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 I.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 289
Gazette, which I send for your perusal. General Robertson, who has for some time past been governor of
New York, is lately appointed commander-in-chief in
America. This information I have from his own letter.
Port Mahon, and the whole island of Minorca, are
certainly surrendered to his Catholic Majesty's arms.
This event is declared in New York; but I am possessed of but few particulars concerning the capitulation. My most cordial congratulations attend your Excellency, and the officers of your army, upon the favors,
which you inform me have, with so much justice, been
conferred by his Most Christian Majesty.* Be assured, Sir, I shall ever feel a most lively interest and
pleasure in every event, which bestows honor or emolument on such deserving characters. The favorable
mention, which the King is pleased to make of me,
demands my warmest and most particular acknowledgments. This honor done me will form an additional,
tie to the gratitude, which already binds me to the
person and interests of his Majesty.
Convinced that the works at Newport would be of
no use to us, and that they might be of infinite importance to the enemy, should they have an intention
to establish a post there, from a bare apprehension of
such an event I have requested the governor of Rhode
Island to have them levelled; pointing him at the same
time to the necessity of preserving Butts's Hill, if possible. The plans for the campaign depending entirely
upon the succours, which will be sent by his Most
Christian Majesty, I can do nothing more than form
opinions upon certain hypotheses. If we should have a
naval superiority, and a force sufficient to attempt New
York, and you have not secure means of transporting
* Some of them had received pensions, others a cross of the order
of St. Louis, and others had been promoted.
VOL. VIII. 37 y