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.

PART I.1 THE FRENCH WAR. 217
TO THE EARL OF LOUDOUN.
Fort Loudoun, February, 1757.
MY LORD,
The posture of affairs in this quarter is really melancholy, and the prospect was rendered more gloomy
while there appeared no hopes of amendment; but,
from the presence of your Lordship at this time in the
Dominion, we conceive hopes of seeing these threatening clouds dispelled.
The sums of money, which have been granted by this
colony to carry on the war, have been very considerable; and to reflect to what little purpose is matter of
great concern, and will seem surprising to those, who
are not acquainted with the causes, and the confusion
with which all our affairs have hitherto been conducted,
owing to our having no fixed object, nor pursuing any
regular system, or plan of operation.
As I have studied with attention and care the nature
of the service, have been myself engaged in it from the
beginning of the present broils, and an eyewitness to all
the movements and various proceedings, I beg leave to
offer a concise and candid account of our circumstances
in their resolution, without alleging any other reason, than that it was in
pursuance of Lord Loudoun's desire.
"It cannot be a difficult matter to guess, who was the author and promoter of this advice and resolution, or by whom Lord Loudoun has been
persuaded, that the place is of such importance. But supposing it were
really so, it ought to be defended by the people in whose province it is
[Maryland], or at least at the expense of the three colonies jointly, and
our own frontiers not left exposed for the defence of a place, from which
we cannot receive the least advantage or protection. The present unhappy state of our country must fill the mind of every well-wisher to it
with dismal and gloomy apprehensions; and without some speedy alterations in our counsels, which may God send, the fate of it must soon be
determined."
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