Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-13

out letters comprised in other editions Suppose
critic should examine these omitted letters select from
them sentences parts Of sentences containing pointed
expressions facts which he may deem important and
then charge you with personal motives in such omissions
and amperng with truth would you regard this as fair
liberal construction of your motiyes presume not
Yet case like this would be parallel those of several
Of the examples you have brought forward proofs Of
such charge.
You speak of embellishments" and seem strenuous
10 maintain that have sought embellish Washingtons
letters by omissions The in which you would have
this word understood is very clear To embeish
means adorn. Your first charge of additions might
give countenance theidea Of embellishments, but You
have withdrawn that charge and how omissions are to be
made ornamental you have not explained As this IS
merely an opinion, however, peculiar fancy of your
own not touching facts willing you should continue
entertain the opinion upon such grounds are ssts-
factory to yourself
1t must strange 10 most readers that your lord
ship in distant country, should be the first to discover
the Partially which you aege have been shown the
people Of New Engandn the preparation for the press
selection from Washington papers Fifteen years nave
elapsed since the publication of that work. and yet
American writer in any part of the Union however mach
his perceptions may have been quckened local attach
ments and predictions however sensitive the merits of
his State district in the of the Revolution has
made known such discovery intinated such suspi-
con. How do you account for what you to be
fact that you much better informed this sub
ect than writer's in America who have every inucenent
from personal feeling and from political well social
sympathies examine il in all its relations The simple
truth is that the discovery itself dream of fancy and
the thoroughly il is investigated the complete
~ ii viii be proved to be such.
You appear have been beguiled into misconceptions
by not attending with sufficient local and
circumstances and the actual state Of things through
the country. Ii happened that the the Regolu
ton began in New England, unexpectedly the time, and
without preparation the part of the inhabitants Soon
after the affair at Lexington army drawn together
at Cambridge, which, the time Washington took the
command amounted about sixteen thousand men, two
thirds of whom we're from Massachusetts How was this
army constituted Mostly of who had suddenly left
their poughs at the call Of their country and in the
pectation of brief Of service Among the native
inhabitants there scarcely soldier by profession in
all the colonies With very few EXCEPTIONS the men des
tined fill the ranks of the army practical farmers
mechanics. The officers nearly all from the same
classes.
With these materials army TO be formed and or
ganzed consisting Of independent yeomanry, volunteers
mostly without military experience discipline and when
their short OF service had expired. army
be raised from similar materials and placed under Off
GERS and arrangements All this was to be done
while the whole force of the enemy stationed within
three miles of Washngtons headquarters and supported
BY a strong naval armament in the harbor of Boston
The embarrassments and difficulties of such an under
taking may easily be conceived especially the civil
thory, not yet consolidated very feeble, and the
military power was not recognised beyond the camp No
wonder that the Commander chief pressed all sides
by the harassng vexatons should occasionally show
impatence and utter loud complaints The wonder is
that he bore himself under them with much fortude
and ses-command You inclined to attribute these
vexatons to the peculiar character Of the people their
want Of patriotism and their absorbing selnterest But
the truth is they existed in the very nature of things in
the Of society and the Of the human mind
precisely they would exist any country placed under
the ike circumstances.
If the had begun in any other part Of the Union
similar results have followed This is obvious
those who have had opportunities of forming
Judgment from knowledge of al the facts that one in
America has drawn comparisons unayorable the
exertons of New England during that period nor has
intmated that the New England States did not con-
tribute, with aacrity and promptness their fun proper
ton Of and in support Of the through
out the
But it is my purpose yndicate people who need
yndicaton. Nor should have touched upon the sub
ject ii you had made their supposed want Of public
virtue and high character in measure the ground
work Of your charges against my editorial fidelity.
convinced that your premises and conclusions alike
and unjust. am convinced that no incidents
in the history Of the period question have been record
ed which any intelligent in New England would de-
sire to have concealed and affirm that the idea Of
such concealmen entered my thoughts till it was
suggested by your suspicious and charges
have thus examined all the parts of your letter which
relate to my edition of Washngton's Writings" The
plan upon which the work executed and the princi
Piles adopted in carrying out the plan so fully ex-
planned in my reply to your former structures and in the
work itself that further remarks on those topics are
required.
In making selection from the large Of papers
left BY Washington extending long period, and
remey various in their character, editor could
pect . escape from occasional Of judgment and
opinion Such fair subjects Of criticism but
when you assal motives and thus call in question the
editor fidelity and rectitude you give wide range
critics privilege.
trust my sensbiGty to what your unfounded
animadyersions has betrayed beyond the proper
line Of courtesy diminished the respect which have
been accustomed TO entertain for you as an author and
man. and with which
have the honor to be, my lord your ordships most
obed:ent servant, JARED SPARKS /
CAMBRIDGE, OCTOBER p, 1852.
SLAVE CASE AT PHrLADELPHIa.-The argument in
the case Of George Bordey claimed BY Andrew Pearce
Of Cecil county Maryland, fugitive from service,
took place before Commissioner Ingraham Philade