Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-09-07
From llarper's Weekly.
a AkG!I5 EPISTLE.
GEORGE WASHINGTON AS A MAN
HIS VERY DRoLL LETTER ABOUT
BUNKER HILL AND NEW ENGLAND
PEOPLE

On the morning of the Sd Of July,
l77j, the troops at Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts. were drawn up in order upon
the Common to receive tie newly.
elected mmander4in-chief Accom-.
panied by the general Officers uf the
army who were present. Washington
rode on horseback from his quarters
TO the great elmiree that now stands
at the north end of the Common, and
under the shadow of its broad branch
es drew his sword and took c0tliltlanu
of the army.
Washington found affairs In d de-
plOr8ble condition. The army was
composed of a mixed multitude of men
Of every sort, from the honest, high
minded. patriotic citizen 10 the knave
and criminal. There was little discip.
line, Drunkenness, theft, peculatiOn,
falsehOOd, and disobedience were prev
aleiit, and Washington's first duty
was 20 introduce stern system of re-
form. The following copy of an auto
graph letter from Washington to his
nephew, Lund Washington, superin=
tendent of the Mount Vernon proper
tyi Will show hos the cOmmander-in-
chief felt iii fegafd to the condition of
affairs. Tne original of this letter is a
part of the large and valuable collec-
ton belonging to Thomas Adds EN-
met, M. D., who kindly gave permis-
sion TO take "a copy. 1t has never be-
fore been published. 1t is q GeFbutiHL
copy of the original in spelling, gram
mar, and punctuation. This caI eless-
ly written letter shows the home side
OF WashingtOn's character; diVested of
the pOmpus dignity with which tradi-
tion invested him and, by way of
contrast, 1t will be read with interest.
THE LETTER.
CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE
August 20th, 1775.
Deaf Lund, Your letter by Capt
Crince came to my hands last night
/ was glad to learn by it that all are
well-the acct given of the behavior of
the Scotchmen at Port Tobacco & Pts
Getaway surprised and veXed newly
did they Imbark in the cause what
do they say Tor themselves what
does others say of them ?-are they ad-
mitted into company OR Kicked out
OF it?-what does their cOuntrymen
urge in justification of them ?--they
are fertile in invention, and will offer
excuses where excuse can be made
cSnhOt say but I am curious
to learn the reasons why men, who
has subscribed & themselves to each
other e. their country, to stand forth
in defence of il, should lay down their
arms the first moment they were call
ed upon.
Although / t1ever hear Of the mill,
under the direction of Simpson, with
out a degree of warmth 6 vexatiou at
his extreme stupidity, yet, if you can
spare money from Purposes l could
wish to have il sent 10 him, that it
may, if possible, be set going before
the works get ruined & spOilt, and my
whole money perhaps totally lost. II
| am ready to lose Barran's debt to me,
il will be pretty severe stroke upon
the back of Adamsi & and the expense
| am led into by that cOnfounded fel-
low Simpson, and necessarily so In
putting my Lands under the manage
ment Of Cleveland
Spinuing should 60 forward with all
dispatch, as we shall have
nothing else to depend upon II these
disputes continue another year, L can
hardly think that Lord Dunmore can
act so low, aud unmanly part, as to |
think of seizing Mrs. Washington by |
way of revenge upon me however rs
suppose sire is, before this time gone
over To Mr.. Calvertsj & will soon after
return'g, go down to New Kent she |
will be out of his reach for or /
months to come, in which time mat
.ers may, & probably viii, take such
, turn as 10 render her removal either
necessary or quite useless
am nevertheless exceedingly thank
'ul 10 the Gentleman of Alexandra
or theft friendly attention to this
,oint q desire YOU will If ther- is any
ort of reason to suspect thing OF this