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.

302 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [.AT. 26.
TO COLONEL BOUQUET.
Camp, at Fort Cumberland, 2 August, 1758.
SIR,
The matters, of which we spoke relative to the roads,
have, since our parting, been the subject of my closest
reflection; and, so far am I from altering my opinion,
that, the more time and attention I bestow, the more I
am confirmed in it; and the reasons for taking Braddock's road appear in a stronger point of view. To
enumerate the whole of these reasons would be tedious,
and to you, who are become so much master, of the
subject, unnecessary. I shall, therefore, briefly mention
a few only, which I think so obvious in themselves, that
they must effectually remove objections.
Several years ago the Virginians and Pennsylvanians
commenced a trade with the Indians settled on the Ohio,
and, to obviate the many inconveniences of a bad road,
they, after reiterated and ineffectual efforts to discover
where a good one might be made, employed for the purpose several of the most intelligent Indians, who, in the
course of many years' hunting, had acquired a perfect knowledge of these mountains. The Indians, having taken the greatest pains to gain the rewards offered
for this discovery, declared, that the path leading from
Will's Creek was infinitely preferable to any, that could
be made at any other place. Time and experience so
clearly demonstrated this truth, that the Pennsylvania traders commonly carried out their goods by Will's Creek.
Therefore, the Ohio Company, in 1753, at a considerable
expense, opened the road. In 1754 the troops, whom
I had the honor to command, greatly repaired it, as far
as Gist's plantation; and, in 1755, it was widened and
completed by General Braddock to within six miles of