The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
TO EDMUND PENDLETON. |
 |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO EDMUND PENDLETON.
Dear Sir,—Your favor of the 6th inst. came to
hand yesterday. Mr. Griffin by whom you appear
also to have written has not yet arrived.
It gives me great pleasure to find that the enemy's
numbers are so much less formidable than was at first
computed but the information from N. York makes
it not improbable that the blank in the computation
may shortly be filled up. Genl. Washington wrote to
Congress on the 4th. inst. that another embarkation
was going on at that place, and in another letter of
the 7th he says that although he had received no further
intelligence on the subject, he had reason still to
believe that such a measure was in contemplation.
Neither the amount nor the object of it however had
been ascertained.
The inroads of the Enemy on the Frontier of N.
York have been distressing & wasteful almost beyond
their own example. They have totally laid in ashes
a fine settlement called Schoarie which was capable
bushels of grain for public consumption. Such a loss
is inestimable, and is the more to be regretted because,
both local circumstances, and the energy of
that Govt. left little doubt that it would have been applied
to public use.
I fancy the taking of Quebec was a mere invention.
Your letter gave me the first account of such a report.
A different report concerning the 2d. division of
the French fleet has sprung up as you will see by the
enclosed paper. It is believed here by many, and
some attention given to it by all. It is also said that
Rodney has sailed from N. York with 20 Ships for
Europe. If he has sailed at all, & the first report be
true also, it is more likely that he has gone out to
meet the french.
The late exchange has liberated abt. 140 officers &
all our privates at N. Y. amounting to 476. G. Washington
has acceded to a proposal of a further exchange
of the Convention officers without attaching
any privates to them, which will liberate almost the
whole residue of our officers at that place.
I am sir, etc.
| The writings of James Madison, | |