The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22

Latter. to Warrington.

Students Of pre- Revolutionary history are In
debted to the Society OF the Colonial Danes o
America. and especially to Jane j. Boudinot
Julia Livingston Delaheld and Elizabeth Ffshe
King. who have been appointed a committee
for the purpose OF undertaking the publication
Of q collection OF letters deposited In the De
partment OF State. almost all Of which wert
addressed to Washington. The FIRST volume
which is edited by SrANIsJAUs MURRAY A
TON. covers the period from July. 1852, to No
vembyr. 1854 The letters are here printed
precisely as they we're written. with al
their defects In respect OF spelling and pronun'
station. They are rendered ineligible and in
teresting by the genealogical and biographical
notes which have been added by the editor,
The historical value OF the documents. con-
tanning. az they do. nrst-hand contemporary
Testimony in relation to important events. Is
indisputable. This We shall eXemplify by re-
producing SOM OF the letters referring to the
expedition under Gen. Braddock. which came
to such n disastrous end in July, 1903.
We should premise that, In October. 1854.
Dol. Washington had remained inactive at
Mount Vernon. deeminR II derogatory to his
honor to hold a commission under Gov. Din
Widdle's scheme OF Independent companies,
II could not be expected. either. that he would
subject himself to the humiliatinR terms OF tho
order issued by George III. in November. 1884.
w INlt tIItNN NNitNb iAANNA ~ ''A
pelf or by the General commanding-i in chief in
North America should take rank OF officers
serving by commission from Governors or
Lieutenant Governors. even though the COM
missions OF the provincial officers OF the Ike
rank should be Of elder date. 1t is plain. how
ever. that washinRton's passion for a military
life had not abated. Gen. Braddock. who ar
rived in Virginia Feb. 10. 1888. was made
acquainted with his value. and. appreci-
ating the Importance Of securing his services
for the contemplated expedition against Fort
Duauesne. directed his aide-de- lamp. Mr.. Rob-
ert 0rme. to write TO Washington proposing
expedients by which the chief obstacles to
his Joining the column then In preparation
might be removed. The letter runs as follows.
except that in this, as in every other document
quoted by us. the spelling and pronunciation are
corrected: Sir, the General having been in
formed that you expressed some desire to
make the campaign. but that you declined it
upon the disagreeahleness that you thought
might arise from the regulation OF
1.-THE royal order relating to the rank Of provin-
cial o%fficersl. has ordered me to acquaint You
that he will be very glad OF your company in his
family. by which all inconvenience OF that
kind will be obviated. l shall think myself
very happy to form an acquaintance with a
person so universally esteemed, and shall use
every opportunity Of assuring you how much
am. sir. your most obedient servant"
On May Is. 1865. the following instructions
were issued from the camp at Fort Cumberland
by Major-Gen. Braddock. Commander-in-Chief
OF his Majesty's forces in America, to George
Washington. Esq: You will repair to Hamp-
ton In Virginia with as much expedition as may
be; and. Immediately upon your arrival there.
you will apply to John Hunter, Esq. tCommis-
saryl. for the sum of four thousand pounds
a III -. .l,, ,,,,, ,r;I1 Snaa;-a Ia, - atnll
from Mr.. Johnston. Deputy Paymaster. payable
to yourself. You will acQuaint Mr.. Hunter for
me that his Majesty's service, under my direc-
ton. requires the further sum OF ten thou
sand pounds sterling. to be sent to Fort
Cumberland at this place in three months
at furthest from this day. to be intrusted
to the care OF such person as he shall choose
for that purpose, who. upon his arrival at
the fort with 1t. shall have a proper lmutilatedl
him for the safe custody Of it. You
also acQuaint Mr.. Hunter that tmutilatedl
he shall send with the same money shall lmu-
tilatedl reasonable lowance for his trouble:
and that the expense Of his servants and all
other charges that may necessarily attend the
sending it shall be allowed. You will continue
nc Hampton no longer than two days at the
and il you cannot. In that time. get
the whole sum OF four thousand pounds from
Hunter. you will return to me as speedily
rs may be with such part OF 1t as you shall be
able to receive. You will take care to bring me
\ positive answer from Mr.. Hunter. whether l
may depend upon ten thousand pounds being
sent to Fort Cumberland by the time mentioned
these instructions"
With regard to Braddock's personal charac-
ter as distinguished from his military abilities,
testimony is conflicting. According to Brock.
his arrogance made him obnoxious to both the
nafiva ao16iary and the Indian alHac and fhara !
ID 10 tradition that he was murdered by one OF
the former. Thomas Fausett. subsequently a
OF Fayette county. Pennsylvania. who.
later years. avowed the act. We are told by
The same authority that "Braddock's private
appears to have been that OF a heart
ess. broken-down gambler and spendthrift."
It Is admitted. however. that those who most
bitterly censured him allowed him certain
merits. Thus Horace Walpole wrote: "Des-
perate in his fortunes. brutal In his behavior.
obstinatein his sentiments. he WAS still intrepid
md capable" Allow opinion Of him Is expressed
BY William Shirley. son of Gen. Shirley.
an dide-de-cdmp and military secretary to
Braddock. in a remarkable letter addressed to
Gov Morris OF Pennsylvania The
which. for obvious reasons. the writer
the recipient to burn. was pre-
served and Is now in the office OF the Secretary
IF the Commonwealth OF Pennsylvania at Har-
risburg. We quote the most interesting Das-
Il don't know what description Mr..
Peters will give you Of our camp and tho
principal persons in 1t. but. as this goes in his
pocket. I will give you mine. grounded upon
he observation OF several months. We have a
General most judioiously chosen for being dis
qualified for the service he is employed in in
almost every respect. He may be brave. for
luGht I know. and he is honest in pecu-
matters. But. as the King said OF a
Governor Of yours. when proposed
or the command OF tho American forces
bout a twelvemonth ago. and recommended
IS q very honest man. though not remarkably
lble. a little more ability and a little less
honesty upon the present occasion might serve
turn better 1t is a joke TO suppose that
officers can make amends for
lefects OF the first; the handspring must be
he mover: the others. in many cases. can do
10 moro than follow and correct a little its
notions. As to these. l don't think We have
much to boast. Some are insolent. others
,apable. but rather mining at showing THAR