The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-07-20
&s;ss' 70 ss11l' II Sa :ss %e.t
*A Blu %, N: Wei
n hfnston His Wife,
Inc OIL extant ter of Washington

ne OH extant ter of Washington
ms @ss9e>iis an er49sll-ef unusual inter-
est, both on account of its subject and
GATE. II was written June 10, 174a. and
Ny Dearest:-1s am now, set down to
write to you on subject which klls me
with inexpressible concern, and this con.
Germ is greatly aggravated and increased
uiHas4.xzGe1ts1pout hsszgl iasss.1.as
it will give you. II, has, been detormined
in Congr(ss! tlhf>tle whole hldyi raised
for the defense of the American cause
shall be put under my care, and that it is
necessary for me to proceed Immediately
to Boston to take upon me the command
Of it. 70 = =.
You may believe me, my dear Patsy,
when assure you, in the most solemn
manner, that, 50 far from seeking this
appointment, have used every endeavor
in my power to avoid it-not only from
my unwillingness to part with you and
the family, but from a consciousness of
its being trust too great for my capacity,
and that should enjoy more real happi
ness in one month with you at home than
l have the most distant prospect of finding
| abroad, if my stay were to be seven times
| seven years. But as it has been a kind of
destiny that has thrown me upon this
service, shall hepe that my undertaking
1t is designed to answer some good pur.
pose. You might, suppose did, per-
ccive, from the tenor of my letters, thatI
was apprehensive could not avoid this
| appointment, as did not pretend to init
mate when should return. That was the
case. 1t was utterly out of my power to
refuse this appointment, without exposing
my character to such censurcs as would
have reflected dishonor upon myself and
given pain to my friends. This, l am
sure, could not, and ought not to
be pleasing to you, and must have ssencd
me considerably in my own esteem |
shall rely, therefore, confidently on that
Providence which has heretofore preserved
and been bountiful to me, not doubling
but that l shall return safe to you in the
fall. l shall feel no pain from the toll or
inc danger OF the campaign; my unhap-
pncss will flow from the uneasiuess
know you will feel from being left alone,
| therefore beg that you will summon your
whole forttude, and pass your time as
agreeably as possible. Nothing will give
me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear
this, and to hear it from your own pen
My earnest and ardent desire is, that you
would pursue any plan that is most likely
to produce content and a tolerable degree
| ol tranquility, as IL must add greatly to
my uneasy feelings to hear that you are
dissatisfied or complaining at what really
Scould not avoid.
AS life is always uncertain, and COM
mon prudence dictates to every man the
necessity of settling his temporal concerns
while it is in his power and while the
mind is calm and undisturbed, l have,
since l came to this place-for l had not
time to do it before left home-got Col.
Pcndlcton to draft will for me, by the
directions gave him, which will l now
enclose. The provision made for you in
case of my death, will, hope, be agreea-
bic.
shall add nothing more, as 1 have sew
eral letters to write, but to desire that you
will remember me to your friends, and to
assure you that am, with the most I'M
feigned regard, my dear Patsy, your af-
fectionate e. W.
To Martha Washington, June 49, ITS