The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-01-13

be closely employed in making casks, or
working at the carpenter or other busl-
ness, or, otherwise, they must be dis
, charged, for 1t is not reasonable, as all
mill business will, probably, be at an
end for while, that | am to pay them
el00 year to be idle | should think
Roberts himself must see, and be sen
sible of the reasonableness of this re
quest, as believe few millers will find
employment if our ports are Shut up,
and the wheat kept in the straw, or
otherwise for greater security.
will write to Mr.. Minor to forward
you good country boulting cloth for
Simpson, which endeavor to have con-
veyed to him by the first safe convey
ance. [ wish you would quicken Lamp
hire and Sears about the dining room
chlmneypiece, (to be executed as men
toned In one of my last letters, as
could ,cish to hare that end Of the house
completely faished before 1 return. l
wish you had done the end Of the new
kitchen, next to the garden, as also the
kitchen, with rusticated boards; how
ever. as it is not, | would have the cor
nerS done SO, in the manner of our new
church, those two especially which
fronts the quarter. What have you
done with the well? Is that walled
up? Have you any accounts of the
painter? How does he behave at Fred
ericksburg?
Il much approve of your sowing
wheat in clear ground, although you
should be late in doing it, and if for no
other purpose than a tryal. 1t is a
growing | find, as well as new prac-
tice, that of overseers keeping horses,
and for what purpose, unless it be to
make fat horses at my expense, | know
not, as it Is no saving Of my own horses.
[ do not like the custom: and wish you
would break it-but do as you will as |
can not pretend to interfere at this dis
tance.
Remember me kindly to all the neigh
bourS who enquire after
Your affectionate friend, and servant,
g. WAsHINGToN."
The next letter was written under
still more trying circumstances. The
battle of Long Island had been fought
and lost, and the army had made mid
night retreat across the river, and taken
up its quarters in New York; the Eng
llish fprtlfylng the posts. on the island,
and Their feet anchorini5s within cannon,
shot of the city. Danger being immi-
nent, desertions were frequent, and in
few days the Connecticut militia
dwindled from six to less than two
/ thousand
But the enemy did not press THEN
advantages, as Lord Howe was in hopes
of peaceful settlement, founded on a
return of the colonies to their allegi
ance, and on the 18th of September a
committee Of Congress waited upon
him to know what he had to propose.
| The interview, of course, came to moth
ing but the idea of peaceful settle
ment being at hand, got abroad and did
damage.
On the 14th occurred the skirmish at
Turtle Bay, in which Washington, en-
ragged at the dastardly fight of Putnam ;,
Connecticut men, snapped his pistols at
the fugitives, and dashing his hat upon
the ground cried out: Are these the
men with whom l am to defend
America - But his presence of mind
soon returned, and he hastily seized
Harlem heights, to which he withdrew
the army, and there constructed forti-
fed camp. His own headquarters he
established at the vacant house of Col.
Roger Morris, his companion in the
Braddock expedition, his successful
rival in love, and now a leading Tory.
| Most of his men had been enlisted
for year their terms were near ex-
piring, nor did Congress do anything to
encourage re -enlistments. Washington
represented the state Of affairs in strong
terms to Congress, and recommended
the measures which were finally adopt
ed but at the time this letter was
written he could not tell what would be
done.