The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-30

| In Lno ''CrallSInau. dn EuBiioh hS"oPNPSA
bearing date January 8, ITS, is printed the
following letter from General Washington to
bis wife. It never reached her hands, having
been intercepted by the British authorities
but It contains matter of peculiar interest, as
showing the inner life of the Patriot amid the
most trying scenes OF the Revolution
| JUNE "a, 1776.
To Mrs. Washingtop-My Dearest Life and
Love You have hurt me, know not how
much. by the information In your last, that
INV letters to you have lately been less fire.
oueht because | have felt less concerned for
You. The suspicion is most unjust; may l not
add, it Is most unkind? Bave we lived, now
almost score OF years, IN the S closesI ana
dearest copjugal Intimacy, to 80 little purpose
that, on 50 appearance OF lnattention to yon,
and when you might haVe accounted for me IN
thousand ways more natural and more prob
able, you should pitch upon that single mo-
tive which alone is Injurious to me? have not,
I own, wrote 30 oflen to you as wished, and
as ought. But think of my situation, and
then ask your heart If be without ex.
cuse. We are not, my dearest, IN circum-
stances the most favorable 10 our happiness;
but let ns not, beseech yon; Idly make them
worse BY indulglng suspicious and aprehen-
sions, which minds In distress are but too apt
to give way to. 1 never was, as you nave
often told me, even In my better and more
disengaged day, 80 attentive to the little pune
tilios of friendship as, 1t may be, become me,
but nv heart tells me there never was mo-
ment In my life, since I first knew you, In
which did not eleave and cling to you With
the warmest affection, and 1t must cease TO
beat ere It can cease to wish fer your happl-
ness above anything on earth. congratulate
YOU most cordially on the fair prospects OF
recovery of your amiable daugnter.ln-law;
nor can / wonder that this second loss OF
little one should effect you. fear the fatlgues
of a Journey and the perpetual agitations of
a camp were TOO much for her. They are,
however, both young and healthy, 80 that
there can be little doubt OF their soon repair
ing the loss. AnG now will my dearest love
permit me, q little more earnestly than nave
ever yet done, to press you to consent 10 tnat
80 necessary, 30 sale, 80 easy, though 30
dreadful thing, the being innoculated 1t
was always advisable, but at this juncture 1t
seems to be almost absolutely necessary.
am far from being sure that that reckless
madman, our quondam Governor, from the
mere lust OF doing mischief, will not soon be-
take himself to carrying on predatory war
In our rivers. And as Potomac Will cer-
tainly be thought most favorable for his pur-
poses, as affording him scope to keep within
the reach of annoyance, have little reason to
fiatter myself that 1t would not be particular
" pleasing to him TO vent his spite at my
house. Let him; it would affect me as lC
might affect you, and for this reason among
others, l wish you out OF his reach: Yet
think I wond not have you quit your
house professedly from an apprehen.
sion of visit from him. An appearance OF
fearfuIness and limidIty even In woman OF
nv family might have bad effect; but must
be something more or less than man not 10
wish YOU out of danger which, to say the least,
must be disgreeable to yon and could do no
good to any one. All this makes for your GO
ing 10 Philadelphia, Face OF perfect se-
curIty; and 1t would be almost wortn whlie aais
pretence 1t furnishes you with quitting Vir-
eina, at time when could not but be ex-
csednpiy uneasy at your remaining IN IL.
But I hatter myself any further arguments
will be unnecessary when shall add, as l now
do, that till you have had the smallpox, anx-
iously as else should wish for 1t, never
winter here in quarters with me. l would
have Lud Washington Immediately remove
all the unmarried and suspicious of the
slaves to the quarters ln Frederick. The har-
yestIng must be got in by hirelngs. Let him
keep any large stock Of grain trod oul, especl-
ally at the mill or within the reach OF water
carriages; and, in particular, let as little as
may be lett at CIifton's quarters. 1t will not
be TOO late even In the nrst week Of July 10
sow the additional supply OF hemp and flax
seed which Mr.. -.ifin has procured for me In
Philadelphia, and which l hope will be With
YOU before this letter. For obvious reasons
you will not SOW 1t on the Island, nor by the
water side. But I hope you will have good
crop on the ONO. If Bridgey continues reirac-
torv M and rlotous, though l know you can Ill
spare him, let him by oil means be sent off, as
T'hope Custls's boy Joe already ls for his saucl-
ness at Cambridge. My attention is this mo-
ment called off to the discovery, or pretended
discovery, of most Wild and daring plot. 1t
Is impossible as yet to develop the mystery in
which 1t either Ia or s not supposed TO 6e in
volved. This much only I fnd out, with
lies on both sides. No doubt 1t will
make good deal of noise In the coun.
try: and there are some who think 1t
useful 10 have the minds OF the people kept
continually on the fret by rumors of this sort.
For nv part I, who am said 10 be the object
principally aimed at in 1t, lind myself perfectly
al my ease. and have mentioned 1t 10 You
only from an apprehension that, hearing 1t
from others and not from me, you might i'm
aelne.I was In the midst of danger that knew
not of. The perpetual sollcllude OF your poor
heart about me Is certainly highly flatterlng to
me, yet should be happy to be able 10 quiet
your fears. Why do you complain Of my re-
serve, or how could you Imagine that DIS
trusted either your prudence or fidelity?
have the highest opinion OF them both. But
why should tease you with tedious details Of
schemes and Views which are perpetually
varying, and which, therefore, might not i'm
probably mslead when | mean 10 inform you?
Suffice 1t that say. what have often before
told you, that as far as have control Of them,
all our preparations aim only at peace. Neither
do at this moment see the least likelihood
OF there being any considerable military
operation this season; and if not this season,
certainly 10 no other. 1t Is impossible to sup
pose that in the leisure and quiet Of winter
Quarters men will not have the virtue to lis
ten to the dictates of plain common sense and
sober reason. The only true interest OF both