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.

AET. 43.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 157
inhabitants of the town, and reluctance to burn their
houses and property, were motives for this forbearance.
Congress, either participating this sentiment, or willing
to hazard the consequences, hinted their wishes to the
General by suggesting, that, "if he thought it practicable
to defeat the enemy and gain possession of the town,
it would be advisable to make the attack upon the first
favorable occasion, and before the arrival of reinforcements, which Congress apprehended might soon be
expected." Another council was called, a month after
the above, to consider this suggestion, and again there
was a unanimous voice against it. Whatever Washington's own opinion may have been, he was constrained to acquiesce in silence; for it would have been
highly imprudent to undertake such an enterprise, while
all the officers were opposed to it, and his actual condition demanded concealment from the public.
Occasional cannonades and skirmishes took place at
the advanced points on the lines, but the enemy showed
no disposition to leave their intrenchments. In fact,
they never meditated an attack, unless reinforcements
should arrive. General Gage wrote to Lord Dartmouth,
that such an attempt, if successful, would be fruitless,
as there were neither horses nor carriages for transportation, and no other end could be answered than to
drive the Americans from one strong-hold to another.
The time was drawing near when it would be necessary to form a new army. The Connecticut and
Rhode Island troops were engaged to serve only till the
beginning of December, and none beyond the end of
that month. The attention of Congress had been called
to the subject, and a committee of three members was
appointed to repair to the camp, and meet delegates
from the New England colonies, for the purpose of
devising the most effectual means of continuing, reguVOL. I. N