these fail us, our operations must cease, and all our highest hopes will vanish into disappointment and disgrace.

'With great regard and esteem, I have the honour to be your excellency's most obedient servant,

'Go. WASHINGTON.

'P. S. If your excellency can assist us in procuring some axes and hatchets, and entrenching tools of all kinds, it will be a great advantage.

'We shall have much occasion for tools of this sost, and I find almost a total want here, and it will be difficult to make a collection from a small compass.

'To his Excellency Governor Lee.'

Letter from General Washington to Governor Lee. 'HEAD-QUARTERS, BEFORE YORK, October 12th, 1781. 'Sir,-I was yesterday honoured with your excellency's favour of the 3d. Give me leave to return you my sincerest thanks for your exertions on the present occasion.

The supplies granted by the State are so liberal, that they remove every apprehension of want. Col. Blaine has gone himself over to the eastern shore, to see that the cattle from thence are brought down to the proper landing, where they will be slaughtered, and the meat sufficiently salted to be transported by water.

'Proper measures have been taken by the commissaries, to receive the cattle of the western shore, and to have them driven by land.

'Arrangements have also been made to send up the craft for flour, as fast as they discharge their lading of

stores.

'I will desire col. Stewart to send up all the empty flour barrels that can be made of further use.

'We opened our first parallel on the night of the 6th, and established it completely with a loss too trifling to

mention.

'Our shells have done considerable damage in the town, and our fire from the cannon has been so heavy and well directed against the embrazures of the enemy's works, that they have been obliged during the day to withdraw their cannon and place them behind their merlins.

"The Charon, of 44 guns, and two large transports, have been burnt by hot balls. The guns and stores had been previously taken out of the frigate. We last night advanced our second parallel within 300 yards of the enemy's works, without the least annoyance from them. Lord Cornwallis' conduct has hitherto been passive beyond conception; he either has not the means of defence, or he intends to reserve himself until we approach very near him. A few days must determine whether he will or will not give much trouble.

'I have the honour to be, with great respect, your excellency's most obedient servant, Go. WASHINGTON.

'His Excellency Governor Lee.'

Extract of a letter from General Washington to Governor

Lee, dated

"October, 1781.

'My present engagements will not allow me to add more than my congratulations on the happy event, (alluding to the surrender of the British army at York,) and to express the high sense I have of the powerful aid which I have derived from the State of Maryland, in complying with my every request to the executive of it.

'Go. WASHINGTON.'

Letter from General Green to Governor Lee.

HEAD-QUARTERS, SOUTH CAROLINA,

December 20th, 1782.

'Sir,-The evacuation of Charleston, so long expected, took place on the 14th instant. It is an event of great moment to America in general, and of the last importance to the southern States in particular.

'I beg leave to congratulate your excellency on the happy consequences that are likely to flow from it. It puts a period (at least for a time) to the distresses of a worthy people, and will give them an opportunity to recover from those misfortunes which the nature of the war inevitably exposed them to. Government will be at leisure to examine its state and condition, and society, so long disturbed by discordant interests, will combine its views and objects, and the people be induced to unite in their exertions to prevent a return of those difficulties under which they have so recently smarted.

'I have the honour to be, with great respect and esteem, your excellency's most obed't and most humble ser'vt, 'NATH. GREENE.

'His Excellency Governor Lee, Maryland.'

*

Letter from Colonel Armand to the Governor of Maryland. 'Mahalister, in PennsylvaNIA, December 28th, 1783. 'Sir,-After having passed through the State over which you preside, I conceive it of my duty to express to your excellency the thanks of the legion under my command, and mine in particular, for the friendly dispositions and behaviour of the Marylanders towards us. The town of Frederick, in which we have made the longest station, has more particularly evidenced to us the worthy and high character of that country. Permit me to add here, that

* William Paca.

where people are sensible as those, of the rights of military men to their attention and care, they do deserve having respectable troops as the Maryland line-and do create in others, wishes for the opportunity to serve them. 'I am, with great respect, your excellency's very-the most obedient, humble servant,

'ARMAND MQIS. LA ROUERIE.

'His Excellency the Governor

of the State of Maryland, Annapolis.'

THE END.