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.

PARTII.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 117
in the river; we know, also, that, besides having the
Delaware frigate, they are busily employed in preparing
two other large armed vessels at the city. If, in addition to these, they should by surprise or force obtain
the frigates above Bordentown, and bring the whole in
aid of their ships in a general attack upon our little fleet
thus surrounded, we may, without the spirit of divination, but too easily foretell the consequences. Their
destruction will be certain and inevitable.
At present these frigates are of no use to us, while
the crews are greatly wanted. Considered therefore in
this point of view simply, the measure proposed, in my
opinion, is highly expedient; and under the prevailing
sentiment, that the enemy cannot hold Philadelphia,
unless their shipping get up, it appears absolutely necessary. The fatal consequences, that may result from
suffering those frigates to fall into the enemy's hands,
are too obvious to need more arguments to prove them;
and when it is considered of how little importance they
are to us in their present situation, prudence requires
that they should be so disposed of as to be hereafter
useful, and put out of the way of being destroyed by
the enemy or being rendered serviceable to them.
Upon the whole, I take the liberty of delivering it
as my clear opinion, that the frigates ought to be immediately and with the utmost secrecy sunk, either with
or without ballast, so as to make it next to impossible
to raise them, without men's diving either to unlade
them or fix their purchases, and that their crews should
be sent dowTn to the fleet below, where sailors are exceedingly wanted.* If I have stepped out of the line
W When the Navy Board was first established at Bordentown, and the
frigates were taken up the river to that place, a plan was formed to defend them by a battery on the shore, and this plan was approved by
Congress. But as soon as the Board received the above letter from