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.

PART II.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 323
been given for a troop of dragoons. You will readily
determine how this difference will operate; what effects it must produce. Men may speculate as they
will; they may talk of patriotism; they may draw a
few examples from ancient story, of great achievements
performed by its influence; but whoever builds upon
them, as a sufficient basis for conducting a long and
bloody war, will find himself deceived in the end.
We must take the passions of men as nature has given
them, and those principles as a guide, which are generally the rule of action. I do not mean to exclude
altogether the idea of patriotism. I know it exists,
and I know it has done much in the present contest.
But I will venture to assert, that a great and lasting
war can never be supported on this principle alone.
It must be aided by a prospect of interest, or some
reward. For a time it may, of itself, push men to
action, to bear much, to encounter difficulties; but it
will not endure unassisted by interest.
The necessity of putting the army upon a respectable footing, both as to numbers and constitution, is
now become more essential than ever. The enemy
are beginning to play a game more dangerous, than
their efforts by arms (though these will not be remitted in the smallest degree), which threatens a fatal
blow to the independence of America, and of course to
her liberties. They are endeavouring to ensnare the
people by specious allurements of peace. It is not
improbable they have had such abundant cause to be
tired of the war, that they may be sincere in the terms
they offer, which, though far short of our pretensions,
will be extremely flattering to minds, that do not penetrate far into political consequences; but, whether they
are sincere or not, they may be equally destructive; for,
to discerning men nothing can be more evident, than