New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-28
LETTERS OF WASHINGTON.
AN INTERESTING COLLECTION TO BE SOLD
NEXT MONTH.

or late many American collections OF rare
books aid autographs, such as the brlhley
BARLOW and the Brayton Ives, have been broken
up and dispersed by Of public auction
information Of such disposition of still another
collection of historical manuscripts and other
valuable articles comes from Philadelphia
where early in December, there will be sold the
celebrated collection made by the late D. -
Mcclure. of Washington, d. c. This Mcclure
collection is the result of long life oil IN
dustriouis collection, beginning with the purchase
from Payne Todd Of Mrs Madison BY her
first husband, of the Washngton-Madis papers
IL IL of almost nestimable value, as 1t Is I'M
doubtedly one of the greatest gatherings OIL
historical material relating TO the Revolutionary
War. the formation of the Federal Union, ana
the second war with Great Britain that nav
ever been made.
The Washingt on-Madison papers embrace INC
letters Of Washington to Joseph Jones ana james
Madison during the Revolutionary war ana inc
Constitutional Convention, and also during
Wasbington's occupancy of the Presidential cfalr
Joseph Jones was n delegate from virginia 10
the Continental Congress from III to l7'o, ana
again from 1880 to 1888 AMI besides r'lh9
honored with tie confidence OF washington ne
was also intimate with Jefferson, Maoison' anu
other shining l.shts o; the American Revtlutlon
in the Continental Congress. The record OF
James Madison. President of the United States
and the leading spirit in the construction OF the
Federal Constitution is wclh known to every
one.
The first few letters in the collection were
written by the General while at MiddleorooK'
md cover period from May, l77s. TO June,
1870. Thcy are addressed TO Brigadier-ueneral
Knox. These letters give much interesting
data in relation TO the condition OF the army
at that critical period of the Revolutionary war
In one. under date of Middlebrook, May, l''''
Washington writes:
Our own force and present DISPOSE
tion are pretty well known TO you, put 10 give
more exact idea, shall observe tnat, ' '
the Pennsy lvania, Maryland and Virginia troops
now in this camp and the NorIn Na arc
troops at Paramus-therc are three BriGadcs OF
Massachusetts troops and one OF Connectlcut Oh
the North Rivcr-one OF the latter at Dd bi'tS
and about $500 Continental troops at hhode
Island. You will be able TO form sulnclehtly
accurate Judgment of the collective strength oi
these corps; but if you should VISA Tor more
precise information. You can obtain IL by Apply.
ing TO me The rest of our force. except about
6 or 700 on the Ohio. will be employed to Tie
westward against the Indians . A. o;,
forcements we have reason to eXpect-Ihe
measures persuing by the several States TO
augment to their battali0ns and the success VIII
which they are attended have as yet come bat
are very Inconsistencies .. 1
Under this concise account OF Hd'ISrs anu
taking comprehensive view OF our analrS IN
pencral-particularly the state OF our supplies
and the depreciation OF our currency aul 10
request you will favour me, with your opinion OIL
the plan Of conduct which Will be proper loi
us to persue at this iuncture for the advancement
of the common cause and fer the honor and
interest of the American arms IN aT4 9S w cn@
I shall be obliged by a very Tree ana luIl COLI
munication of your sentiments
az" Your li'' most Obet Servant,
GEO WASHINGTON.
Following the letters written from Middle
brook there are some from the headquarters at
Morristown and the Ncw-Windsor Headquarters
and at West Point One of the MorrlstOWh
letters. under date Of May Ia, 1880, to joseph
Jones' refers to the arrival of La Fayette IN TINS
cSuitry, and TO the intention OF the french
Court toward the furtherance of the American
Cause among other things the General says;
1.-THE arrival of the Marquis de In Fayctte
opens a prospect web offers the most important
ADVANTAGES to these States if proper measures
are adopted TO improve tile announces an
intention of his Court TO send a Fleet and Army
70 cooperate clcctualy with us
A few days after this letter was written
Washington. still at Moristown, under date of
May 81, 1850, wrote again TO Jones, bewalllng
the slow action of Congress, and said
Certain | am that unless Congress
sreaks in a more decisive tOnc-unless they are
vested with powers by the several States COM
petent to the great purposes OF war-or assume
them as matter of right; and they, and the
States respectively, act with more energy than
they hitherto have done, that our Gauss Is lost
We can 10 longer drudge on Ill the OLD way
Bv i'll timing the adoption Of mcasurcs-by
delays in the execution Of tlien-or by I'M
warrantabe jca!ousics
member of Congress-but it is tie language Of
truth & frcndship-It is the result Of long
thnlnc-cloSe applicaton-& strict oDser-
yadon-l see one head gradually changing mo
thirteen, & instead of looking up to Congress
as the supreme controlling power of the United
States-are considering themselves as depending
upOn their respective States--ln word i see
the powers of Congress declining too fast Tor
the consequence & respect which is cue TO
them as the grand representative Of America,
and am fearful Of tho consequences o; IT,
There is a letter in this collection written by
Washington regarding Thomas Paine which Is
worthy Of reproduction. 1t reads as follows
Mount Vernon June l2tb 1884
James Mauison
Can nothing he done in our, assembly
for poor Paine? Must the Merits IL Services of
Common Sense continue 10 glide down the stream
of time unrewarded by this Country? His writ
ines certainly have had a powerful effect on the
public Mind Ought they not then TO meet an ad-
equate return ?-lie is poor he is chagrined and
almost il not altogether, in despair of relief
New-York, il is true, not the least distressed,
nor best able State in the Union, has done some
thing for him-This kind of provision he prefers
20 an allowance from Congrcss-he hab reasons for
it, which to him are conc lusive, and such think,
as would have weight with Others-liis views are
modcratc-a decent independence is, | believe, all
he aims at-Should he not obtain this ?-if you
think SO am sure YOU will not only move re mat
ter but give il your Suppont-tor me, II only
remains TO feel for his situation and to assure
YOU of the sincere esteem & regard with which
have the honor to be
Or Sir
Yr most obed & IIble Scrv't
GEO WASHINGTON
There are several interesting letters from New
burg. too long here 10 reprint. In one the ecu
eral defends the Army for complaining on account
CnnrroSa all fhpir L