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.

98 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [IET. 45.
in this army, exist more in his own imagination, than
in reality. For it is a maxim with him, to leave no
service of his own untold, nor to want any thing, which
is to be obtained by importunity.
But as I do not mean to detract from him any merit
he possesses, and only wish to have the matter taken
upon its true ground, after allowing him every thing
that his warmest friends would contend for, I would
ask, why the youngest brigadier in the service (for I
believe he is so) should be put over the heads of all
the eldest, and thereby take rank of, and command
gentlemen, who but yesterday were his seniors; gentlemen, who, I will be bold to say, in behalf of some
of them at least, are of sound judgment and unquestionable bravery? If there.was a degree of conspicuous merit in General Conway, unpossessed by any of
his seniors, the confusion, which might be occasioned
by it, would stand warranted upon the principles of
sound policy; for I readily agree, that this is no time
for trifling; but, at the same time that I cannot subscribe to the fact, this truth I am very well assured of
(though I have not directly, nor indirectly, exchanged
a word with any one of the brigadiers on the subject,
nor am I certain that any one has heard of the appointment), that they will not serve under him. I leave
you to guess, therefore, at the situation this army would
be in at so important a crisis, if this event should take
place. These gentlemen have feelings as officers; and
though they do not dispute the authority of Congress
to make appointments, they will judge of the propriety
of acting under them.
In a word, the service is so difficult, and every necessary so expensive, that almost all our officers are
tired out. Do not, therefore, afford them good pretexts
for retiring. No day passes over my head without ap