Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-11-17

man, haze been 10 see this unhappy
breach forever closed bat. unfortu-
nateiy for both countries, those, Who
long siuce projected the present crisis,
and influence the councils Of America,
have views very distant from accom- ,
mediation.
lam, sir. your most obedient. hum.
Bile servaut. THOMAS GAGE.
GEoRoE WAsuiNo1ox, Esq.
Iis.p orASrrns. Cambridge, Aug. 10. i75s.
Sir: | addressed you on the eie
venth instant in terms which gave the
fairest scope for the exercise Of that
humanity and politcness which were
supposed to form part Of your cha.
racier. l demonstrated with you ON
the unworthy treatment shewn To the
officers and citizens Of America, whom
the fortune Of war, chance, or mista-
ken confidence, had thrown into YOUR
hands.
Whether British or American mer-
CIV, fortitude, and patience, are most
pre- OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES our virtuous cit
liens, whom the hand Of tyranny has
forced into arms, to defend their wives,
their children, and their property, or
the mercenary instruments Of iawiess
domination, avarice and revenge, best
deserve the appellation Of rebels, and
the punishment Of that cord, which
your affected ciemency has forborne to
insiict; whether the authority under
which act 10 usurped. or founded up
on the genuine principles Of liberty,
were altogether foreign to the subject.
! purposeIy avoided all political dis.
QUESTION nor shall now avail my
self Of those advantages, which the sa-
cred cause Of my country, of liberty,
and human nature. gives me over you,
much less shall stoop to retort an in
vective. But the intelligence you say
you have received from our army re-
quires a reply. Ihave taken time, sir,
to make strict inquiry, and find it has
not the least foundation III truth. Not
only your officers and soldiers have
been treated with a tenderness due to
fellow citizens and brethren, but even
those execrable PARTICLES, whose coun :
ellis and aid have deluged their coun-
try with blood, have been protected
from the fury OF justly cnraged peo-
pie. Far from compelling or permit.
ting their assistance, l am embarrassed
with the numbers Who crowd to our
camp, animated with the purcst prin-
ciPles Of virtue, and love Of their coun.
try. You advise me to give free ope-
ration to truth, to punish misrepresen
tation and falsehood. lf experience
stamps value upon counsel, yours must
have q weight which few can claim
You best can tell how far the convul-
sion. which has brought such ruin on
both countries, and shaken the mighty
empire OF Britain to its oundation, may
be traced to these malignant causes.
You affect, sir. to despise all rank,
not derived from the same source with
Jour own. ] cannot conceive one
more honor able than that which flows
from the interrupted choice of brave
and free people, the purest source and
original fountain Of all power. Far
from making it plea for cruelty, a
mind Of true magnanimity and enlarg-
ed ideas would comprehend and re-
spect IL.
What may have been the ministe-
rial views which have precipitated the
present crisis, Lexington, Concord,
and Charlcstown, can best Declare
May that God, to whom you then ap-
pealed. judge between America and
you. Under his providence, those
who influence the councils Of America,
and all the other inhabitants Of the u
nited Colonies, at the hazard Of their
lives, are determined to hand down to
posterity those just aud invaluable
privileges which they received from
their ancestors.
shall now, sir, close my correspon.
depce with you, perhaps forever. If
your officers, our prisoners, receive a
treatment from me, different from what
| wished to shew them, they and you
will remember the occasion Of it.
am, sir, your very humble servant,
G.. WASHINGTON.
General GAGE.