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.

24 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET. 49.
should have given you an idea so different from the
whole complexion of the intelligence I had received,
concerning the probability of a certain event.* This,
and the situation of our own force, have iduced me
to regard it as barely possible; too precarious to enter
far into our dispositions; possible only in a case,- which
we are not authorized to expect will happen.t I dare
not trust the details on which this opinion is founded
to paper.
The danger to the southern States is immediate and
pressing. It is our duty to give them support. The
detachment with you, all circumstances considered, was
the most proper for the purpose. The project, which
General Greene has lately adopted, adds a particular
motive to continuing its destination. It is essential to
him, that Phillips should be held in check; and we
cannot wholly rely on militia for this. As to a transportation by water, while the enemy command the
Chesapeake and Cape Fear, I do not see how it is
practicable. The only cause of hesitation in my mind,
about sending your corps to the southward, was a
separation from you. I refer you to private letters
accompanying this, one written previously to your last,
the other subsequently. As to our force here, you
know what it was when you left us, and you will know
what it is now, when I tell you that we have as yet
but few recruits. The enemy's present force of regu* An attack upon New York. General Washington probably had reasons to apprehend, that a cooperation of the allies for this object was
not likely to happen, though the views of the French court had not as
yet been received through any direct channel. Colonel Laurens wrote
from Paris, on the 11th of April, that "the ministry did not seem to approve of the siege of New York as an operation for the ensuing campaign." The letter containing this intelligence could not have been re
ceived by Washington at the date of the above to Lafayette.
t The coming of the second French division.