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.

PARTI11.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 119
I very much approve of your intention of reinforcing
General Greene, as soon as circumstances will admit,
and as strongly as possible. If he can only maintain
the advantages he has already gained in the Carolinas
and Georgia, the British ministry will make a very different figure in the political scene from that, which it
is plain they expected, by Lord George Germain's letters of March last.
Private Letter, July 30th. —I take your private
letter of the 20th in the light which you wish it, that
of an unreserved communication from one friend to
another; and I should be wanting in candor, were I
not to expose my sentiments to you in as free a manner. I am convinced, that your. desire to be with
this army arises principally from a wish to be actively
useful. You will not, therefore, regret your stay in
Virginia until matters are reduced to a greater degree
of certainty, than they are at present, especially when
I tell you, that, from the change of circumstances
with which the removal of part of the enemy's force
send Tarleton into Amelia, but was disappointed in the stores, which he
expected to find, and which had been previously removed. I thought at
first the cavalry would join Rawdon, and detached Wayne and Morgan
either to manceuvre Tarleton down, or to determine his course. Upon
this he retired with precipitation towards Portsmouth, where the British
army is for the present.
"From every account it appears, that a part of the enemy will embark. The light infantry, the guards, the thirtieth regiment, the Queen's
rangers are, it is said, destined to New York. Of this I have sent accounts by water to Rhode Island, but question if the boats will arrive.
My opinion was, that the cavalry would push towards Carolina; but their
late movements seem to indicate a different intention. Lord Cornwallis,
I am told, is much disappointed in his hopes of command. I cannot
find out what he does with himself. Should he go to England, we are,
I think, to rejoice at it. He is a bold and active man, two dangerous
qualities in this southern war." - MS. Letter, JMalvern Hill, July 20th.
i What is here said, respecting Lord Cornwallis's disappointment as to
his command, is in allusion to his succeeding Sir Henry Clinton, who
it had been supposed would resign. He had for some time solicited
his recall.