sis.

"Satisfied, therefore, that you have sincerely wished and endeavored to
avert the war, and exhausted to the last drop the cup of reconciliation,
we can with pure hearts appeal to Heaven for the justice of our cause,
and may confidently trust the final result to that kind Providence which
has heretofore and so often signally favored the people of these United
States.

"Thinking in this manner, and feeling how incumbent it is upon every
person, of every description, to contribute at all times to his
country's welfare, and especially in a moment like the present, when
everything we hold dear is so seriously threatened, I have finally
determined to accept the commission of commander-in-chief of the armies
of the United States; with the reserve only, that I shall not be called
into the field until the army is in a situation to require my presence,
or it becomes indispensable by the urgency of circumstances.

"In making this reservation, I beg to be understood that I do not mean
to withhold any assistance to arrange and organize the army which you
may think I can afford. I take the liberty also to mention that I must
decline having my acceptance considered as drawing after it any
immediate charge upon the public, and that I can not receive any
emoluments annexed to the appointment before entering into a situation
to incur expense."

FOOTNOTES:

[127] Hamilton expressed his willingness to enter the army, if he should
be invited to a station in which the service he might render might be
proportionate to the sacrifice he was to make. "If you command," he
said, "the place in which I should hope to be most useful is that of
inspector-general, with a command in the line. This I would accept."

[128] The following were M'Henry's instructions:--

"It is my desire that you embrace the first opportunity to set out
on your journey to Mount Vernon, and wait on General Washington
with the commission of lieutenant-general and commander-in-chief of
the armies of the United States, which, by the advice and consent
of the senate, has been signed by me.

"The reasons and motives which prevailed on me to venture on such a
step as the nomination of this great and illustrious character,
whose voluntary resignation alone occasioned my introduction to the
office I now hold, were too numerous to be detailed in this letter,
and are too obvious and important to escape the observation o