Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow ANSWER TO AN ADDRESS OF THE NEW YORK PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 1 - The Writings of George Washington, vol. II (1758-1775)

Return to Title Page for The Writings of George Washington, vol. II (1758-1775)

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

Subject Area: Political Theory
Subject Area: War and Peace
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

ANSWER TO AN ADDRESS OF THE NEW YORK PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 1 - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. II (1758-1775) [1889]

Edition used:

The Writings of George Washington, collected and edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1889). Vol. II (1758-1775).

Part of: The Writings of George Washington, 14 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


NOTES ON THE DISMAL SWAMP.1

From Suffolk to Pocoson Swamp2 is reckoned about 6 miles, and something better than 4, perhaps 5 miles, from Colo. Reddick’s Mill Run (where the road crosses it). The land within this distance, especially after passing Willis Reddick’s, is level and not bad. The banks down to this (Pocoson) swamp declines gradually, and the swamp appears to be near 75 yards over, but no water in it at present. Note.—Willis Reddick’s plantation seems to be a good one, ye land being level and stiff, so does Henry Reddicks, above.

From Mossey Swamp to a branch, and a large one it is, of Oropeak (not less than 80 yards over) is reckoned 4 miles; two miles short of which is a large plantation belonging to one Brindle,1 near to which (on the south side) passes the Carolina line.

From what observations we were capable of making it appeared as if the swamp had very little fall (I mean the waters out of the great swamp) into the heads of these rivers, which seems to be a demonstration that the swamp is much lower on the south and east sides, because it is well known that there is a pretty considerable fall on the west side through all the drains that make into Nansemond river and the western branch of Elizabeth, at the north end of the Dismal.1

Note. The Carolina line crosses the swamp in a west direction, and is 15 miles from the place where it enters to its coming out of the same near Brindle’s plantation.1 Flats and small craft load at North West Landing.

To the great bridge from North West landing is accounted 12 miles; the lands good, as they are on all this (east) side and highly esteemed, valued in general according to the proprietor’s own accounts from 20/ to £3. per acre, but we were told they were to be had for less. This great bridge is upon the south Branch of Elizabeth River and about 10 miles from Norfolk, and heads in the Dismal, as does likewise North West River, Paspetank, Little River and Pequemin.2

Note. From the River Bridge on Paspetank to the Great Bridge on South River the road runs nearly north, and from thence to Farley’s plantation it seems to be about west; from this again to Colonel Reddicks (or Suffolk) south west, and from thence to Pequemin bridge and Little River, south, as before mentioned.—The swamp bordering near to the road all the way round, in some places close adjoining and in others 2 and 3 miles distant.1

ANSWER TO AN ADDRESS OF THE NEW YORK PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.1

New York, 26 June, 1775.

Gentlemen,

At the same time that with you I deplore the unhappy necessity of such an appointment, as that with which I am now honored, I cannot but feel sentiments of the highest gratitude for this affecting instance of distinction and regard.

May your warmest wishes be realized in the success of America, at this important and interesting period; and be assured, that every exertion of my worthy colleagues and myself will be equally extended to the reëstablishment of peace and harmony between the mother country and these colonies, as to the fatal but necessary operations of war. When we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen; and we shall most sincerely rejoice with you in that happy hour, when the establishment of American liberty, on the most firm and solid foundations, shall enable us to return to our private stations in the bosom of a free, peaceful, and happy country. I am, &c.

end of vol. ii.

[1 ]The commercial possibilities of the great Dismal Swamp in Norfolk County, Virginia, and in North Carolina, had early attracted the attention of Virginians. In 1728 William Byrd noted that Norfolk had “a pretty deal of lumber from the borderers on the Dismal, who make bold with the king’s land thereabouts, without the least ceremony. They not only maintain their stocks upon it, but get boards, shingles, and other lumber out of it in great abundance. . . . It would require a great sum of money to drain it, but the public treasure could not be better bestowed, than to preserve the lives of his majesty’s liege people, and at the same time render so great a tract of swamp very profitable, besides the advantage of making a channel to transport by water carriage goods from Albemarle Sound into Nansemond and Elizabeth rivers, in Virginia.”—History of the Dividing Line, 10, 26. In January, 1764, a company was chartered by the Legislature of Virginia, for the purpose of draining and rendering fit for cultivation the swamp, and Washington was interested. Little appears to have been done before the Revolution. For the subsequent history see Washington to Hugh Williamson, 3 March, 1784, post.

