, and every measure on
our part (however painful the
reflection is from experience)
to be formed with some ap
prehension, that all our troops
will not do their duty."

LETTER TO GENERAL ARNOLD.

" They might possibly be
successful, but the probability
would be infinitely against
them. Should they be im
prudent enough to make the
attempt, I shall keep close
upon their heels, and will do
every thing in my power to
make the project fatal to them.
5

June 17, 1777.
" They might possibly be
successful, but the probability
would be infinitely against
them. Should they be im
prudent enough to do it, I
shall keep close upon their
heels, and do every thing in
my power to make the pro
ject fatal to them.

34

Judge Marshall's Text.
" But, besides the argument
in favor of their intending,
in the first place, a stroke at
this army, drawn from the
policy of the measure, every
appearance contributes to con
firm the opinion. Had their
design been for the Delaware
in the first instance, they
would probably have made a
secret, rapid march for it, and
not have halted so as to awa
ken our attention, and give us
time to prepare for obstruct
ing them. Instead of that,
they have only advanced to
a position necessary to facili
tate an attack on our right,
the part in which we are most
exposed. In addition to this
circumstance, they have come
out as light as possible, leav
ing all their baggage, provis
ions, boats, and bridges at
Brunswick. This plainly con
tradicts the idea of their in
tending to push for ihe Dela
ware:'' — Vol. III. p. 112.

Text of the Letter-Books.
" But, besides the argument
for their intending, in the first
place, a stroke at this army,
drawn from the policy of the
measure, every appearance co
incides to confirm the opinion.
Had they designed for the
Delaware in the first instance,
they would probably have
made a secret, rapid march
for it, and not halted, as they
have done, to awaken our at
tention, and give us time to
prepare for obstructing them.
Instead of that, they have
only advanced to a position
necessary to facilitate an at
tack upon our right, which is
ihe part they have ihe greatest
likelihood of injuring us in ;
and added to this considera
tion, they have come out as
fight as possible, leaving all
their baggage, provisions,
boats, and bridges at Bruns
wick ; which plainly contra
dicts the idea for pushing for
the Delaware."

" First impressions, you
know, are generally longest
retained, and will serve to fix,

LETTER TO GENERAL SULLIVAN. Sept. 1st, 1778.
" First impressions, you
know, are generally longest
remembered, and will serve to

35

Judge Marshall's Text.
in a great degree, our na
tional character with the
French. In our conduct to
wards them, we should re
member, that they are a peo
ple old in war, very strict in
military etiquette, and apt to
take fire when others scarcely
seem warmed. Permit me to
recommend, in the most par
ticular manner, the cultivation
of harmony and good agree
ment, and your endeavors to
destroy that ill humor which
may have found its way among
the officers. It is of the ut
most importance, too, that the
soldiers and the people should
know nothing of this misunder
standing, or, if it has reached
them, that means may be
used to stop its progress, and
prevent its effects." — Vol.
III. p. 517.

Text of the Letter-Books.
fix, in a great degree, our na
tional character among the
French. In our conduct to
wards them, we should remem
ber, that they are a people
old in war, very strict in
military etiquette, and apt to
take fire, where others scarce
ly seem warmed. Permit me
to recommend, in the most
particular manner, the culti
vation of harmony and good
agreement, and your endeav
ors to destroy that ill humor
which may have got mto the
officers. It is of the greatest
importance, also, that the sol
diers, and the people should
know nothing of the misunder
standing, or, if it has reached
them, that ways may be
used to stop its progress, and
prevent its effects."

LETTER TO GENERAL GREENE. Sept. 1st, 1778.
" I have not now time to
take notice of the several ar
guments that were made use
of, for and against the Count's
quitting the harbor of New
port, and sailing for Boston.
Right or wrong, it will proba- Right or wrong, it will proba-

" I have not now time to
take notice of the several ar
guments which were made use
of, for and against the Count's
quitting the harbor of New
port, and sailing for Boston.

