THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 75 



It produced no impression upon the council. On 

 the contrary, says Otis, " we are at a loss to know 

 which is the highest evidence of your virtues the 

 greatness and number of your friends, or the malice 

 and envy of your foes." 1 Good advice is often taken 

 in this way. A century has passed without giving us 

 any further clew to this letter. 



In December it was learned that Sir Henry Clinton 

 was about to start from Boston on an expedition to the 

 southward, and fears were entertained for Rhode 

 Island and New York. Washington accordingly sent 

 Lee to meet the emergency. After stopping at 

 Newport long enough to arrest a few Tory citizens, 

 Lee proceeded in January to New York, where he did 

 good service in beginning the fortifications needed for 

 the city and neighbouring strategic points. On the 

 news of Montgomery's death, he was appointed to 

 command the army in Canada ; but scarcely had he 

 been informed of this appointment when his destina- 

 tion was changed. On the iQth of February, John 

 Adams wrote him, " We want you at New York, we 

 want you at Cambridge, we want you in Virginia, but 

 Canada seems of more importance than any of these 

 places, and therefore you are sent there. I wish you 

 as many laurels as Wolfe and Montgomery reaped 

 there, with a happier fate." From such expressions 

 one may infer that, while Adams had for political 

 reasons urged the appointment of Washington to the 

 chief command of the army, he still placed his main 

 reliance upon the presumed military talents of Lee. 

 At any rate there can be little doubt that the adventurer 

 himself so interpreted them. On the same day a letter 



1 Lee Papers, I. 218. 



