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. 221
I have not heretofore, and why I cannot now, address
you in your public character, or answer you in mine;
but the confidence, which you have been pleased to
repose in me, gives me an opportunity of offering you
my sentiments, as an individual wishing most ardently
to see the peace and union of his country preserved,
and the just rights of the people of every part of it
fully and firmly established.
It is not my business, neither do I think it necessary
now, to discuss the origin of the right of a number
of inhabitants to that tract of country, formerly distinguished by the name of the New Hampshire Grants,
and now known by that of Vermont. I will take it for
granted, that their right was good, because Congress
by their resolve of the 7th of August imply it, and by
that of the 21st are willing fully to confirm it, provided
the new State is confined to certain described bounds.
It appears therefore to me, that the dispute of boundary
is the only one which exists, and that, this being removed, all further difficulties would be removed also,
and the matter terminated to the satisfaction of all parties. Now, I would ask you candidly whether the
claim of the people of Vermont was not for a long time
confined solely, or very nearly, to that tract of country
which is described in the resolve of Congress of the
21st of August last,- and whether, agreeably to the tenor
of your own letter to me, the late extension of your
claim upon New Hampshire and New York was not
more of a political manceuvre, than one in which you
conceived yourselves justifiable. If my first question
be answered in the affirmative, it certainly bars your
new claim; and, if my second be well founded, your end
is answered and you have nothing to do but withdraw
of that territory, in February, 1778, and he acted as such during tlle
revolution.