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.

254 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [ET. 50.
TO JAMES MCHENRY.
Philadelphia, 12 March, 1782.
MY DEAR SIR,
The fair hand, to whom your letter of the 20th of
January was committed, presented it safely, and, as you
rightly observed, the value of it was enhanced thereby.
Good laws, ample means, and sufficient powers, may
render the appointment of your intendant * a public
benefit; and, from the spirit of your people, I hope
these are provided. Without them, the appointment
must be nugatory. Never, since the commencement
of the present revolution, has there been in my judgment a period, when vigorous measures were more consonant with sound policy than the present. The speech
of the British King, and the addresses of the Lords
and Commons, are proofs to my mind of two things;
namely, their Wishes to prosecute the American war,
and their fears of the consequences. My opinion of
the matter is, therefore, that the minister will obtain
supplies for the current year, prepare vigorously for another campaign, and then prosecute the war, or treat
of peace, as circumstances and fortuitous events may
justify; and that nothing will contribute more to the
first, than a relaxation or apparent supineness on the
part of these States. The debates upon the addresses
evidently prove, what I have here advanced, to be true;
for these addresses, as explained, are meant to answer
any purpose the ministers may have in view. What
madness then can be greater, or what policy and economy worse, than to let the enemy again rise upon.our folly
and want of exertion? Shall we not be justly charge* An officer recently appointed by the legislature of Maryland, and
"vested with powers to destroy that disorder in the affairs of the State,
which had arisen chiefly from bad money and want of money."