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.

22 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [A3ET. 49.
The event, which you seem to speak of with regret, my friendship for you would most assuredly have
induced me to impart to you in the moment it happened, had it not been for the request of H —,
who desired that no mention should be made of it.
Why this injunction on me, while. he was communicating it himself, is a little extraordinary. But I complied, and religiously fulfilled it.* With every sentiment
of affectionate regard, I am, &c.
TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.
New Windsor, 22 April, 1781.
MY DEAR MARQUIS,
I have received your several letters, and am extremely concerned at the temper of your detachment,
and the desertions that are taking place. I imagine
however that these would have been nearly as great
ington's Royal Gazette, April 4th, and contained the following extract.
"It was unfortunate (but this I mention in confidence) that the French
fleet and detachment did not undertake the enterprise they are now
upon, when I first proposed it to them. The destruction of Arnold's
corps would then have been inevitable before the British fleet could
have put to sea. Instead of this, the small squadron which took the
Romulus and other vessels was sent, and could not, as I foretold, do
any thing without a land force at Portsmouth." The same ideas, in
nearly the same language, are expressed in the letter to General Schuyler, March 23d, attached to which will be found an explanatory note.
* Alluding to a personal difference, that had occurred between Washington and his aid-de-camp Colonel Hamilton. The particulars may be
seen in the Life of Hamilton, Vol. I. p. 333.
From Lafayette's Letter.-" Considering the footing I am upon with
your Excellency, it would perhaps appear to you strange, that I never
mentioned a circumstance, which lately happened in your family. I was
the first who knew of it, and from that moment exerted every means in
my power to prevent a separation, which I knew was not agreeable to
your Excellency. To this measure I was prompted by affection for you;
but I thought it was improper to mention any thing about it, until you
were pleased to impart it to me." -./pril 15th.