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.

498 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [APPENDnJX.
entire belief, that they were not; though I must admit, that my
means of information were more limited, than may have been the
case with others still living to answer the inquiry. My first entrance
on public life was in May, 1776, when I became a member of the
Convention in Virginia, which instructed her delegates in Congress
to propose the Declaration of Independence. Previous to that date I
was not in sufficient communication with any under the denomination of leaders, to learn their sentiments, or views, on that cardinal
subject.
"I can only say, therefore, that so far as ever came to my knowledge, no one of them ever avowed, or was understood to entertain a
pursuit of independence, at the assembling of the first Congress, or
for a considerable period thereafter. It has always been my impression, that a reestablishment of the colonial relations to the parent
country, as they were previous to the controversy, was the real object
of every class of the people, till despair of obtaining it, and the exasperating effects of the war, and the manner of conducting it, prepared.the minds of all for the event declared on the 4th of July, 1776, as
preferable, with all its difficulties and perils, to the alternative of submission to a claim of power, at once external, unlimited, irresponsible,
and under every temptation to abuse from interest, ambition, and revenge. If there were individuals, who aimed at independence, their
views must have been confined to their own bosoms, or to a very confidential circle."
It was the belief, before the meeting of the Congress, particularly
of the more cautious and moderate, that petitions to the King and
Parliament by a body of representatives assembled from all parts of
the colonies, would be respected, and in the end procure redress.
They, on the contrary, who, like Washington, had no confidence in
the success of this measure, looked forward to the probable issue of
arms, but still without any other anticipations than, by a resolute vin-.dication of their rights, to effect a change in the conduct and policy
of the British government, and restore the colonies to their former condition. It was not till these petitions were rejected with a show of
indifference, if not of contempt, that the eyes of all were opened to
the necessity of unconditional submission, or united resistance.
From that time the word independence was boldly pronounced, and
soon became a familiar sound to the ears of the whole people.
On the 10th' of November, 1775, Mr. Richard Penn, who had
been governor of Pennsylvania, and had left Philadelphia in the
preceding July, was'examined before the House of Lords, while the
petition from Congress, which had been brought.over and presented