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.

APPENDIX.] THE GREAT MEADOWS. 465
Mr. Villiers pays himself no great compliment in saying, we were
struck with a panic when matters were adjusted. We surely could
not be afraid without cause, and if we had cause after capitulation,
it was a reflection upon himself.
"I. do not doubt, but your good nature will excuse the badness of
my paper, and the incoherence of my writing; think you see me in a
public house in a crowd, surrounded with noise, and you hit my case.
You do me particular honor in offering your friendship; I wish I
may be so happy as always to merit it, and deserve your correspondence, which I should be glad to cultivate."
In September, somewhat more than two months after the capitulation, Captain Mackay wrote to Washington from Will's Creek, stating that he had recently returned from Philadelphia, and adding, —
"I had several disputes about our capitulation, but I satisfied every
person, that mentioned the subject, as to the articles in question, that
they were owing to a bad interpreter, and contrary to the translation
made to us when we signed them."
No more needs be said to show the true light, in which the articles
of capitulation were understood by Washington and his officers. It
is not to be inferred, however, that M. de Villiers was knowingly
guilty of an imposition, in regard to the clause relating to the death
of his brother. On the contrary, it seems more than probable, that
he really believed the report of the assassination, for he had received
no other intelligence, or explanation, than the rumor brought to
M. de Contrecceur by the Canadian and the savages. This fact,
however, does not lessen the injury done to Washington, in seriously
using the articles of capitulation as a historical document to sanction
a charge, equally untrue in all its essential particulars, and unjust in
its application.
When the Virginia House of Burgesses met in August, they requested the Governor to lay before them a copy of the capitulation, and, upon a due consideration of the subject, passed a vote of thanks to Colonel Washington and his officers " for their bravery and gallant defence
of their country." The names of all the officers were enumerated,
except those of the major of the regiment, and of Captain Vanbraam,
the former of whom was charged with cowardice, and the latter of
having acted a treacherous part in his interpretation of the articles.
The Burgesses, also, in an address to the Governor, expressed their
approbation of the instructions he had given to the officers and forces
sent on the Ohio expedition. In short, all the proceedings of the
campaign were not only approved, but applauded, by the representatives of the people, and by the public generally. A pistole was
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