細節
WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President. Autograph letter signed ("G:Washington") TO JOSIAH QUINCY, JR., Mayor of Boston; Cambridge, Mass., 24 March 1776. 3 1/4 pages, 4to, 231 x 189 mm. (9 1/8 x 7 7/16 in.), professionally silked and neatly repaired along several vertical folds, not obscuring text except for a single letter in last line of page 3, the paper yellowed and spotted in a few places.
HAILED AS HIS COUNTRY'S SAVIOUR FOR THE LIBERATION OF BOSTON, WASHINGTON WRITES: "IF MY CONDUCT...HATH MERITED THE APPROBATION OF THE GREAT COUNTRY, I SHALL ESTEEM IT ONE OF THE MOST FORTUNATE AND HAPPY EVENTS OF MY LIFE"
A letter written in the flush of elation which followed the unexpected British evacuation of Boston a week before on 17 March 1776. Less than a year after the battle at Bunker Hill, following an eight-month seige, the garrison of 11,000 British troops under Generals Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne and Gage, plus about 1,000 Massachusetts loyalists embarked upon naval vessels for evacuation. The first American troops re-entered the long-suffering city on the 17th, and Washington himself arrived the following day. (Boston and Massachusetts remained free of British troops for he duration of the war.)
On March 21 Quincy wrote Washington, offering effusive praise on behalf of "every friend of Liberty and the Rights of Mankind," for "that almost bloodless victory, in forcing the British Army and Navy, to a precipitant flight, from the Capitol of the Colony." Quincy, a Colonel of the Suffolk County Militia, wrote that, "Whilst the faithfull Page of History records, the British Codes of Blood against America, carried into execution by military Murderers, to the utter destruction of the British Empire, and the eternal infamy of those who devised them, You, Sir, must be happy...in the...unrivaled Glory, of having your Name handed down to Posterity, with the illustrious Character of being the Saviour of your Country." Quincy (a transcript of whose letter is present) went on to report that the American forces were fearful of an attack from the British ships, which had in turn been attacked by American whaleboats and shore artillery, which had driven them to anchor off Nantasket, some five miles southeast of Boston.
Washington, Commander of the Continental Armies since June 1775, alludes here to the Boston evacuation only as "the late signal interposition of Providence," and modestly deflects Quincy's ardent praise. Washington writes: "I am favourd with your Letter of the 21st Inst.....and I thank you for the many polite and flattering expressions which it contains. To obtain the applause of deserving Men, is a heart felt satisfaction, to merit them is my highest wish. If my conduct therefore as an Instrument in the late signal interposition of Providence hath merited the approbation of the great Country I shall esteem it one of the most fortunate & happy events of my life. I acknowledge myself yr debtor, for the share you have bestowed on me of it.
"The continuance of the [British] Fleet in Nantasket Road affords matter for speculation; it surpasses my comprehension, and awakens all my suspicions. I have taken every step in my power to guard against Surprizes, but the temper of your People [Bostonians?] seems to me to be to apprehend no danger till it stares them in the Face. I do not think there is cause to apprehend such Marauding parties as you dread; if any strike is aim'd, it will be a capitol one, for which reason I wish to be much upon my guard; & therefore have appointed Guard Boats, lookouts &c. There is one evil I dread, & that is their Spies. I could wish therfeore that the most attentive watch was kept to prevent any Intercourse between the ships & Main, for this purpose, and to prevent suspected persons (for I have no doubt but that trusty Soldiers, Sergeants, and even Commissioned Officers in disguise will be sent out) from travelling about, I wish a doz[en] or more of Honest, sensible, and diligent Men were Imployed to haunt the Communication between Roxbury anf the different landing Places near the Shipping in order to question, cross question &c all such Persons as are unknown, & cannot give an acct. of themselves in a strait, & satisfactory line. If you could hire Men for this purpose whilst the Shipping continue where they now are, I would pay the wages you can agree upon; and thank you for the trouble, as I think it a matter of some Importance to prevent them from obtaining Intelligence of our Situation. The earliest Information should also be communicated of any movement which may be discovered, and whether any of the shipping are getting out as it were by stealth.
