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.

216 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [_ET. 45
tion of the 29th of November. The situation of my
papers and the want of blank commissions prevented
my doing it before. May I venture to ask whether you
are upon your legs again, and, if you are not, may I
flatter myself that you will be soon? There is none,
who wishes more sincerely for this event, than I do, or
who will receive the information with more pleasure.
I shall expect a favorable account upon the subject;
and as soon as your situation will permit, I request
that you will repair to this army, it being my earnest
wish to have your services the ensuing campaign. In
hopes of this, I have set you down in an arrangement
now under consideration, and for a command, which I
trust will be agreeable to yourself, and of great advantage to the public.
I have nothing of importance to inform you of in the
military line, that is new or interesting. The enemy
still remain in possession of Philadelphia, and have secured themselves by a strong chain of redoubts, with
intrenchments of communication from the Schuylkill to
the Delaware. We, on our part, have taken a post on
the west side of the former about twenty miles from
the city, and with much pains and industry have got
the troops tolerably well covered in huts. We have to
regret that we are not in more comfortable quarters,
but these could not be found, unless we had retired to
the towns in the more interior part of the State; the
consequence of which would have been distress to the
virtuous citizens of Philadelphia, who had fled thither
for protection, and the exposure of a considerable tract
of fertile country to ravage and ruin.
I am, dear Sir, with great esteem and regard, &c.