148. ADMINISTRATION, Temporizing.—
Mild laws, a people not used to prompt
obedience, a want of provisions of war, and
means of procuring them render our orders
often ineffectual, oblige us to temporize, and
when we cannot accomplish an object in one
way to attempt it in another. Your knowledge
of these circumstances, with a temper
to accommodate them, ensure me your cooperation
in the best way we can, when we
shall not be able to pursue the way we would
wish.—
To Major General de Lafayette.
Ford ed., ii, 493.
(R.
March. 1781)
