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too much on my scheme and I feem to be in the fituation of one who fhould be allowed to rife, on purpofe only to be thrown down. The enemy, in the midft of all our blufterings, muft defpife us; and did not fhame or fome better principle restrain them, I should be but little furprized to find General Howe, even with his present little handful attacking us; yes, attacking us in our entrenchments.-- What fhall I do? to retreat is to entail on myself the curfes of every public man in my country; and to go on is certain ruin and difgrace. Were the world to know only my true history on this trying occafion, I perfuade myfelf, all the candid and confiderate in it would acquit me of blame. But this the world can know only by my refolving to tell a tale, which, confidering the rank I now hold in it, muft involve my country in fuch internal broils and quarrels, as must be fatal to the glorious cause in which we have embarked. And this, I truft, I fhall have the virtue never to do, be my private wrongs and fufferings ever fo great.

I have finished my letter to the Congress, to whom I have, at length, spoken in a more per

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emptory tone, than, I fancy, they have been used to. It was abfolutely neceffary; and I fhould ill deferve their confidence, if through any mistaken complaifance or diffidence, I hefitated to point out to them the mischievous confequences of their interference. I have alfo infifted on precise instructions in what manner I am to conduct myself towards the British com miffioners, if peradventure, as is probable, their overtures should be made through me. Their answer will have a great influence on all my future measures; as I fhall then know, (and furely it is time I fhould) on what ground I ftand. The very decided and adventrous measure, which Congress itself has just taken is big with the most important confequences, not only to the community at large, but to every man in it. The temper and judgment which they shall now manifeft, on their first avowed affumption of the reins of government, will be indicative of what we may hereafter expect Hoping for the best, I yet will watch them most carefully.

'Tis all fearful expectation: Every man I fee, seems to be employed in preparing himself fon

the momentous rencontre, which every man perfuades himself must shortly come on. There is an oftenfible eagerness and impetuofity amongst us, I could willingly have excused: I fhould have been better pleased with that steady composure which diftinguishes veterans. One thing is in our favour, the paffions ofour foldiery are feldom fuffered to fubfide; being conftantly agitated by fome ftrange rumour or other. Happen what will, it can hardly be more extraordinary, than fome one or other is perpetually prefaging. And, we have already performed fuch feats of valour whilft we have no enemies to engage but fuck as our own imaginations manufacture for us, that I cannot but hope we fhall do well, merely because no one ever seems to entertain a suspicion that we shall not. I can as yet, give no guefs, where or when they will approach us.: I conclude, however, that they will hardly ftir, till they are joined by all the men they expect, defponding as I am, I wish they were arrived; and that, at this moment they were in a condition to attack us: They may gain by procrastination, but we are fure

to lofe.

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I wrote to Mrs. Washington lately, and shall again in a week or two, if I do not hear of her, ere that in Philadelphia. It has furprized me, that after what I wrote, she should hesitate. I beg of you, if fhe be still fearful, to fecond my perfuafions by every means in your power. › Expofed as she must be to fo many interviews: with people in the army, all of whom are in: the way of the small-pox, I have the most : dreadful apprehenfions on her account. I know not well how the notion came into my head, but it is certain, I have, for several days, perfuaded myself that fhe is already inoculated, and that out of tenderness and delicacy, she forbears to inform me of it, till fhe can alfo inform me fhe is out of danger.

I note fundry particulars in your letter, to which I am not folicitous to give you answers. Why, when you have so often asked in vain, will you prefs me for Congress-fecrets? Whatever your or my private fentiments or wishes may be, it is fufficient for us that we know the highest authority in our country has declared it free and independent. All that is left for us to do is, as far as we can, to fupport this

declaration, without too curiously enquiring into either its wisdom or its juftice. I firmly believe, that the advocates for this meafure, meant well; and I pay them but an ordinary compliment in thinking that they were fitter to determine on a point of this fort, than either you or I are. At any rate, the world muft allow it to be a spirited measure; and all I have to wifh for is, that we may support it with a fuitable fpirit.

I am, my Dear Lund

Yours most affectionately,

G.W.

New-York, July 15, 17765

To Mr. Lund Washington, &c.

Dear Lund,

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AST Friday, the British fleet was feen off Staten-Ifland; they have fince been employed, uninterrupted by us, in debarking their men, ftores, &c. And as they must now, fhould imagine, be pretty nearly as ftrong as:

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