"If it be possible that Colonel, for my belief is staggered, not being conscious of having given the least cause to any one, much less to that gentleman, to reflect so grossly. I say, if it be possible that could descend so low, as to be the propagator of this story, he must either be vastly ignorant of the state of affairs in this country at that time, or else he must suppose that the whole body of inhabitants had combined with me in executing the deceitful fraud. Or, why did they, almost to a man, forsake their dwellings in the greatest terrour and confusion? And while one half of them sought shelter in paltry forts of their own building, the others should flee to the adjacent counties for refuge; numbers of them even to Carolina, from whence they have never returned?

"These are facts well known; but not better known, than that these wretched people, while they lay pent up in forts, destitute of the common supports of life, (having, in their precipitate flight, forgotten, or were unable rather to secure any kind of necessaries) did despatch messengers, (thinking that I had not represented their miseries in the piteous manner they de served) with addresses of their own to your Honour and the Assembly, praying relief. And did I ever send any alarming account, without sending also the original papers, or the copies, which gave rise to it.

"That I have foibles, and perhaps many, I shall not deny. I should esteem myself, as the world also would, vain and empty, were I to arrogate perfection.

"Knowledge in military matters, is to be acquired by practice and experience only, and if I have erred, great allowance should be made for my errours for want of them, unless those errours should appear to be wilful; and then I conceive it would be more generous to charge me with my faults, and let me stand or fall according to evidence, than to stigmatize me behind my back.

"It is uncertain in what light my services may have

appeared to your Honour; but this I know, and it is the highest consolation I am capable of feeling, that no man that ever was employed in a pubiick capacity, has endeavoured to discharge the trust reposed in him with greater honesty, and more zeal for the country's interest, than I have done; but if there is any person living, who can say with justice, that I have offered any intentional wrong to the publick, I will cheerfully submit to the most ignominious punishment that an injured people ought to inflict. On the other hand, it is hard to have my character arfaigned, and my actions condemned, without an hearing.

"I must therefore again beg in more plain, and in very earnest terms to know if. has taken the liber ty of representing my conduct to your Honour, with such ungentlemanly freedom as the letter implies Your condescension herein will be acknowledged a singular favour."

Soon after this transaction, Mr. Dinwiddie left the government, and Mr. Blair, the president of the Council, became, for a short time, the Executive, between whom and Colonel WASHINGTON perfect confidence and free communication existed.

1757. This year Lord Loudoun succeeded to the civil government of Virginia, and to the chief command of the British troops in North America. Colonel WASHINGTON obtained permission to wait upon him the succeeding winter; to whom he presented an address from his regiment, and communicated from himself a statement of the military situation of the colony. In this he pointed out the errour of the government in the management of the war, and particu larly in their depending on the aid of the militia; and clearly stated the superiour advantages of offensive operations.

Colone. WASHINGTON was sanguine in the expectation, that Lord Loudoun would adopt his darling scheme of an expedition to dispossess the French of Fort du

Quesne; but his Lordship having determined to di rect his force against Ticonderoga, he was again dis appointed.

At the close of the year 1757, General Abercrombie was appointed to the supreme com mand in America, and General Forbes commissioned as the commander of the middle district. To the high gratification of Colonel WASHINGTON, the conquest of du Quesne became a principal object.

1758. Colonel WASHINGTON, not expecting to be placed on the establishment, had determined to resign his commission; but he thought the expedition for this purpose presented a fair prospect of distinguished ser vice, and he resolved to engage in it.

He warmly recommended an early campaign; for this, among other reasons, seven hundred Indians had, in April, assembled at Winchester, whose patience 'would be exhausted unless early employed; and in that event, he observes, "No words can tell how much they will be missed."

He was at length ordered to collect the Virginia troops at Winchester, and to hold them in readiness for active service. At this late moment, when the duties of the field demanded his attention, he was obliged to make a journey to Williamsburg, to provide arms, clothing, and money for his regiment; and to obtain for his soldiers, the same pay which the assembly, in their last session, had voted to a regiment raised for the present campaign.

Early in July the Virginia forces were moved to Cumberland, and through the month employed in opening a road from that place to Raystown Flying parties of the enemy greatly annoying them in their business, it was contemplated to send a detachment over the mountain, to restrain the French and Indians from this annoyance; but Col. WASHINGTON objected o the measure, because the detachment would be ex Dosed to the whole force of the enemy on the Ohio

and must be defeated. The plan was in consequence given up; and by his advice frequent scouts, consisting principally of Indians, were substituted. The prediction of Colonel WASHINGTON, respecting the body of Indians at Winchester, was verified; before the campaign opened, their patience was exhausted, and the retired to their homes.

It was confidently expected that the army would march by Braddock's road, which needed only slight repairs; but on the last of this month, Col. Bouquet by letter, requested an interview with Colonel WASHINGTON, to consult with him on opening a new route. In reply he wrote, "I shall most cheerfully work on any road, pursue any route, or enter on any service that the General or yourself may think me usefully employed in, or qualified for; and shall never have a will of my own, when a duty is required of me. But since you desire me to speak my sentiments frecly, permit me to observe, that after having conversed with all the guides, and having been informed by others ac quainted with the country, I am convinced that a road to be compared with Gen. Braddock's, or, indeed, that will be fit for transportation, even by pack horses, can not be made. I own I have no predilection for the route you have in contemplation for me."

Notwithstanding every remonstrance, he found Col Bouquet determined to open the new road.-That nothing in his power might be omitted to prevent the adoption of a scheme, which he thought would proba bly defeat the expedition, he addressed a letter to this officer, with the express design that it should be laid before General Forbes, then indisposed; in which he gave the following reasons for the preference of Braddock's road.

When individuals of Pennsylvania and Virginia, he said, were about to establish a trade with the natives on the Ohio, they, under Indian guides, explored the country, and adopted the road by Will's Creek as the

best route. This road had been opened by the Ohio company in 1753, and had been repaired in 1754 by the troops under his command, as far as Gist's plantation, beyond the Great Meadows. In 1755 it had been put in good order by General Braddock, and could with little labour be fitted for use. This road, therefore, must be preferable to a new route over ground not more favourable. In respect to forage there could be no material difference. The hills on both routes were barren, and the valleys between them abounded with grass. The objection to Braddock's road, he observed, on account of high waters, was not founded; he had himself passed with a body of men, the Yohogany, the most rapid stream, and the sconest filled of any on the road, after thirty days of almost incessant rain. The Monongahela might be avoided. The defiles on Raystown road were as numerous as on Braddock's, and the saving in distance was inconsiderable. But the insuperable objection to the new route, he observed, was the time that must be expended in opening it. The distance was little short of an hundred miles, over mountains, almost impassable, and covered with woods and rocks. The most that could be expected, he said, on this route the present season, would be to gain the height of land, there erect fortifications, and wait the return of spring. This delay must be attended with ruinous consequences to the colonies, which had exerted themselves beyond their strength to drive the French from the Ohio the present campaign.

In the same letter, he communicated an order of march on Braddock's road, which would bring the army in sixty-four days before Fort du Quesne, with provisions for eighty-six days. He also wrote to Major Halket, Aid of Gen. Forbes, to engage his good offices to prevent the fatal plan. "I am just returned from a conference held with Col. Bouquet. I find him fixedI think I may say, unalterably fixed, to lead you a new way to the Ohio, through a road, every inch of which