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. 237
degree of punishment, in the same species prescribed;
and does not imply any authority to change the nature
or quality of it altogether. I am, Sir, &c.
TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.
Valley Forge, 15 February, 1778.
DEAR SIR,
Your letter of the 2d ultimo, from Chantilly, enclosing Lieutenant-Colonel Frazer's orders for the management of the grenadiers and light-infantry in an action,
and upon a march, came to my hands in the course
of last month, and merits my thanks, as it may be of
use to such corps, one of which, consisting of lightinfantry, we are now forming. The enemy are governed by no principles that ought to actuate honest men;
no wonder then, that forgery should be amongst their
other crimes. I have seen a letter published in a
handbill at New York, and extracts from it republished
in a Philadelphia paper, said to be from me to Mrs.
Washington, not one word of which did I ever write.
Those contained in the pamphlet you speak of are, I
presume, equally genuine, and perhaps written by the
same author.* I should be glad, however, to see and
examine the texture of them, if a favorable opportunity
to send them should present.
- Alluding to a number of spurious letters, circulated in the name of
General Washington, which it seems he had not yet seen. Mr. Lee had
said, in the letter to which the above was an answer; —" The arts of
the enemies of America are endless, but all wicked as they are various.
Among other tricks, they have'forged a pamphlet of letters, entitled'Letters from General Washington to Several of his Friends, in 1776.'
The design of the forger is evident, and no doubt it gained him a good
beefsteak from his masters. I would send you this pamphlet, if it were
not too bulky for the post, as it might serve to amuse your leisure hours
during the inaction of winter."