Have just read a handbill giving a particular account of the engagement
at the northward. You will have it long before this reaches you. The
loss of Ticonderoga has awakened the sleeping genius of America, and
called forth all her martial fire. May it never again be lulled to rest
till crowned with victory and peace. Good officers will make good
soldiers. Xanthippus, the Macedonian General, who had been educated in
the discipline of Sparta and had learned the art of war in that renowned
and excellent school, when he was called to assist the Carthaginians,
who had been defeated in several battles against the Romans, declared
publicly, and repeated it often in the hearing of their officers, that
the misfortunes of the Carthaginians were owing entirely to the
incapacity of their Generals; and be proved clearly to the council that
by a conduct opposite to the former, they would not only secure their
dominions, but drive the enemy out of them. Upon his accepting the
command of the Carthaginians, the gloomy consternation (says Rollin)
which had before seized the whole army was succeeded by joy and
alacrity. The soldiers were urgent to be led against the enemy, in the
firm assurance of being victorious under their new leader and of
obliterating the disgrace of former defeats. Xanthippus did not suffer
their ardor to cool, but led them on to battle, and entirely routed and
defeated the Romans, making Regulus their prisoner. That General, who a
few days before was insolent with victory, inexorable to the conquered,
and deaf to all their remonstrances, in a few days experienced by the
fate of war a sad reverse of fortune.
This is a case, I think, very similar to our own. May it prove so in the
end! "There are two ways," says Rollin, "of acquiring improvement and
instruction: first, by one's own experience, and secondly, by that of
other men. It is much more wise and useful to improve by other men's
miscarriages than by our own."
We have not yet received any intelligence from the southern army since
the account of the engagement on the 11th,[181] which must have been
very severe upon both sides. You now experience what we suffered when
the army lay this way. I feel very anxious for their success. The
suspense which the distance occasions is painful, but still I find very
different sensations between having the enemy at such a distance and
having them in my own neighborhood. I hope you will all look to your own
safety. As you are not called to action, kidnapping would be rather
disagreeable, but were you in the army I should despise myself for such
a sentiment,--as much as I did a certain gentleman who was in the
horrors a few days ago upon hearing that General Washington had
retreated to within six miles of Philadelphia. If Howe should get
possession of that city, it would immediately negotiate a peace. I could
not help warmly replying that I did not believe it, even though that
should be the case, and the General with his whole army should be cut
off. I hoped then that an army of women would oppose him. Was it not the
Saracens who turned their backs upon the enemy, and were slain by their
women, who were placed behind them for that purpose?
Your favors of the 2d and 8th reached me upon the 20th. Your
observations with regard to luxury are just, but trade and commerce will
always support it. The necessity of the time will be a temporary
restraint upon it, and put us upon seeking resources among ourselves. An
instance of that may be seen in the progress which is made in grinding
cornstalks and boiling the liquor into molasses. Scarcely a town or
parish within forty miles of us but what has several mills at work; and
had the experiment been made a month sooner, many thousand barrels would
have been made. No less than eighty have been made in the small town of
Manchester. It answers very well to distill, and may be boiled down to
sugar. There are two mills fitting up in this parish. They have three
rollers, one with cogs and two smooth. The stalks are stripped of the
leaves and tops, so that it is no robbery upon the cattle, and the juice
ground out. 'T is said four barrels of juice will make one of molasses,
but in this, people differ widely. They have a method of refining it so
that it looks as well as the best imported molasses.
Thus you see we go from step to step in our improvements. We can live
much better than we deserve within ourselves. Why should we borrow
foreign luxuries? Why should we wish to bring ruin upon ourselves? I
feel as contented when I have breakfasted upon milk as ever I did with
Hyson or Souchong. Coffee and sugar I use only as a rarity. There are
none of these things but I could totally renounce. My dear friend knows
that I could always conform to times and circumstances. As yet I know
nothing of hardships. My children have never cried for bread nor been
destitute of clothing. Nor have the poor and needy gone empty from my
door, whenever it was in my power to assist them.
Heaven grant that I may continue to receive its blessings. One of its
greatest is that I can subscribe myself wholly yours.