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.

20 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AT. 49.
If you resolve to proceed forward, I shall have one
consolation, which is, that from the present aspect of
things it is perhaps most probable the weight of the
war this campaign will be in the southern States, and
it will become my duty to go there in person, where
I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again. Of
this I would not have you say any thing..fpril 22d.- The reasons assigned in some of your
letters, and others which have occurred to me, chiefly
of a political nature, assure me that great advantages
will be derived from your being wherever the French
army and the American head-quarters are. I therefore not only repeat the offer contained in the enclosed
letter, but accompany it with a wish, that you may return, if you can consistently with your own inclination relinquish your present command for the prospects I have mentioned; not else, as it always has
been and ever will be my wish to make things as
agreeable to you as the nature of the service will admit. I cannot recall the detachment for reasons, which
in my judgment are conclusive. The accidents to
which letters are liable forbid me, unless I could write
to you in cipher, to go into a full explanation of some
matters, of which you seem not to be well informed,
and in which I wish to set you right; but I dare not
attempt it in a common letter, nor will there be any
necessity for it if you return.*
* Lafayette to Washington.-" A letter from you, relating to the delays of the French, makes a great noise at Philadelphia. Indeed, it
gives me pain on many political accounts. There are many confidential
communications, which you once requested from me, and which my peculiar situation with both sides of the alliance would enable me to make;
but having been ordered'from you, and many things I had to say not
being of a nature, which would render it prudent to commit them to paper, these personal services must be out of the question, so long as the
war continues in Carolina."- &Susquehanna Ferry, Ipril 15th.