36

Judge Marshall's Text.
bly disappoint our sanguine
expectations of success ; and,
which I deem a still worse con
sequence, I fear it will sow
the seeds of dissension and
distrust between us and our
new allies, unless the most
prudent measures be taken to
suppress the feuds and jeal
ousies that have already aris
en. I depend much on your
temper and influence to con
ciliate that animosity, which, I
plainly perceive by a letter
from the Marquis, subsists be
tween the American and
French officers in our service.
This, you may be assured, will
extend itself to the Count,
and the officers and men of
his whole fleet, should they re
turn to Rhode Island, unless
a reconciliation shall have tak
en place. The Marquis speaks
kindly of a letter from you to
him on this subject. He will
therefore take any advice from
you in a friendly way ; and,
if he can be pacified, the oth
er French gentlemen will of
course be satisfied, since they
look up to him as their head."
— Vol. III. p. 518.

Text of the Letter-Books.
bly disappoint our sanguine
expectations of success ; and,
what I esteem a still worse con
sequence, I fear it will sow
the seeds of dissension and
distrust between us and our
new allies, except the most
prudent measures are taken
to suppress the feuds and jeal
ousies that have already aris
en. I depend much upon your
temper and influence to con
ciliate that animosity, which, I
plainly perceive by a letter
from the Marquis, subsists be
tween the American officers
and the French in our service.
This, you may depend, will
extend itself to the Count,
and the officers and men of
his whole fleet, should they re
turn to Rhode Island ; except,
upon their arrival there, they
find a reconciliation has taken
place. The Marquis speaks
kindly of a letter from you to
him upon this subject. He
will therefore take any advice
coming from you in a friendly
light, and, if he can be paci
fied, the other French gentle
men will of course be satisfied,
as they look up to him as
their head."

37

Judge Marshall's Text.

Text of the Letter-Books.

LETTER TO JACOB READ.

Nov. 3d, 1784.

" If either of these happen,
there is a line of separation
drawn between the eastern and
western country at once, the
consequences of which may be
fatal. To tell any man of in
formation how fast the latter
is settling, how much more
rapidly it will settle by means
of foreign emigrants who can
have no particular predilection
for us, of the vast fertility of
the soil, of ihe population to
which the country is competent,
would be unnecessary ; and
equally unnecessary would it
be to observe, that it is by the
cement of interest alone we
can be held together. If, then,
the trade of that country should
flow through the Mississippi or
the St. Lawrence ; if the in
habitants thereof should form
commercial connections, which
we know lead to intercourses
of other kinds, they would in
a few years be as unconnected
with us, as are those of South
America. " It may be asked, How are
we to prevent this ? Happily
for us, the way is plain. Our

" If either of these happen,
there is a line of separation
drawn between the eastern and
western country at once, the
consequences of which may be
fatal. To tell any man of in
formation how fast the latter
is settling, how much more
rapidly it will settle by means
of foreign emigrants who can
have no particular predilection
for us, of the vast fertility of
the soil, and population the
country is competent to, would
be futile ; and equally nuga
tory to observe, that it is by
the cement of interest alone we
can be held together. If, then,
the trade of that country should
flow through the Mississippi or
St. Lawrence ; if the inhabit
ants thereof should form com
mercial connections, which lead,
we know, to intercourses of oth
er kinds, they would in a few
years be as unconnected with
us, indeed more so, than we
are with South America, and
entirely alienated from us.
" It may be asked how we
are to prevent this. Happily
for us, the way is plain, and

38

Judge Marshall's Text.
immediate interests, as well
as remote political advantages,
point to it ; whilst a combina
tion of circumstances renders
the present time more favora
ble than any other to accom
plish it. Extend the inland
navigation of the eastern wa^
ters ; communicate them as
near as possible with those
which run westward ; open
these to the Ohio ; open also
such as extend from the Ohio
towards Lake Erie ; and we
¦ shall not only draw the prod
uce of the western settlers, but
the peltry and fur trade of the
Lakes also, to our ports ; thus
adding an immense increase
to our exports, and binding
those people to us by a chain
which never can be broken."
— Vol. V. p. 16.

