The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1892-07-14
WASHINGTON AS A sPELLER.
One of His Letters Which Proves Ills
Weakness.


Weakness.
A great deal of interest has been
created by the discussion at the Mary
land Historical socletys last meeting of
Washington's character and opinion as
shown in his letters. After some re-
marks by Prof. Herbert B. Adams, Of
the Johns Hopkins Z University, upon the
method of amending and publishing the
correspondence of Washington used by
Rev. Jared Sparks, Rev. Hall Harrison,
of Ellicott City, cited an instance in
which Sparks suppressed an unfavora-
BILE comment upon the New England
officers in the revolution. Mr.. Harrison
said the letter in which the comment
was suppressed was now in the posses
sion of Mr. Joseph Packard, jr. DIR.
Adams also said that some of Washing
toms letters were defective in spelling
and grammar.
The letter referred to by Mr.. Harrison
was written to Richard Henry Lee, of
Virginia, and dated Camp at Cam
bridge, August 30, 1775." 1t was penned
soon after Washington arrived and
took command of the army upon his ap-
pointment to the post of COMMANDMENTS
chief by the Continen tai congress. The
passages omitted by Sparks are as fol-
lows, the exact spelling, grammar and
punctuation of the original being re-
tainedt
s'As we have now nearly complicated
our Lines of Defence, we have nothing
more, in my opinion to fear from the
| Enemy provided we can keep our men
| TO their duty and make them watchful
& vigilant; but 1t Is among the most diff
| acult tasks | ever undertook in my life
to induce these people to believe that
there is, or can be, danger till the Bay
onet is pushed at their Breasts; not that
1t proceeds from any uncommon PROV
ess, but rather from an unaccountable
kind of stupidity in the lower class of
these people which believe me prevails
but too generally among the officers of
the Massachusetts, part of the army,
who are nearly all of the same kidney
with the Privates, and adds not little
to my difficulties; as there is no such
thing as getting officers of this stamp
to exert themselves in carrying orders
into eXecution-to curry favor with the
men (by whom they were chosen, Il on
whose smiles possibly they may think
they may again rely) seems to be one of
the principal objects of their attention.
al have made pretty good slam
among such kind of officers as the Mas
sachusetts government abound in since
| came to this camp, having broke one
Colonel and two Captains for cowardly
behavior in the action on Bunkers Hill
two captains for drawing more pro-
visions and pay than they had men in
their Company-and one for being abb
sent from his Post when the Enemy ap-
peared there and burnt House just by
it.-Besides these, | have at this time
one Col, one Major, one Captn. & two
subalterns under arrest for tryal-1n
short 1 spare none, & yet fear it will
not all do as these People seem to be
too inattentive to everything but their
Interest
There has been so many great and
capital errors & abuses to rectify-so
many examples to make & so little. in
clination in the officers of inferior Rank
to contribute their aid to accomplish
this work, that my life has been moth
ing else since | came here but one con-
tinual round of annoyance & fatigue;
in short no pecuniary recompense could
induce me to undergo what have espe-
cially as l expect, by showing SO little
countenance to irregularities & publick
abuses, to render myself very obnoxious
to greater part of these People"
The parts quoted by Sparks relate
chiefly to military movements. The
letter was copied by Mr.. Packard sew
eral years ago from the original in the
handwriting of Washington. Mr.
Packard first saw the original in the
summer of 1860, in the possession Of
Mrs. Ellen Lee Knapp, granddaughter
of Richard Henry Lee, at her house il
Washington, d. c., and he borrowed i
for the purpose of making a copy fol
Mrs Knapp's daughter, the wife of Rev
John r. Joyner, of Berlin, Wore este
county, Md. In some places where th'
words were not plain they were sup
piled from copy which Mrs. Joype
says was made by the late Herbert N
Lathrop, of New York City, when th
letter was in better condition. A cop,
has been deposited in the Marylan'
Historical society library. -Baltimort
Sun.
London CAB Drivers.
Giving evidence before the labor com
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