[2 ]Pocoson is a word applied to any reclaimed marsh.—Webster. Bartlett defines it as “low wooded grounds or swamps in eastern Maryland and Virginia, mostly dry in summer and covered with water in winter.”—Dictionary of Americanisms.

[1 ]Byrd speaks of a Mr. Brinkley, who “dwells a little to the southward of the line.” 25.

[1 ]Lyell noted, when in this region, that “strange to say, instead of being lower than the level of the surrounding country, it [the swamp] is actually higher than nearly all the firm and dry land which encompasses it, and to make the anomaly complete, in spite of its semi-fluid character, it is higher in the interior than towards the margin. The only exceptions to both these statements are found on the western side, where, for the distance of about twelve or fifteen miles, the streams flow from slightly elevated but higher land, and supply all its abundant and overflowing water. Towards the north, the east, and the south, the waters flow from the swamp to different rivers, which give abundant evidence, by the rate of their descent, that the Great Dismal is higher than the surrounding firm ground.”—Travels in North America, I., 114, 115.

[1 ]“By the most exact survey they [the surveyors] found the breadth of the Dismal in this place to be completely fifteen miles.”—Byrd, 30.

[2 ]“The swamp is the source of no less than five several rivers which discharge themselves southward into Albemarle Sound, and of two that run northerly into Virginia. . . . The rivers that head in it from Virginia are the south branch of Nansemond, and the west branch of Elizabeth; and those from Carolina are Northwest river, North river, Pasquotank, Little river and Pequimons.”—Byrd, History of the Dividing Line, 26. I have retained in the text the spelling that Washington gave of these rivers and swamps, which differs much from Byrd’s. Thus Byrd speaks of Coropeak, which is the Oropeak of Washington; Cypress and not Cyprus; Mossy instead of Mossey.

[1 ]“In the event of your ever visiting America I am in hopes you will not think a little time ill spent in a small tour to Virginia. We have few things here striking to European travellers (except our abundant woods); but little variety, a welcome reception among a few friends, and the open and prevalent hospitality of the country in general, might perhaps prove agreeable for a while, and I must be permitted to add, that I shall think myself very happy in seeing you at Mt. Vernon where you might depend upon finding the most cordial entertainment. The Indians at a time when we thought ourselves fixed in the utmost tranquillity have, in open violation of the treaty, recommenced hostilities, and (by a sudden irruption) thrown the frontiers of almost all the colonies into terrible consternation. They have lately met with some pretty rugged treatment, and it is hoped they will sue for terms again in a very little while.”—To Richard Washington, 27 September, 1763.

“We have been curiously entertained, of late, with the description of an engine lately constructed, (I believe, in Switzerland, and which has undergone some improvements since in England,) for taking up trees by the roots. Among other things it is related, that trees of a considerable diameter are forced up by this engine; that six hands, in working one of them, will raise two or three hundred trees in the space of a day; and that an acre of ground may be eased of the trees, and laid fit for ploughing, in the same time. How far these assertions may have been amply realized by repeated experiments, it is impossible for me at this distance to determine; but, if the accounts are not greatly exaggerated, such powerful assistance must be of vast utility in many parts of this wooden country, where it is impossible for our force (and laborers are not to be hired here), between the finishing of one crop and preparations for another, to clear grounds fast enough to afford the proper changes, either in the planting or farming business.

