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.

494 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [APPENDIX.
than the enemy, and have done nothing; that Philadelphia was given
up by your management, and that you have had many opportunities
of defeating the enemy; and many other things as ungenerous and
unjust. These are the low artifices they are making use of. It is
said they dare not appear openly as your enemies, but that the new
Board of War is composed of such leading men as will throw such
obstacles and difficulties in your way, as to force you to resign. Had
I not been assured of these things from such authority, that I cannot
doubt them, I should not have troubled you with this. My, attachment to your person is such, my friendship is so sincere, that every
hint, which has a tendency to hurt your honor, wounds me most
sensibly, and I write this that you may be apprized, and have an eye
toward those men, and particularly General Miffin. He is plausible,
sensible, popular, and ambitious, takes great pains to draw over every
officer he meets with to his own way of thinking, and is very engaging.
" The above, I can with sincerity say, I have written from pure
motives of friendship, and I have no enmity to any of these men, any
further than they are enemies to you. If they are your enemies,
every honest man must naturally conclude they are enemies to their
country, and the glorious cause in which we are engaged, and will
no doubt most strenuously exert every nerve to disappoint their
villanous intentions. That God, of his infinite mercy, may protect
and defend you from all your open and secret enemies, and continue
you in health to finish your glorious undertaking, is the sincere prayer
of your most devoted and obliged humble servant.
THOMAS CONWAY TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.
"; January 10th, 1778. - Sir; I remain in a state of inaction
until such time as' your Excellency will think fit to employ me. I
understand that your aversion to me is owing to the letter I wrote
to General Gates. I have made you a candid answer upon that subject, and such an answer as must satisfy you and every man of a
liberal disposition. There is not a subaltern in Europe but what
will write to his friends and acquaintances, and mention freely his
opinion of the Generals and of the army; but I never heard that the
least notice was taken of these letters. Must such an odious and
tyrannical inquisition begin in this country? Must it be introduced
by the Commander-in-chief of this army raised for the defence of
liberty? It cannot be, and I am satisfied you never had such
thoughts.
" Supposing you, Sir, to be where I am sure you do not mean