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.

IET. 43.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 139
standing, a point in which military men are always so
sensitive, might be a hazardous experiment. Besides,
the troops already in the field were wholly from the
New England provinces, and it was uncertain how
far they would be reconciled to a commander from
the south, with whom no one among them had a personal acquaintance, and who could not be supposed
to understand their habits, feelings, and prepossessions.
General Ward, who had hitherto been at the head
of the army by the appointment of Massachusetts,
and whose command was cheerfully acquiesced in
by the other New England colonies, was an officer
of experience and ability, and it was questionable in
what light an attempt to supersede him might be
viewed.
These difficulties were deeply felt by the members
of Congress, and examined in all their bearings. Nor
had they come together without previously pondering
the subject, and ascertaining, as far as they could, the
views of men of influence in different places. From
the first Congress they had gone home with most
favorable impressions of the character and talents of
Colonel Washington. All the world acknowledged his
military accomplishments, intellectual resources, courage, coolness, and control over the minds of others.
Five years' experience, in a responsible and arduous
service, had afforded ample proofs of these qualities.
It was fortunate, also, that political motives conspired
to fix the choice on him in preference to any other
person. Virginia was powerful in wealth and numbers, and doubly so in its men of brilliant parts, who
had espoused the cause of the continent with a spirit
and resolution, which had nowhere else been surpassed. To take the commander of the American
armies from that province was a dictate of policy,