“The chief purport of this letter, therefore, is to beg the favor of you gentlemen to make minute inquiries into the trials, that have been made by order of the Society, and, if they have proved satisfactory, to send me one of these engines by the first ship bound to this (Potomack) River. If they are made of different sizes, I should prefer one of a middle size, capable of raising a tree of fifteen or eighteen inches diameter. The costs I am pretty much a stranger to. Fifteen, twenty, and twenty-five guineas have been spoke of; but the price, (were it double that), I should totally disregard, provided the engine is capable of performing what is related of it, and not of that complicated nature, which would cause it to be easily disordered, and rendered unfit for use, but constructed on so, plain, simple and durable a plan that the common artificers of this country may be able to set them to rights, if any accidents should happen to them. If you should send one, be so good as to let me have with it the most ample directions for the effectual using of it, together with a model of its manner of operating.”—To Robert Cary & Co., 13 February, 1764.

About one month after this letter was written Col. George Mercer arrived in Williamsburg as “chief distributor of stamps” for Virginia, but almost immediately resigned the office which he found so obnoxious to his countrymen. The manner in which this resignation was brought to pass is described in the Penn. Journal, No. 1197, and he doubtless thought himself justified in appointing James Mercer his deputy, when he sailed for England in November.

[1 ]On the 26th the draught of an address to General Washington was read in Congress, and Mr. Morris and Mr. Low waited upon the general to know when he would receive it. The reply was at half past two that afternoon, at which hour the following address was presented:

“At a time when the most loyal of His Majesty’s subjects, from a regard to the laws and constitution by which he sits on the throne, feel themselves reduced to the unhappy necessity of taking up arms to defend their dearest rights and privileges, while we deplore the calamities of this divided Empire, we rejoice in the appointment of a gentleman from whose abilities and virtue we are taught to expect both security and peace.

“Confiding in you, Sir, and in the worthy Generals immediately under your command, we have the most flattering hopes of success in the glorious struggle for American liberty, and the fullest assurance, that whenever this important contest shall be decided by that fondest wish of each American soul, an accommodation with our mother country, you will cheerfully resign the important deposit committed into your hands and reassume the character of our worthiest citizen.”

The idea contained in this last sentence, which Mr. Sparks says was “a broad hint to a military commander-in-chief,” is taken from a letter written by the New York Provincial Congress to its delegates in the Continental Congress on 7 June, 1775. In submitting its views on the appointment of officers it said: “On a general in America, fortune also should bestow her gifts, that he may rather communicate luster to his dignities than receive it, and that his country in his property, his kindred, and connexions, may have sure pledges that he will faithfully perform the duties of his high office, and readily lay down his power when the general weal requires it.” Force, American Archives, Fourth Series, ii., 1282. The address and the general’s reply were published by order of the Congress.

“When Oliver Cromwell was declared Generalissimo of the Parliament army in King Charles I’s time, he soon made himself master of the Government. And when the Prince of Orange was set at the head of the Confederacy in the Netherlands, on the separation of the United Provinces from Spain, he soon assumed the Stadtholdership, which has ever since been continued in his family. To obviate, perhaps, any similar apprehension, the Provincial Congress of New York have addressed his Excellency, hoping, that whenever the important contest shall be decided by that fondest wish of every American soul, an accommodation with the mother country, he will cheerfully resign the sacred trust, and reassume the character of their worthiest citizen. To this address the General returned a full and satisfactory answer.” Gentleman’s Magazine, August, 1775.

“June 27. Yesterday afternoon General Washington with his suite, attended by the several New York militia companies, a troop of gentlemen of the Philadelphia light horse, commanded by Captain Markoe, and a number of the inhabitants of New York, set out for the provincial camp at Cambridge, near Boston. Last night he rested at King’s Bridge, and this morning proceeded on his journey.” New York Gazette, July 24th. Quoted in Moore, Diary of the Revolution, i., 104.

“I do myself the honor to acquaint you that I parted with General Washington yesterday at 10 o’clock at New Rochelle, at which place we were met by General Wooster’s and Colonel Waterbury’s regiments. . . . Governor Tryon I have reason to believe will not create any trouble in his government. It is said that he laments (and is sincere) that the unhappy controversy has been carried so far, and that he wishes a happy termination of it on principles friendly to both.” Schuyler to the Continental Congress, New York, June 28, 1775. (Governor Trumbull expected to meet Washington at Hartford on the 27th.) “Govr. Tryon continues a prudent conduct. I cannot learn that he has taken any step that will give umbrage.” Schuyler to Hancock, July 2, 1775.