New-York tribune., 1871-09-27
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
WAsHINGTONs PRIVATE CHARACTER
A CONCLUSIVE BIT OF NEW TESTIMONY.
a ihe EDITOR 81 fks Trtbwns.

A CONCLUbIVH OH NEW TEoAAaONA'
TO ne Edttor sf fAs Trtbwns.
SIR l noticed recently, in The TRIBUNE
o communication on the vexed question. II 1t really
be odessaei of Gen. priists shsfactsrjis
which there was citation OF authorities not atogetn6f
accurate, Il Ia q subject on wlioh. having maze
thorough Investigation Of It. my Judgment very eio
and confess have no sympathy with the iconoonsHo
spirit which finds vent in this direction. From tne aay
OF Sam Adams and James Lowell TO this there mas peco
disposition In certain regions to pick haws In Wasmps
ton-a vlIginian, gentleman and no love. Oh pai'e
ca institutions In spite Of MI. Sparks ndus1i sna
Mr. Eyeretts rhetorical Journalism. 1t has constantly
manifested itself within year. Boston writer trans
lated to Phtiadelphs has made 1t matter OF ooas' n
he had tried to convert Thackeray from bis iooiaHy
Of Washington confess yet bow down In reVerenoo
for him who WAS morally, as In every otner respec
feet chrysolite. But to the evidence:
Your correspondent referred to letter OF Cnariee LOO
p 177s to Gen. Joseph Reed, rejecting on Washpg'on
adding however that Gen. Reed expressed his disDenei
IN the charge There is think, such letter though
Lee, yituperatye and reckless, was quito capaoie "
writing one But there Is letter from Mr.. Reed whlcn
has always seemed to me Conclusive. IL was ~ri''on
November 177s to Gen. Greene In TINS w
ours with reference to Leo and Washington Says
Lee: we are utterly out Aftet aDorfpg 70 convince
me he had great merit at Monmouth, and TO convince
him that he had behaved very Ill, which knew ffom nn
own mouth and my own observation, We have persod
mutually unconvinced only added one pleoe OF advfce
to him. to forbear any reflections on the Commandern
Chief of whom for the first time, have heard slander
on bis private character vx great cruelty 70 MS ssVos
in Virginia and immortality Of life, though they 90
knowledge 1t s 90 very secret that 1t s dcu TO DO
tect It, To mo- who have had 90 good an opportunity 70
know the purity Of the latter and equally believing th
falsehood Of the former from the known excellence OF
his disposition 1t appears nearly bordering on frenzy
that can pity the wretches rather than despise them
The value OF this letter, matter OF evidence results
from It's being private and not written to be seen-tnat
the writer was Of entirely pure private
as Is abundanty shown by hi. familiar oorrespondenoe
now in print aud that had full opportunities OF know
ing Washington thoroughly and well
Mr. Reed was WsshingtOps first Private secretary, 40
companying him from Philadelphia on his appointment
as CommandeninChief In June, ITS, and remaining
with him on terms OF the closest personal intimacy oc
cupying the quarters often the same apartment,
at Cambridge TIL the 2sth Of October. They were
se parsted for the few months, and was In THIS E
teryal that occurred the private correspondence Whch
has attracted much attention, and OF Whicn Mr. vng
says "EioW precious these letters. And now
fortunate that the absence Of Reed from camp shoud
have procured for us such confidential outpourng OF
January '7s Mrs. Washington Joined her husband at
camp In May, Mr. Reed, at Washingto instance was
made Adjuaut and rcjoncd the army again Do
coming q member Of the family Of the Commander-in,
Chief on the 10th May, at New-York From May uu
December they were together. In the Autumn OF ~,
after the fall OF Philadelphia Mr. Reed Joinea Wasng
ton as volunteer remaining near him TIL after tne
battle OF Monmouth In ITS, and In November OF tnst
wear the letter In question was written. bfUDEFT
Orange, N. j., Sept. "a, 1871.