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.

304 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [JET. 26.
by passing a defile, and even that, he says, may be
shunned.
Again, it is said, there are many defiles on this road.
I grant that there are some, but I know of none that
may not be traversed; and I should be glad to be informed where a road can be had, over these mountains,
not subject to the same inconvenience. The shortness
of the distance between Raystown and Loyal Hanna is
used as an argument against this road, which bears in it
something unaccountable to me; for I must beg leave to
ask, whether it requires more time, or is more difficult
and expensive, to go one hundred and forty-five miles
in a good road already made to our hands, than to cut
one hundred miles anew, and a great part of the way
over impassable mountains.
That the old road is many miles nearer Winchester
in Virginia, and Fort Frederic in Maryland, than the
contemplated one, is incontestable; and I will here show
the distances from Carlisle by the two routes, fixing the
different stages, some of which I have from information
only, but others I believe to be exact.* From this comF From Carlisle to Fort Duquesne, From Carlisle to Fort Duquesne, by
by way of Raystown. way of Forts Frederic and Cumberland.
Miles. Miles.
From Carlisle to Shippensburg 21 From Carlisle to Shippensburg 21
" Shippensburg to Fort " Shippensburg to ChamLoudoun..... 24 bers's...... 12
4" Fort Loudoun to Fort Lit- " Chambers's to Pacelin's 12
tleton...... 20 " Pacelin's to Fort Frederic 12
" Fort Littleton to Juniatta " Fort Frederic to Fort
Crossing..... 14 Cumberland.... 40
" Juniatta Crossing to
Raystown.... 14 97
- "- Fort Cumberland to Fort
93 Duquesne.... 115
" Raystown to Fort Duquesne..... 100 212
193