Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-12-10
OLD LETTERS.

The approaching Centennial has given new
interest to old letters, &c., &c., so | venture
to send the inclosed two for publication, one
from Francis Lightfoot Lee to his friend, DR..
Walter Jones, of Richmond county, Va,
favored by the Rev. Mr.. Sebastian - the
other, as model Of clemency. like old Capt.
Cuttle's watch, "has been seldom equalled and
never excelled:"
BALTIMORE, Feb. 3, lit.
My Dear Friend-I this evening received
your letter by Mr. Sebastian, who, | under
stand, intends to leave this tomorrow morn
ing. Tho it is without date, yet by the con-
tents l find it was wrote before you had heard
of the change of our affairs; which, hope, will
something forward the recruiting business.
agree with you that bad management has had
8 greater share 10 our bad success than for
tune, but is it to be wondered at2 plunged at
once into an immense system, without anybody
possessed of the knowledge requisite for the
proper conducting the different departments,
which other nations have acquired by the ex-
perience of ages; continually pressed by pow
ertul enemy, 80 that the present emergency
oecessaryly engrossed all our attention; every
necessary for large army Immediately to be
almost everything on foreigners; a number of
internal enemies exerting all their faculties to
Illustrate our endeavorers-al these things con-
sidered, the wonder. think, is that we have
succeeded 80 we'll Yet, if to these difficulties
short enlistments had not been added, think
We should have finished the war this CAM
paign. How that happened have before in
formed you. We are now much better pro-
vlded with necessarlcs than we were this
time twelve mouths, and expect additional
supplies, though many will fall into the hands
of the enemy, who are we'll Informed and are
now keeping a sharp lookout. | hope the
irigates in our bay will not throw Virginia into
panic. This day we received copy of the
tyrant's speech to his venal Parliament. He
at length acknowledges that be has an arduous
task on hand and demands large supplies :;
says he is assured of the amicable disposition
of the powers of Europe, but which seems to
give him the lie; urges them to put the king
dom into position Of defence; pties us for
prefering the tyranny of factious leaders to
wholesome laws aud liberty. You will soon
see the curious piece in the papers. Nothing
has happened OF consequence since the date of
the iucIosed. Frequent skirmishes, which, for
the most part, are much 10 our favor. Indeed
it is pretty certain the enemy's army is mould
ering fast with sickness, desertion and captures,
which will prevent their attempting anything
Of consequence till reinforced, if General w.
can keep enough Of the militia together till
part Of the new army is raised. Our general
through the whole campaign has shown him
self vastly superior in abilities to the enemy,
and am convinced if he now had 5000 regu-
lars Howe would soon have reason to wish him.
self at Halifax. Such of your medicines as
could be got here sent by Mr.. Crump.
hope you have resolved them loug ere this.
need not tell you how happy it would make
me to see you here. Morgan is displaced and
Shipper in bis room. The sick are in a much
better way. always write in hurry 1t is
now past ii O'Clock. Mrs. Lee, in bed, desires
to be remembered. God bless you.
FRANCIS LIGHTFooT LEE.