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.

276 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [ET. 46.
incumbent upon me to thank you for the honorable
but partial mention you have made of my character;
and to assure you, that it will ever be the first wish
of my heart to aid your pious endeavours to inculcate
a due sense of the dependence we ought to place in
that all-wise and powerful Being, on whom alone our
success depends; and, moreover, to assure you, that,
with respect and regard, I am, Reverend Sir, &c.,
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Head-Quarters, 14 March, 1778.
SIR,
This will be presented to you by Count Pulaski,
who, from a conviction that his remaining at the head
of the cavalry was a constant subject of uneasiness to
the principal officers of that corps, has been induced
us, or that we must have employed them." Lord North said, on the
same side, "that, in respect to the employment of Indians, he looked
upon it as bad, but unavoidable."
Governor Pownall, who had resided long in America, and understood
the Indian character perfectly, was of the same opinion. He proposed
a scheme of his own. " I know," said he, " and therefore speak directly,
that the idea of an Indian neutrality is nonsense; delusive, dangerous
nonsense. If both we and the Americans were agreed to observe a strict
neutrality in not employing them, they would then plunder and scalp
both parties indiscriminately on both sides. Although this is my opinion,
founded on the knowledge and experience I have had in these matters,
yet I am persuaded, that if we and the Americans would come to some
stipulation, or convention, that we would mutually and in a spirit of good
faith not suffer the Indians to intermeddle, but consider and act against
them as enemies, whenever they did execute hostilities against any of
the British nation, whether English or Americans, all this horrid business
might be prevented, or at least in a great measure restrained." Governor Pownall enlarged upon his scheme, and even offered to proceed
himself to Congress, if duly authorized, and use his endeavours with
that body to carry it into effect. - Almon's Parliamentc-y Register, Vol.
VIII. pp. 349, 353, 357.
M ar. Evans was chaplain to Poor's New Hampshire brigade.