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LETTER TO DR. FRANKLIN.

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esteem, I cannot but wish for occasions of giving you marks of mine.

"The idea of making a tour together, which you suggest, after the war, would be one of the strongest motives I could have to postpone my plan of retirement and make a visit to Europe, if my domestic habits, which seem to acquire strength from restraint, did not tell me I shall find it impossible to resist them longer than my duty to the public calls for the sacrifice of my inclinations.

"I doubt not you are so fully informed by Congress of our political and military state, that it would be superfluous to trouble you with any thing relating to either.

"If I were to speak on topics of this kind, it would be to show that our present situation makes one of two things essential to us, a peace, or the most vigorous aid of our allies, particularly in the article of money. Of their disposition to serve us we cannot doubt; their generosity will do every thing their means will permit. With my best wishes for the preservation of your useful life, and for every happiness that can attend you, which a sincere attachment can dictate, I am, &c."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Co-operation of the French fleet and army-Arnold's ravages in Virginia-Lafayette operating against Lord Cornwallis there-Story of Morgan-The French fleet sails for the Chesapeake-Washington, going to the seat of war with Count Rochambeau, visits Mount Vernon for the first time since June, 1775.

THE English fleet under Admiral Arbuthnot, and the French one under M. Destouches, M. de Tilly and the Count de Rochambeau, spent several months of 1781 trying to circumvent and supersede each other, with various success, the elements several times interfering with a power that neither could withstand. Newport and the Chesapeake were alternately the theatre of operations, Washington's judgment inclining toward the latter as the more advantageous of the two.

Perhaps the circumstance that the detested traitor, Arnold, was proving the entireness of his own allegiance by devastating Virginia, had something to do with the preference; for who can doubt that the American officers were burning to bring to justice the villain who had dishonored them all? Washington sent Lafayette, who had returned from France after doing all

1781.]

NOBLE USE OF AFFLUENCE.

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he could for us there, with twelve hundred men to co-operate with the French fleet against Arnold; but not finding the fleet, the Marquis was obliged to seek another object, which he found in acting in concert with General Greene, further south.

It is almost enough to make us in love with riches, to see how nobly they may be used by noble spirits. Lafayette, finding the troops under his command suffering as usual for lack of suitable clothing, and the States more careless than ever of the wants of the army, since the French allies had come to take a share of the work, pledged his own credit for a proper supply, and had the satisfaction of seeing his men comfortable, and of receiving from Washington the warmest commendation.

An instance connected with Lafayette's operations in the south is related by Mr. Sparks, which is too beautiful to be omitted.*

*After Cornwallis had arrived at York, and commenced his fortifications, Lafayette asked of Colonel Barber if he knew of a trusty, capable soldier, whom he could send as a spy into Cornwallis's camp. He answered that there was one in the New Jersey line by the name of Morgan, who was in all respects suited to such an enterprise. The general sent for him, and told him that he had a very difficult task to propose to him, which was, that he should pretend to desert, go over to the British camp and enlist as a soldier. Morgan answered that he was ready to do any thing in the service of his country, and oblige his general, but that his feelings revolted at such a proposal.

He must assume the character of a spy, and, if detected, he would not only lose his life, but bring a lasting disgrace upon his name.

He desired the reputation of a good soldier, and a zealous, true lover of his country, but he could not endure the thoughts of being a spy. After some conversation, however, he told the general that he would go, on

Arnold still continued his ravages in Virginia, burning peaceful towns and doing whatever is meanest and most cruel in war, for in "civilized" war, armies only fight against armies, not against unarmed inhabitants. Meanwhile a British man-of-war sailed up the broad and beautiful Potomac, the haunt of salmon and wild fowl, hitherto unroused by any sound more warlike than the pop of the sportsman's gun, and, as had been predicted some time before, made straight for the secluded, rural home of the commander-in-chief, and demanded supplies as the price of sparing the house and property. Mr. Lund Washington, forgetting in the hurry and agitation of the moment the position and sentiments of the man he served, timidly conceded the provisions and forage they required, and congratulated himself,

one condition, which was, that, in case any disaster should happen to him, the general should make the true state of the case known, and have the particulars published in the New Jersey gazettes, that no reproach might come upon his family and friends for his supposed misconduct.

To this the general assented. Morgan joined the British camp and enlisted.

Lafayette left every thing to his discretion, but told him he wished intelligence of important movements, and moreover desired the impression particularly to be given, that he had boats enough to transport all his army across James River. Morgan had been a little time in camp, when Lord Cornwallis sent for him and asked him many questions. Tarleton was with him at the time, and inquired of Morgan among other things how many boats General Lafayette had on the river. He said he did not know the exact number, but he had been told there were enough to carry over all the army at a moment's warning. "There," exclaimed Cornwallis to Tarleton, "I told you this would not do," from which it appeared that they had a project in view.

The French fleet in the meantime arrived. General Lafayette had been out to reconnoitre, and when he returned he found six men in the British

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MISTAKE AT MOUNT VERNON.

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no doubt, on seeing the enemy depart, without leaving behind him, as he so often did, a smoking ruin.

But now came the time of reckoning. The agent must sit down and write an account of the transaction to the commander-in-chief; must tell him, not only that the enemy had threatened an attack, for that would have been nothing wonderful; not that they had withdrawn without proceeding to extremities, which might have excited some surprise; but that he, Lund Washington,-namesake if not kinsman of the champion of Freedom and foe of British assumption,-had bought off the invader by contributions of free-born pigs and chickens, and beeves fattened on the soil of Liberty!

It was a hard task, and he made as good a story of it as he could, but hear the reply :—

"I am very sorry to hear of your loss; I am a little. sorry to hear of my own; but that which gives me

uniform and one green-coated Hessian at his quarters; and among them was Morgan.

"Well, Morgan" asked the general, with surprise, "whom have you got here?" "Five British soldiers who have deserted with me, and a Hessian whom we captured at the outpost," was the reply. He went on to say, that as the French fleet had arrived, and he presumed his services could no longer be of any use to his general in the British camp, he had returned, and these deserters and this prisoner were the fruits of his expedition.

The general sent for Morgan the next day, and told him that his conduct had been in the highest degree meritorious, and that he proposed to make him a sergeant. Morgan listened to the proposal, and said he was highly gratified to have pleased his commander, but declined the promotion. He added that he believed himself a good soldier, but that he was by no means certain he should make a good sergeant; that he joined the army from a principle of duty and patriotism, because he believed his