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 II.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 371
quartermaster and commissary will enable us to stir
and keep pace with the enemy, who, from every account, are busy in preparing for their departure from
Philadelphia; whether for the West Indies, a rendezvous at New York to prepare for their voyage, or for
some other expedition, time only can discover. The
sooner, however, the regimental regulations and other
arrangements are set about, the sooner they will be
finished; and for God's sake, my dear Morris, let me
recommend it to you to urge the absolute necessity of
this measure with all your might.
As the council held at this camp was by order of
Congress, and the members constituting it were pointed
out by them, it was determined, out of respect to that
body, to treat the new members with civility. Indeed,
the wish of all here, that no private differences should
interrupt that harmony, which is so necessary in public
councils, had no small share in the amity that appeared.
Contrary, I own, to my expectation, the same sentiments, respecting the measures to be pursued, pervaded the whole. Our resolutions of consequence were
unanimous,
I was not a little surprised to find a certain gentleman, who, some time ago, when a cloud of darkness
hung heavy over us, and our affairs looked gloomy,
was desirous of resigning, to be now stepping forward
in the line of the army. But if he can reconcile such
conduct to his own feelings, as an officer and a man
of honor, and Congress have no objection to his leaving his seat in another department, I have nothing
personally to oppose to it.* Yet I must think, that
~ General Mifflin had resigned his commissions of major-general and
quartermaster-general, on the 8th of October. His resignation of the
latter office was accepted by Congress, whlen he was appointed to the
Board of War; but the rank and commission of major-general were con