Text of the Letter-Books.
our immediate interests, as
well as remote political advan
tages, point to it ; whilst a com
bination of circumstances ren
ders the present epocha more
favorable than any other to ac
complish them. Extend the in
land navigation of the eastern
waters ; communicate them
as near as possible with those
which run to the westward ;
open these to the Ohio ; and
such others as extend from the
Ohio towards Lake Erie ; and
we shall not only draw the
produce of the western settlers,
but the peltry and fur trade of
the Lakes also, to our ports,
being the nearest and best, to
the amazing increase of our
exports, while we bind those
people to us by a chain which
never can be broken."

LETTER TO BENJAMIN HARRISON.

" How would this matter be
viewed then by the eye of the
world, and what opinion would
be formed when it comes to
be related, that G  W  n
exerted himself to effect this
work, and that G  W  n
has received twenty thousand

Jan. 22d, 1785.
" How would this matter be
viewed then by the eye of the
world, and what would be the
opinion of it when it comes to
be related, that G  W  n
exerted himself to effect this
work, and G. W. has received
twenty thousand dollars, and

39

Judge Marshall's Text.
dollars and five thousand
pounds sterling of the public
money as an interest therein ?
Would not this (if I am entitled
to any merit for the part I
have performed, and without
it there is no foundation for
the act) deprive me of the
principal thing which is lauda
ble in my conduct ? Would it
not in some respects be con
sidered in the same light as a
pension ? And would not the
apprehension of this induce me
to offer my sentiments in fu
ture with the more reluctance f
In a word, under whatever
pretence, and however custom
ary these gratuities may be in
other countries, should I not
thenceforward be considered as
a dependent?"— Vol. V.p. 21.

Text of the Letter-Books.
five thousand pounds sterling
of the public money as an in
terest therein ? Would not this,
in the estimation of it (if I am
entitled to any merit for the
part I have acted; and without
it there is no foundation for
the act) deprive me of the
principal thing which is lauda
ble in my conduct ? Would it
not in some respects be con
sidered in the same light as a
pension ? And would not the
apprehension of this make me
more reluctantly offer my senti
ments in future ? In a word,
under whatever pretence, and
however customary these gra
tuitous gifts are made in other
countries, should I not thence
forward be considered as a
dependent ? "

LETTER TO JOHN JAY,

" But, fortunately, they have
precipitated a crisis for which
they were not prepared ; and
thereby have unfolded views
which will, I trust, effect their
annihilation sooner than it
might have happened. An
occasion has also been afforded
for the people of this country

Nov. 1, 1794.
" But, fortunately, they pre
cipitated a crisis for which they
were not prepared ; and there
by have unfolded views which
will, I trust, effectuate their
annihilation sooner than it
might otherwise have happen
ed ; at the same time that it
has afforded an occasion for

40

Judge Marshall's Text.
to show their abhorrence of
the result, and their attach
ment to the constitution and
the laws ; for I believe that
five times the number of mili
tia, that were required, would
have come forward in support
of them, had it been neces
sary. " The spirit which blazed
out on this occasion, as soon
as the object was fully under
stood, and the lenient meas
ures of the government were
made known to the people, de
serves to be communicated.
There are instances of general
officers going at the head of a
single troop, or of light com
panies ; of field officers, when
they came to the place of ren
dezvous and found no com
mand for them in that grade,
turning into the ranks and
serving as private soldiers un
der their own captains ; and
of numbers possessing the first
fortunes in the country, stand
ing in the ranks as private
men, and, by way of example
to others, marching day by day
with their knapsacks at their
backs, and sleeping on straw
with a single blanket, in a sol
dier's tent, during the frosty

