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3380. GENERALS, Proving.—

The proof
of a general, to know whether he will stand
fire, costs a more serious price than that of a
cannon; these proofs have already cost us
thousands of good men, and deplorable degradation
of reputation, and as yet have
elicited but a few negative and a few positive
characters. But we must persevere till we
recover the rank we are entitled to.—
To William Duane. Washington ed. vi, 99.
(M. 1813)