University of Virginia Library

TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Dear Sir,—I am just honoured with your favor of
the 5th. inst: The intelligence from Genl. Knox[86] is
gloomy indeed, but is less so than the colours in which
I had it thro' another channel. If the lessons which it
inculcates should not work the proper impressions on
the American public, it will be a proof that our case
is desperate. Judging from the present temper and
apparent views of our Assembly, I have some ground
for leaning to the side of Hope. The vote against
paper money has been followed by two others of great
importance. By one of them petitions for applying a
scale of depreciation to the Military certificates was
unanimously rejected. By the other the expediency
of complying with the Recommendation from Annapolis
in favour of a general revision of the federal
system was unanimously agreed to. A bill for the
purpose is now depending and in a form which attests
the most federal spirit. As no opposition has been
yet made and it is ready for the third reading, I expect
it will soon be before the public. It has been
thought advisable to give this subject a very solemn
dress, and all the weight that could be derived from a
single State. This idea will be pursued in the selection
of characters to represent Virga. in the federal
convention. You will infer our earnestness on this
point from the liberty which will be used of placing
your name at the head of them. How far this liberty

may correspond with the ideas by which you ought to
be governed will be best decided when it must ultimately
be decided. In every event it will assist
powerfully in marking the zeal of our Legislature,
and its opinion of the magnitude of the occasion.
Mr. Randolph has been elected successor to Mr.
Henry. He had 73 votes, Col. Bland 28, & R. H.
Lee 22. The delegation to Congress drops Col. H.
Lee, a circumstance which gives much pain to those
who attend to the mortification in which it involves a
man of sensibility. I am yet to learn the ground of
the extensive disapprobation which has shewn itself.