Text of the Letter-Books.
the people of this country to
show their abhorrence of the
result, and their attachment to
the constitution and the laws ;
for I believe that five times
the number of mihtia, that was
required, would have come
forward, if it had been neces
sary, in support of them.
" The spirit which blazed
out on this occasion, as soon
as the object was fully under
stood, and the lenient meas
ures of the government were
made known to the people, de
serves to be communicated ;
for there are instances of gen
eral officers going at the head
of a single troop, and of light
companies ; of field officers,
when they came to the place
of rendezvous and found no
command for them in that
grade, turning into the ranks
and prooeeding as private sol
diers under their own captains ;
and of numbers possessing the
first fortunes in the country,
standing in the ranks as pri
vate [men, and marching day
by day with their knapsacks
and haversacks at their backs ;
sleeping on straw with a single
blanket, in a soldier's tent,
during the frosty nights which

41

Judge Marshall's Text.
nights which we have had.
Nay, more ; many young Qua
kers of the first family, char
acter, and property, not dis
couraged by the elders, have
turned into the ranks, and are
marching with the troops." —
Vol. V. p. 593.

Text of the Letter-Books.
we have had, by way of exam
ple to others. Nay, more ;
many young Quakers, not dis
couraged by the elders, of the
first families, character, and
property, having turned into
the ranks, and are marching
with the troops."

LETTER TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

" But, my dear Sir, dark as
matters appear at present, and
expedient as it is to be pre
pared for the worst that can
happen, (and no man is more
disposed to this measure than
I am,) I cannot make up my
mind yet for the expectation
of open war ; or, in other
words, for a formidable inva
sion by France. I cannot be
heve, although I think her ca
pable of any thing, that she
will attempt to do more than
she has done. When she per
ceives the spirit and pohcy of
this country rising into resist
ance, and that she has falsely
calculated upon support from
a large part of the people to
promote her views and influ
ence in it, she will desist even
from those practices, unless
6

May 27th, 1798.
" But, my dear Sir, dark as
matters appear at present, and
expedient as it is to be pre
pared at all points for the
worst that can happen, (and
no one is more disposed to this
measure than I am,) I cannot
make up my mind yet for the
expectation of open war ; or,
in other words, for a formida
ble invasion by France. I
cannot beheve, although I
think them capable of any
thing bad, that they will at
tempt to do more than they
have done, that when they per
ceive the spirit and pohcy of
this country rising into resist
ance, and that they have falsely
calculated upon support from
a large part of the people there
of to promote their views and
influence in it, that they will

42

Judge Marshall's Text.
unexpected events in Europe,
or the acquisition of Louisi
ana and the Floridas, should
induce her to continue them.
And I believe further, that
although the leaders of their
party in this country will not
change their sentiments, they
will be obliged to change their
plan, or the mode of carrying
it on. The effervescence which
is appearing in all quarters,
and the desertion of their fol
lowers, will frown them into
silence, at least for a while."
— Vol. V. p. 747.

Text of the Letter-Books.
desist even from those prac
tices, unless unexpected events
in Europe, or their possession
of Louisiana and the Floridas,
should induce them to continue
the measure. And I beheve
further, that although the lead
ers of their party in this coun
try will not change their senti
ments, that they will be obliged
nevertheless to change their
plan, or the mode of carrying
it on, from the effervescence
which is appearing in all quar
ters, and from the desertion
of their followers, which must
frown them into silence, at
least for a while."

If Judge Marshall copied from the Letter-Books,
as he undoubtedly did, since they were all in his
charge while he was writing the " Life of Wash
ington," it is seen that he made frequent changes
in the phraseology, and verbal corrections in the
style. If the originals were in his possession, and
he copied from them, which is highly improbable,
the comparison of the two texts shows the differ
ences between the originals and the Letter-Books.
These specimens are not selected as being peculiar.
If the examination were continued, it would be
found that he adopted a similar practice in the

43
other parts of Washington's letters, which he in
corporated into his work. The extracts are inva
riably included within quotation marks, so that
the reader can at once discover where they occur,
and any one may pursue the comparison by con
sulting the Letter-Books.
In the preceding remarks, it has not been my
object to question the propriety of the general plan
of Mr. Reed's publication. I have only endeavored
to remove what I could not but feel to be an
erroneous impression, as bearing upon myself, con
veyed by the manner in which some parts of his
performance have been executed.
Cambridge, April 20th, 1853.