The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

60 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1755.
army to ten companies, of one hundred men each,
and put the whole upon the establishment of independent companies, by which the highest officers in the
Virginia regiment would be captains, and even these
inferior to officers of the same rank holding King's
commissions. The effect was to reduce Colonel Washington to the rank of captain, and put him under officers whom he had commanded. Such a degradation,
of course, was not to be submitted to by a high-minded
man. He resigned his commission, and retired from
the army.
Governor Sharpe, of Maryland, soon after received
an appointment from the King as commander-in-chief
of the forces employed to act against the French.
Knowing Colonel Washington's character, and the importance of his aid, Governor Sharpe solicited him, by
a letter from himself and another from one of his officers, to resume his station. It was intimated, that he
might hold his former commission. "This idea," said
Washington in reply, "has filled me with surprise;
for, if you think me capable of holding a commission,
that has neither rank nor emolument annexed to it,
you must entertain a very contemptible opinion of my
weakness, and believe me to be more empty than the
commission itself." He promptly declined the invitation, and added; "I shall have the consolation of
knowing, that I have opened the way, when the smallness of our numbers exposed us to the attacks of a
superior enemy; and that I have had the thanks of
my country for the services I have rendered."
Thus sustained within himself, neither seeking redress nor venting complaints, he passed the winter in
retirement. He acknowledged his partiality, however,
for the profession of arms, and his ambition to acquire
experience and skill in the military art. Nor did he
wait long for an opportunity to gratify his wishes.