is my firm conviction that nothing of the kind worthy of credit can be discovered; but that any and all attempts to substantiate the reports referred to may be very easily disposed of by any right-minded and competent historical critic. A few words will suffice for my present purpose.

The scenes and events of that day were the subject of a prolonged and very critical investigation while the actors in them were still within reach and, as it were, fresh from the field. General Lee's trial by a general court-martial, beginning on the 4th of July, six days after the battle, ended on the 12th of August, with his suspension from any command in the armies of the United States of North America, for the term of twelve months. The statements of General Washington and General Lee in the correspondence which led to the court-martial, the sworn testimony of the witnesses upon the trial, and the defense of General Lee himself, furnish conclusive evidence of the utter falsehood of these pretended traditions which have gained entrance where they ought never to have been received for a moment.

Libels on Washington, George H. More, p. 6.

"I Have No Exclusive Partialities"

While the American army

lay encamped in

the environs of Morristown, it occurred that the service of the communion was to be administered in the Presbyterian church of that village. In a morning of the previous week, the General

visited the house of

the Rev. Dr. Jones, then pastor of that church, and accosted him:

"Doctor, I understand that the Lord's Supper is to be celebrated with you next Sunday; I would learn if it accords with the canons of your church to admit communicants of another denomination."

The doctor rejoined-"Most certainly; ours is not the Presbyterian table, General, but the Lord's table."

The General replied, "I am glad of it; that is as it ought to be; but as I was not quite sure of the fact, I thought I would ascertain it from yourself, as I propose to join with you on that occasion. Though a member of the Church of England, I have no exclusive partialities.

Entertaining Anecdotes of Washington (Boston, 1833), p. 62.

CHAPTER XXIII

FRENCH AID AND AMERICAN GREED

Foreign Officers, the French Alliance, and Three Letters

While Washington was putting down the enemies of the United States, Franklin was making friends for it. After the capture of Burgoyne he persuaded the king of France to recognize the United States as an independent nation. Besides this a fleet was fitted out, manned and commanded by the French. But there were long, weary, heartsickening delays before the French arrived.

Congress and the people hailed the French alliance with rejoicings. They had been colonials all their lives and believed a man with foreign advantages must be far superior to any officer who had grown up at home. This truckling to foreigners was bred in the bone. It seems a marvel that Washington's patriotism so quickly burned out all this dross of habit and antecedent. He believed in the home product of men, though some who styled themselves broadminded accused him of narrow provincialism.

In 1778 he had written to Gouverneur Morris:

"The lavish manner in which rank has hitherto been bestowed on those [foreign] gentlemen will certainly be productive of one or the other of these two evils: either to make it despicable in the eyes of Europe, or become the means of pouring them in upon us like a torrent and adding to our present burden, or the driving of all our own officers out of the service, and throwing not only our army, but our military councils entirely into the hands of foreigners.

Again he wrote to the president of Congress:

"I trust you think me so much a citizen of the world

as to believe I am not easily warped or led away by attachments merely local and American, yet I confess I am not entirely without them."

When Count D'Estaing at last arrived with the French fleet he was too late to keep.iord Howe out of the Delaware, so he turned to New York. He was late there and Washington sent him to co-operate with Sullivan in driving the British out of Rhode Island. There was a delay of ten days and when Sullivan was prepared for attack, Lord Howe's increased flect came in sight. D'Estaing sailed out to give battle, but a storm came up and scattered both fleets. Then D'Estaing sailed away to Boston to repair damages General Sullivan and his men were disgusted. The officers drew up a protest which bade fair to offend and drive away the French.

Washington promptly wrote three tactful letters which prevented a disastrous quarrel. To the wrathy Irish general he argued:

"First impressions, you know, are generally longest remembered, and will serve to fix in a great degree our national character among the French. In our conduct toward them we should remember that they are a people old in war, very strict in military etiquette, and apt to take fire when others seem scarcely warmed. Permit me to recommend, in the most particular manner, the cultivation of harmony and good agreement, and your endeavor to destroy that ill-humor which may have got into your officers."

He wrote to Lafayette, the brave young French general: Everybody, sir, who reasons will acknowledge the advantage which we have derived from the French fleet, and the zeal of the commander of it; but in a free and republican government you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude. Every man will speak as he thinks, or more properly, without thinking, and consequently will judge of effects without attending to causes. The censures which

have been levcled at the French fleet would more than probably have fallen in a much higher degree upon a fleet of our own if we had had one in the same position."

Then he wrote to D'Estaing, after expressing regret at the difficulties which had been unavoidable:

"It is in the trying circumstances to which your Excellency has been exposed that the virtues of a great mind are displayed in their brightest htre, and that a general's character is better known than in the moment of victory. It was yours by every title that can give it; and the adverse elements that robbed you of your prize can never deprive you of the glory due you. Though your success has not been equal to your expectations, yet you have the satisfaction of reflecting that you have rendered essential services to the common cause.

,;

Again Washington saved the cause and the country by saving the French alliance. This time it was by his delicate diplomacy.

The Washington Story-Calendar, Wayne Whipple. October 23 to 29, 1910.

Washington's Patriotic Pride

In the autumn, it was reported that the fleet was once more on the northern coast. Washington at once sent officers to be on the lookout at the most likely points, and he wrote elaborately to D'Estaing, setting forth with wonderful perspicuity the incidents of the past, the condition of the present, and the probabilities of the future. He was willing to do anything, or plan anything, provided his allies would join with him. The jealousy so habitual in humanity, which is afraid that some one else might get the glory of a common success, was unknown to Washington, and if he could but drive the British from America, and establish American independence, he was perfectly willing that the glory should take care of itself. But all his wisdom in dealing with the allies was, for the moment, vain. While he was planning for a great stroke, and calling out the militia.