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.

IET. 44.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 225
felt as the centre and moving spring of the operations
over which he had control. No man was more vigilant
in seeing that every thing was properly done; but he
was willing that others should be the agents, or the
contrivers, and that every one should have the credit
and the praise of his worthy deeds. In the present
instance, therefore, when Congress or-the governments
of the States voluntarily relieved him from a part of his
task, which they sometimes did while he possessed the
dictatorship, so far was he from thinking it an encroachment on his authority or an interference, that he expressed satisfaction and thanks.
To the main point, however, of reforming and
recruiting the army, he gave his immediate and earnest
attention. In advancing this object, he employed the
powers with which he was invested to their fullest
extent. The mode of appointing officers was one of
the most serious defects in the system recently established by Congress. Some of the States had neglected
to complete their appointments; and generally these
were made with so little judgment, and with such a
disregard of military rules, that officers without worth
or experience had been put over the heads of those,
who were accustomed to service, and had given proofs
of their valor and ability. By his power to displace,
and to fill up vacancies, Washington rectified these
errors as far as prudence would permit. The appointments for the sixteen additional battalions of infantry,
and the new regiments of light-horse, artillery, and
engineers, being wholly in his hands, he took care to
provide for meritorious officers, who had been overlooked
by the States; thus removing their disgust, securing
a valuable accession to the army, and inducing many
privates to reenlist, who had participated in the dissatisfaction of their officers. His rule in this respect is
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