***George Washington to Henry Knox, Dec. 26^th^, 1786***

> Mount Vernon, December 26, 1786.

My dear Sir: Nothing but the pleasing hope of seeing you under this roof
in the course of last month, and wch. I was disposed to extend even to
the present moment, has kept me till this time from acknowledging the
receipt of your obliging favor of the 23d of October. Despairing now of
that pleasure, I shall thank you for the above letter, and the
subsequent one of the 17th. instr., which came to hand yesterday
evening.

Lamentable as the conduct of the Insurgents of Massachusetts is, I am
exceedingly obliged to you for the advices respecting them; and pray
you, most ardently, to continue the acct. of their proceedings; because
I can depend upon them from you without having my mind bewildered with
those vague and contradictory reports which are handed to us in
Newspapers, and which please one hour, only to make the moments of the
next more bitter. I feel, my dear Genl. Knox, infinitely more than I can
express to you, for the disorders which have arisen in these States.
Good God! who besides a tory could have foreseen, or a Briton predicted
them! were these people wiser than others, or did they judge of us from
the corruption, and depravity of their own hearts? The latter I am
persuaded was the case, and that notwithstanding the boasted virtue of
America, we are far gone in every thing ignoble and bad.

I do assure you, that even at this moment, when I reflect on the present
posture of our affairs, it seems to me to be like the vision of a dream.
My mind does not know how to realize it, as a thing in actual existence,
so strange, so wonderful does it appear to me! In this, as in most other
matter, we are too slow. When this spirit first dawned, probably it
might easily have been checked; but it is scarcely within the reach of
human ken, at this moment, to say when, where, or how it will end. There
are combustibles in every State, which a spark might set fire to. In
this State, a perfect calm prevails at present, and a prompt disposition
to support, and give energy to the foederal System is discovered, if the
unlucky stirring of the dispute respecting the navigation of the
Mississippi does not become a leaven that will ferment, and sour the
mind of it.

The resolutions of the prest. Session respecting a paper emission,
military certificates, &ca., have stamped justice and liberality on the
proceedings of the Assembly, and By a late act, *it* seems very desirous
of a General Convention to revise and amend the foederal Constitution.
Apropos, what prevented the Eastern States from attending the September
meeting at Annapolis? Of all the States in the Union it should have
seemed to me, that a measure of this sort (distracted as they were with
internal commotions, and experiencing the want of energy in the
government) would have been most pleasing to them. What are the
prevailing sentiments of the one now proposed to be held at
Philadelphia, in May next? and how will it be attended ? You are at the
fountain of intelligence, and where the wisdom of the Nation, it is to
be presumed, has concentered; consequently better able (as I have had
abundant experience of your intelligence, confidence, and candour to
solve these questions.

The Maryland Assembly has been violently agitated by the question for a
paper emission. It has been carried in the House of Delegates, but what
has, or will be done with the Bill in the Senate I have not yet heard.
The partisans in favor of the measure in the lower House, threaten, it
is said, a secession if it is rejected by that Branch of the
Legislature. Thus are we advancing. In regretting, which I have often
done with the deepest sorrow, the death of our much lamented frd.
General Greene, I have accompanied it of late with a quære, whether he
would not have prefered such an exit to the scenes which it is more than
probable many of his compatriots may live to bemoan.

In both your letters you intimate, that the men of reflection, principle
and property in New England, feeling the inefficacy of their present
government, are contemplating a change; but you are not explicit with
respect to the nature of it. It has been supposed, that, the
Constitution of the State of Massachusetts was amongst the most
energetic in the Union; May not these disorders then be ascribed to an
endulgent exercise of the powers of Administration? If your laws
authorized, and your powers were adequate to the suppression of these
tumults, in the first appearances of them, delay and temporizing
expedients were, in my opinion improper; these are rarely well applied,
and the same causes would produce similar effects in any form of
government, if the powers of it are not enforced. I ask this question
for information, I know nothing of the facts.

That G. B will be an unconcerned Spectator of the present insurrections
(if they continue) is not to be expected. That she is at this moment
sowing the Seeds of jealousy and discontent among the various tribes of
Indians on our frontier admits of no doubt, in my mind. And that she
will improve every opportunity to foment the spirit of turbulence within
the bowels of the United States, with a view of distracting our
governments, and promoting divisions, is, with me, not less certain. Her
first Manoeuvres will, no doubt, be covert, and may remain so till the
period shall arrive when a decided line of conduct may avail her.
Charges of violating the treaty, and other pretexts, will not then be
wanting to colour overt acts, tending to effect the grt. objects of
which she has long been in labour. A Man is now at the head of their
American Affairs(1) well calculated to conduct measures of this kind,
and more than probably was selected for the purpose. We ought not
therefore to sleep nor to slumber. Vigilance in watching, and vigour in
acting, is, in my opinion, become indispensably necessary. If the powers
are inadequate amend or alter them, but do not let us sink into the
lowest state of humiliation and contempt, and become a byword in all the
earth. I think with you that the Spring will unfold important and
distressing Scenes, unless much wisdom and good management is displayed
in the interim. Adieu; be assured no man has a higher esteem and regard
for you than I have; none more sincerely your friend, and more Affecte.
etc.

P. S. Mrs. Washington joins me in every good wish for you and Mrs. Knox,
and in congratulatory Compts. on the late addition to your family. Will
you be so obliging as to give the enclosed a safe conveyance. I have
recd. one or two very obliging letters from Genl. Tupper(2) whilst he
was in the Western Country and wish to thank him for them; but know not
in what part of Massachusetts he lives.

\[Note 1: Foreign Secretary Francis Osborne, Fifth Duke of Leeds.\]

\[Note 2: Benjamin Tupper.\]

**\[Massachusetts Historical Society\]**

**[The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress,
1741-1799](http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwhome.html)**

**The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript
Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.**