ere, as in the other
case, we must make up our mind to suffer yet longer before we can
get right. The misfortune is, that in the mean time, we shall plunge
ourselves into inextinguishable debt, and entail on our posterity an
inheritance of eternal taxes, which will bring our government and people
into the condition of those of England, a nation of pikes and gudgeons,
the latter bred merely as food for the former. But, however these two
difficulties of men and money may be disposed of, it is fortunate that
neither of them will affect our war by sea. Privateers will find their
own men and money. Let nothing be spared to encourage them. They are the
dagger which strikes at the heart of the enemy, their commerce. Frigates
and seventy-fours are a sacrifice we must make, heavy as it is, to the
prejudices of a part of our citizens. They have, indeed, rendered a
great moral service, which has delighted me as much as any one in the
United States. But they have had no physical effect sensible to the
enemy; and now, while we must fortify them in our harbors, and keep
armies to defend them, our privateers are bearding and blockading the
enemy in their own sea-ports. Encourage them to burn all their prizes,
and let the public pay for them. They will cheat us enormously. No
matter; they will make the merchants of England feel, and squeal, and
cry out for peace.

I much regretted your acceptance of the war department. Not that I know
a person who I think would better conduct it. But, conduct it ever so
wisely, it will be a sacrifice of yourself. Were an angel from Heaven
to undertake that office, all our miscarriages would be ascribed to
him. Raw troops, no troops, insubordinate militia, want of arms, want of
money, want of provisions, all will be charged to want of management in
you. I speak from experience, when I was Governor of Virginia. Without a
regular in the State, and scarcely a musket to put into the hands of
the militia, invaded by two armies, Arnold's from the sea-board, and
Cornwallis's from the southward,--when we were driven from Richmond and
Charlottesville, and every member of my council fled to their homes, it
was not the total destitution of means, but the mismanagement of them,
which, in the querulous voice of the public, caused all our misfortunes.
It ended, indeed, in the capture of the whole hostile force, but not
till means were brought us by General Washington's army, and the French
fleet and army. And althoug