The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-07-07

on ACCEPTING COMMAND OF THE AMER.
CAN ARMY.
We have been favored with the following
extract from the Private Memoirs of Wash.
ington," (now in course of publications.
which comprises the letter written by the
venerated Father of his Country to Mrs.
Washington, on the occasion of his accept
ing the command in chief of the American
armies. The letter bears date 18th June,
l775.-Nationdt LatsNigencer.
PHILADELPHIA, June IS, l775.
MY Dearest; | am now set down to
write to you ON subject which fills me with
inexpressible concern, and this concern is
greatly aggravated and increased when re-
fleet upon the uneasiness | know it will give
you. 1t has been determined in Congress
that the whole army raised for the defence
of the American cause shall be nut under
my care. and that is necessary for me to pro-
ceed Immediately to Boston to take upon me
the command of it. You may believe me,
my dear Patsy, when | assure you in the
most solemn manner, that so far from seek
ing this appointment, have used every en-
deavor in my power to avoid it, not only
from my unwilingness to part with you and
the family, but from consciousness of its
being trust too great for my capacity, and
that | should enjoy more real happiness
in one month with you home, than / have
the most distant prospect of finding abroad
if my stay was to be seven times seven years.
But AS 1t has been a kind of destiny that has
thrown me upon this service, | shall hope
that my undertaking of it is designed to an.
swer some good purpose. You might, and
suppose did, perceive from the tenor of my
letters that was apprehensive | could not
avoid this appointment, as did not pretend
to intimate when l should return that was
the case. 1t was utterly out of my power to
refuse this appointment without exposing
my character to such censures as would have
reflected dishonor upon myself and given
pain to my friends. This, | am sure, could
not and ought not to be pleasing to you, and
must have lessened me considerably in my
own esteem.
| shall rely, therefore, confidently in that
Providence which has heretofore preserved
and been bountiful to me, not doubling but
that | shall return to you in the TALL shall
feel no pain from the toll or the danger of
the campaign my unhappiness will flow
from the uneasiness | know you will feel
from being LETT alone. | therefore beg that
| will urb Ia 60 al al
pass your time as agreeably as possible.
Nothing will give me so much sincere satis-
faction as to hear this and to hear it from
your own pen. My earnest and ardent de-
sire is that you would pursue any plan that
is most likely to produce content, and toll
cradle degree oftranquility, as it must add
greatly to my uneasy Meetings, 10 hera that
you are dissatisfied or complaining at what
really could not avoid.
AS life is almost uncertain, and common
prudence dictates to every man the necessity
of setting mis- temporal concerns while it is
in power, and while the mind is calm and
undisturbed, | have, since | came to this
place, (for had not time to do it before
| left home,) got Cononel Pendleton to
draft will for me, by the directions which ]
gave him, which will l now enclose. The
provision made for you in the case of death
will, | hope, be agreeable shall add moth
inf more, as | have several letters to write,
but to desire that you will remember me to
your friends, and assure you that am, with
the most unieigned regard, my dear Patsy.
Your afiectionate,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
*Prophetcal as to the duration ofthe con-