King, who, I dare say, felt some severe pangs at the time he put his hand to the letters patent. It is not, however, less efficacious or pleasing on that account; and breaking the ice is a great point gained. There can be but very little doubt, I believe, of the conclusion of the commercial treaty with Holland; but I have apprehensions, that that power will be the most difficult to satisfy at the general treaty of peace.

It is with great pain I hear of the repeal of the impost law in Virginia. What could induce it? What office is Mr. Jefferson appointed to, that he has, you say, lately accepted? If it is that of commissioner of peace, I hope he will arrive too late to have any hand in it.* My best respects to him when he arrives; and compliments to Mrs. Livingston, in which Mrs. Washington joins. I have the honor to be, &c.

TO BUSHROD WASHINGTON.†

DEAR BUSHROD,

Newburg, 15 January, 1783.

You will be surprised, perhaps, at receiving a letter from me; but if the end is answered for which it is written, I shall not think my time misspent. Your

*On the 15th of June, 1781, Mr. Jefferson had been appointed a commissioner with Adams, Franklin, Jay, and Laurens, to negotiate a treaty of peace, which was then expected to take place through the mediation of Russia and Austria. He declined at that time, but on the 13th of November, 1782, the appointment was renewed, and he accepted it. He was now in Philadelphia, making preparations for his departure; but, winter coming on, and the vessel in which he was to sail from Baltimore being frozen up in the harbour, the news of peace arrived in the mean time, and he did not undertake the voyage. — Jefferson's Writings, Vol. I. p. 41.

The favorite nephew of General Washington, to whom he left the estate at Mount Vernon, and who was for many years one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.

father, who seems to entertain a very favorable opinion. of your prudence, and I hope you merit it, in one or two of his letters to me speaks of the difficulty he is under to make you remittances. Whether this arises from the scantiness of his funds, or the extensiveness of your demands, is matter of conjecture with me. I hope it is not the latter; because common prudence, and every other consideration, which ought to have weight in a reflecting mind, are opposed to your requiring more than his convenience and a regard to his other children will enable him to pay; and because he holds up no idea in the letter, which would support me in the conclusion. Yet when I take a view of the inexperience of youth, the temptations and vices of cities, and the distresses to which our Virginia gentlemen are driven by an accumulation of taxes and the want of a market, I am almost inclined to ascribe it in part to both. Therefore, as a friend, I give you the following advice.

Let the object, which carried you to Philadelphia, be always before your eyes. Remember, that it is not the mere study of the law, but to become eminent in the profession of it, that is to yield honor and profit. The first was your choice; let the second be your ambition. Dissipation is incompatible with both; the company, in which you will improve most, will be least expensive to you; and yet I am not such a stoic as to suppose that you will, or to think it right that you should, always be in company with senators and philosophers; but of the juvenile kind let me advise you to be choice. It is easy to make acquaintances, but very difficult to shake them off, however irksome and unprofitable they are found, after we have once committed ourselves to them. The indiscretions, which very often they involuntarily lead one into, prove equally distressing and disgraceful.

VOL. VIII.

FF

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distresses of every one, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse; remembering always the estimation of the widow's mite, but, that it is not every one who asketh, that deserveth charity; all, however, are worthy of the inquiry, or the deserving may suffer.

Do not conceive that fine clothes make fine men, any more than fine feathers make fine birds. A plain, genteel dress is more admired, and obtains more credit, than lace and embroidery, in the eyes of the judicious and sensible.

The last thing, which I shall mention, is first in importance; and that is, to avoid gaming. This is a vice, which is productive of every possible evil; equally injurious to the morals and health of its votaries. It is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief. It has been the ruin of many worthy families, the loss of many a man's honor, and the cause of suicide. To all those who enter the lists, it is equally fascinating. The successful gamester pushes his good fortune, till it is overtaken by a reverse. The losing gamester, in hopes of retrieving past misfortunes, goes on from bad to worse, till grown desperate he pushes at every thing and loses his all. In a word, few gain by this abominable practice, while thousands are injured.

Perhaps you will say, "My conduct has anticipated the advice," and "Not one of the cases applies to me." I shall be heartily glad of it. It will add not a little to my happiness, to find those to whom I am so nearly connected pursuing the right walk of life. It

will be the sure road to my favor, and to those honors and places of profit, which their country can bestow; as merit rarely goes unrewarded. I am, dear Bushrod, your affectionate uncle.

MY LADY,

TO LADY STIRLING.

Newburg, 20 January, 1783.

Having been informed by a letter from Captain Sill, of the unspeakable loss which your Ladyship has experienced, I feel the sincerest disposition to alleviate by sympathy those sorrows, which I am sensible cannot be removed or effaced. For this purpose, I would also have suggested every rational topic of consolation, were I not fully persuaded, that the principles of philosophy and religion, of which you are possessed, had anticipated every thing that I could say on the subject.*

It only remains, then, as a small but just tribute to the memory of Lord Stirling, to express how deeply I share in the common affliction, on being deprived of the public and professional assistance, as well as the private friendship, of an officer of so high rank, with whom I had lived in the strictest habits of amity; and how much those military merits of his Lordship, which rendered him respected in his lifetime, are now regretted

by the whole army. It will doubtless be a soothing consideration in the poignancy of your grief, to find, that the general officers are going into mourning for him.

Mrs. Washington joins me in requesting, that your Ladyship and Lady Kitty will be assured, that we feel

* Lord Stirling died at Albany, after a short illness, on the morning of the 14th of January.

the tenderest sensibility on this melancholy occasion. With sentiments of perfect esteem and respect, I am your Ladyship's most obedient and humble servant.

TO ELIAS BOUDINOT, PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.* Head-Quarters, 30 January, 1783.

SIR,

I should not have undertaken at this time to address myself through your Excellency to Congress, on the present state of our military and political affairs, which are so blended as scarcely to admit of separation in the discussion, did I not apprehend that my silence might perhaps be construed into remissness in my official duties or inattention to the public interests, and that some inconvenience might be experienced by the neglect or delay. Influenced by these motives, and an ardent desire to carry the wishes of Congress into effect, I shall hope to be excused, after suggesting a few things, for entreating to be made acquainted, so far as may be deemed expedient, with their sentiments and expectations relative to our future operations.

It scarcely needs be remarked here, as it is a fact of great notoriety, that the tranquillity, leisure, and inactivity of winter-quarters have ever been considered by all well informed warlike nations, when in a state of hostility, as the only proper season for taking into contemplation the probable operations of the ensuing campaign, and for making the best arrangements in their

Mr. Boudinot was elected president of Congress on the 4th of November. After the departments of finance, war, and foreign affairs went into operation, the correspondence of the Commander-in-chief with Congress passed chiefly through the hands of the secretaries, and his letters were directed to them.