The Baron DeKalb [pp. 141-202]

1852.] T~e Baron DeKaib. 165
presume that a more valuable acquisition, for your army, could not
perhaps be made. With this, sir, I will close, and assure you of
the respectful esteem with which I have the honour to be
Your Excellency's most obedient and very humble servant,
The BARON DEKALB.
"AT CAMP, NEAR VALLEY FORGE, 23D JAN., 1~t~8.
"P. S. The younger brother of M. d~~ la Neuville is also spoken
of as a very promising gentleman."
The next letter is also brief. It relates chiefly to an
affair, which was productive of much embarrassment and
bad feeling at the time, to say nothing of certain imputations of bad faith-namely, the ratification and carrying
out of the terms of the treaty of capitulation, made by
Burgoyne, at his surrender. The event does not need that
we should dwell upon it, as the facts are sufficiently stated
in most of the histories, and we have nothing new to offer,
in this place, by way of comment upon them.
"AT CAMP, VALLEY FoRGE, 1sr Fxn., l~~8.
"SIR:-The honour of your letter, 22d January, was delivered
to me when at llead-Quarters, and of the day, [i. e. commandant
for that day,] so I could write you but a few lines, by the Marquis
de Laf~~'yett~-delaying [in order] to write you a longer letter, after
having received the resolve of Congress you hinted at; and though
I did not get [have not got] as yet, the said resolve,' and the reasons
for the same, I am confident that all the courts of Europe cannot
but approve your proceedings, on account of having susp~nded the
embarkation of Gen. Burgoyne's army until il~e convention be ratifled by the, King of Great Britain. In sever~l of my letters, to 6e
con~rnunicated to the Fr~nch ministry, I gave it as my opinion, that
Congress should insist on such ratification, or there would be no
security fUr fulfilling the same-the English court, as well as their
commanders of fleet and army, not scrupling of [at] breaking any capitulation. Besides this very good reason of security, another good
will be the result of this resolve: for if the king refuses, you have
a full right to detain these prisoners; an~ if he coin plies, he acknowledges the acts of Congress, and, in some measure, the independence of the States. I think it will be looked upon by all foreign
courts as a prudent and necessary step, and be approved by them.
I am, with great respect, your Excellency's most obedient and
most humble servant,
BARON DEKALB."
[ P. 5.] "Be pleased to excuse the badness of my writing. I
was in a hurry to have done all the letters I have to send to France