"I am exceedingly sorry to hear of your Indisposition, & heartily wish you a perfect restoration of health -- I should be very happy to take you by the hand before I bid adieu to the Colony, but as my motions are regulated by those of the Enemy, I cannot say how, when, or where it can happen...." Published (from a later transcript) in Writings, ed. J.C. Fitzpatrick, 4:421-422.
HAILED AS HIS COUNTRY'S SAVIOUR FOR THE LIBERATION OF BOSTON, WASHINGTON WRITES: "IF MY CONDUCT...HATH MERITED THE APPROBATION OF THE GREAT COUNTRY, I SHALL ESTEEM IT ONE OF THE MOST FORTUNATE AND HAPPY EVENTS OF MY LIFE"
A letter written in the flush of elation which followed the unexpected British evacuation of Boston a week before on 17 March 1776. Less than a year after the battle at Bunker Hill, following an eight-month seige, the garrison of 11,000 British troops under Generals Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne and Gage, plus about 1,000 Massachusetts loyalists embarked upon naval vessels for evacuation. The first American troops re-entered the long-suffering city on the 17th, and Washington himself arrived the following day. (Boston and Massachusetts remained free of British troops for he duration of the war.)
On March 21 Quincy wrote Washington, offering effusive praise on behalf of "every friend of Liberty and the Rights of Mankind," for "that almost bloodless victory, in forcing the British Army and Navy, to a precipitant flight, from the Capitol of the Colony." Quincy, a Colonel of the Suffolk County Militia, wrote that, "Whilst the faithfull Page of History records, the British Codes of Blood against America, carried into execution by military Murderers, to the utter destruction of the British Empire, and the eternal infamy of those who devised them, You, Sir, must be happy...in the...unrivaled Glory, of having your Name handed down to Posterity, with the illustrious Character of being the Saviour of your Country." Quincy (a transcript of whose letter is present) went on to report that the American forces were fearful of an attack from the British ships, which had in turn been attacked by American whaleboats and shore artillery, which had driven them to anchor off Nantasket, some five miles southeast of Boston.
Washington, Commander of the Continental Armies since June 1775, alludes here to the Boston evacuation only as "the late signal interposition of Providence," and modestly deflects Quincy's ardent praise. Washington writes: "I am favourd with your Letter of the 21st Inst.....and I thank you for the many polite and flattering expressions which it contains. To obtain the applause of deserving Men, is a heart felt satisfaction, to merit them is my highest wish. If my conduct therefore as an Instrument in the late signal interposition of Providence hath merited the approbation of the great Country I shall esteem it one of the most fortunate & happy events of my life. I acknowledge myself yr debtor, for the share you have bestowed on me of it.
"The continuance of the [British] Fleet in Nantasket Road affords matter for speculation; it surpasses my comprehension, and awakens all my suspicions. I have taken every step in my power to guard against Surprizes, but the temper of your People [Bostonians?] seems to me to be to apprehend no danger till it stares them in the Face. I do not think there is cause to apprehend such Marauding parties as you dread; if any strike is aim'd, it will be a capitol one, for which reason I wish to be much upon my guard; & therefore have appointed Guard Boats, lookouts &c. There is one evil I dread, & that is their Spies. I could wish therfeore that the most attentive watch was kept to prevent any Intercourse between the ships & Main, for this purpose, and to prevent suspected persons (for I have no doubt but that trusty Soldiers, Sergeants, and even Commissioned Officers in disguise will be sent out) from travelling about, I wish a doz[en] or more of Honest, sensible, and diligent Men were Imployed to haunt the Communication between Roxbury anf the different landing Places near the Shipping in order to question, cross question &c all such Persons as are unknown, & cannot give an acct. of themselves in a strait, & satisfactory line. If you could hire Men for this purpose whilst the Shipping continue where they now are, I would pay the wages you can agree upon; and thank you for the trouble, as I think it a matter of some Importance to prevent them from obtaining Intelligence of our Situation. The earliest Information should also be communicated of any movement which may be discovered, and whether any of the shipping are getting out as it were by stealth.
"I am exceedingly sorry to hear of your Indisposition, & heartily wish you a perfect restoration of health -- I should be very happy to take you by the hand before I bid adieu to the Colony, but as my motions are regulated by those of the Enemy, I cannot say how, when, or where it can happen...." Published (from a later transcript) in Writings, ed. J.C. Fitzpatrick, 4:421-422.