8975. WASHINGTON (City), British capture of.—[further continued].
The embarrassments at
Washington in August last, I expected would
be great in any state of things; but they proved
greater than expected. I never doubted that
the plans of the President were wise and sufficient.
Their failure we all impute, 1, to the
insubordinate temper of Armstrong; and 2, to
the indecision of Winder. However, it ends
well. It mortifies ourselves and so may check,
perhaps, the silly boasting spirit of our newspapers.—
To James Monroe. Washington ed. vi, 408.
Ford ed., ix, 496.
(M.
Jan. 1815)
