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.

PART II.]. THE AMERICAN REX OLUTION. 377
power for carrying such projects as were finally determined upon into execution. It was not simply in conformity with this practice, but upon a perfect conviction
of the propriety and expediency of it, that at the close
of my former campaigns I have thought myself not
only warranted, but impelled by the strongest dictates
of reason and duty, to exert all my influence and abilities in endeavouring to augment our force, and to make
the greatest possible provision in every department for
enabling us to act with vigor at the opening of the next
campaign; and, in thus attempting to perform my duty,
I derived no small share of satisfaction from a consciousness, that I should meet with the approbation
and assistance of my country; being at the same time
so fully acquainted with the designs of the enemy on
the one hand, and with the inclinations of Congress on
the other, that I could not hesitate a moment in my
own mind to decide what general system of measures
was proper to be adopted. But, as the complexion
of our political and military affairs is now entirely
changed by the negotiations for peace, which are carrying on in Europe; as Congress have determined by
the reduction which has lately taken place, that the
number of men engaged on the present establishment
is adequate to the services before us; and as that honorable body have much better opportunities, than any
individual can have, for collecting and comparing the
intelligence necessary to judge, with a degree of certainty, whether peace will be concluded in the course
of the winter, so as to supersede the necessity of any
further military preparations; I could not think myself
at liberty, without having recourse to their sentiments,
to take the same measures and give the same orders,
that I had on all former occasions deemed myself competent to do. On the contrary, I feared to delay any
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