SENG 
546 
with as much fatwfaélion, and retire toa 
private {tation with as much content, as 
ever the wearied pilgrim felt upon his 
fafe arrival in the Holy-land, or haven of 
hope ;—and fhall with moft devoutly, that 
thofe who come after may meet with more 
profperous gales than I haye done, and 
lefs difficulry. If the expeciation of the 
public has not been anfwered by my en- 
deavours; I have more reafons than one 
to regret it; but at prefent fhall only add, 
that a day may come when the public 
caufe is no longer to be benefited by a con- 
cealment of our circumftances; and till 
that period arrives, I fhall not be among 
the firft to difclofe fuch traths as may in- 
jure it, < 
Feb. 1778. 
¢¢ WITH far the createft part of man- 
kind interef& is the governing principle. 
Almoft every man is more or lefs under 
its influence. Motives of public virtue 
may for a time, or in particular inftances, 
actuate men to the obfervance of a conduct 
purely difinterefted, but they are not of 
themfelves fufficient to produce a_perfe- 
vering conformity to the refined dictates 
. andobligations of focial duty. 
Aug, 20, 1778. 
- © TV isnota little pleating, nor lefs won- 
derful to contemplate, that after two years 
manceuvering, and undergoing the ftrangett 
viciffitudes that, perhaps, ever attended 
any one conteft fince the creation; both 
armies are brought back to the very 
point they fet out from, and. that that 
which was the offending party, is now 
reduced to the ule of the fpade and pick- 
axe for defence. ‘The hand of Providence 
has’ been fo confpicuous in all this, that 
he muft be worle than an infidel that lacks 
faith, and more than wicked that has not 
gratitude enough to acknowledge his 
obligations, pare 
r Nov. 14,1778. 
<¢ THE queftion of the Canada expedi- 
tion, as it now flands, appears to me one of 
the moftinterefting that has hitherto agitated 
our national deliberations: I have one ob- 
jection to it, untouched in my public letter, 
which is in my eftimation unfurmountable, 
and alarms all my feelings, forthe true 
and permanent interefis of my country. 
This is, the introdugtion of a large 
body of French troops into Canada, and 
putting them into the pofleffion of the 
capital of that province; attached to them 
by the ties of blood, habits, manners, re- 
ligion, and former conneétion of govern- 
I fear this would he too great a 
temptation to be refitted by any power 
actuated by the ~%cmmon maxims of na- 
/ 
Original Letters 
[July 3, 
tional policy. Canada would be a folid 
acquifition to France on allgecommits j and < 
t numerous inhabitants, 
of Wafpington. 
Dbecaufe of the 
fubjeéts to her by inclination, who would’ 
aid in preferving it under ber power, 
again{t the attempt of every other, France, 
it is apprehended, would have it in her 
power to give law to thefe States. Let us 
fuppofe, that, when the five thoufand troops 
(under the idea of that number twiee as 
many might be introduced) were entered 
into the city of Quebec, they fhould de- 
clare an intention to hold Canada as a 
pledge and furety for the debts due to 
France from the United States. It is a 
maxim, founded on the univerfal experience 
‘of mankind, that no nation isto be trufted 
further than it is bound by its intereft ; 
and no prudent ftatefman or politician will 
venture to depart from it. If France 
fhould even engage in the fcheme, in the’ 
firft inftance, with the pureft intentions ; 
invited by circumftances, fhe would alter 
her views. . 
‘* As the Marquis clothed his propofition, 
when he fpoke of it to me, it would feem 
to originate wholly from himfelf ; but it is 
far from impoffible, that it had its birth 
in the cabinet of France, and was put 
into this artful drefs to give it readier 
currency. I fancy I- read in the eounte- 
nance of fome people, on this occafion, 
more than the difinterefted zeal of allies. 
I hope Iam miftaken, and that’ my fears 
of mifchief make me refine too much, 
and awaken jealoufies that have no faff- 
cient foundation. , Cc. Ww 
Tapprehend this was fent to fome con- 
fidential member of Congrefs, and that 
the propofal of introducing French troops 
into Canada had been communicated to 
Congrefs by Fayette. 
April 22, 1779. 
TO {peak within bounds, ten thouiand 
pouncs will not compentfate the lofs I 
might have avoided by being at home, 
and attending a little to my own concerns. 
T am now receiving a fhilling in the pound 
in difcharge of boads, which ought to 
have been paid me, and would have been 
realifed before I lett Virginia, but for my 
indulgence to the debtors. Alas! what 
is virtue come to,’what a miferable change 
has four. years produced in the tempers 
and difpefitions of the fons of America! 
It realiy fhocks me to think of it. G.W.” 
—=<Tiae 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
TTEMPTS to corfect error have 
A not untrequently contributed ta per- 
petuate it. Aware of W. Ds fuggei- 
LiONs, 
