From the COLUMBIAN CENTINEL
[1 I lias been controvetted whether the capture of Gen. Corn
wallu was the result ot a plan preconcerted between' Gen. Wafh
mgton and Count de Gralfc ; or rather whether the arrival of.the
Count m the Chefapcak was predetermined and cxpcft.d by Ge
neral Wafliingtori, and confcquemly all the preparations to attack
New-York a mere tinclTe to drce.ve the encmv; or whether the
real , mention was against New-York, and the liege of Yorktown
planned upon the uncxpefled arrival of the French fleet in the bay
The following letter will set the matter in its true light.]
" Mount Vejinon, July 31, 1788.
S I R,
TDU LY received your letter of the 1 4 th instant,
X and can only anfweryou briefly and general'
y fromi memory : | hat a combined operation of
the land and naval forces of Krance in America,
01 the year i 781, was preconcerted the year be
lore; that the point of attack was not absolute-
Jy agreed upon,* because it could not be fore
known where the enemy would be mod fufcepti
of "fflpreffion ; and because we (having the
command of the wafer with fufficient means of
conveyance) could tranfportourfelves to any spot
with thegreateft cele.ity . tha t it was deter,nin
-11 1 j' nea, ' 1 >' tw ? lv e mouths betore hand, at
i , i" V tO , g]V f 0Ut > and cai,fe "to be believed
by the Jjigheft military as well as civil officers,
WaS the tle,line<l of attack,
ior the important purpofeofinducingtlieeafterii
and m.ddle States to majee greater exertions in
ianufhing fpecific supplies, than they otherwise
•would have done, as well as for the intercfting
purpose ot rendering the enemy less prepared
<liewhere ; that by these means, and these alone,
artillery, boats, (tores, and provisions, were in
Jealonable preparation to move with the utmost
rapidity to any part of the continent ;• for the
difficulty confilted more in providing, than know
inghow to apply the military apparatus ; that be
tore the arrival of the Count de Grade,it was the
fixed determination to flrike the enev'y in the moll
vulnerable so as to ensure success with
moral certainty, as our affairs were then in the
iiiDlt ruinous train imaginable ; that New-York
V 3! tllou ght to be beyond our effort, and conse
quently that the only hesitation that remained
was between an attack upon the B.itiih army in
Virginia, and that in Charleston : And finally
that, by the intervention of federal coinmutuca'
tions and some incidents which cannot be detailed
?" a J the l]oftile post in Virginia, from be
ing ap, ovifional and fit tingly expetiej, became the
definitive and certain objeit of the campaign.
I only add, that it never was in contemplation
IVhavehheW^ eW r Y £ k '. Un,ef - thc Sa' Hfon ffiould
firft have been so far degarnifhed id carry on ihe
iouthcrn operations, as to render our success in
the fiegeof .hat place, as infallible as any future
inil.tary event can ever be made. For f repeat
it, and dwell upon k^riu;f6tt,efplendid advao*
tage (whether upon a larger or f,nailer scale was
nlinoft immaterial) was so eflen.ially neceiTary
to revive the expiring hopes and languid exer
tions of the country, at the crisis in question, that
never would have consented to embark in any
enterpnfe, wherein, from themoft rational plan
and accurate calculations, the favorable illue
Jhould not have .ppearell to my view as a ray of
S ft C " c v t3llU ' e ° f an atre,n Pt again ft the
ports of the enemy, could, in no other possible si
tuation during the war, have beenfo fatal to our
, That ra" c '" trouble was taken and finefTe ufcd
to mifgtfide and bewilder Sir Henry Clinton in
reprcfto the real fictions
cations, as welj as by making a deceptive provi
sion of ovens, forage, and boats, in his neighbor
hood, is certain : Nor were less pains taken :o
deceive Ol ,r own army ; for I had always con
ceived, where the imposition docs not completely
" "" >uld
T t eß r ofob I rn .l ni,, S tn,th ' is *ery.laudable 5
I wifli (had more leisure to gratify it, as I an , e .
*l»a]]y folic umis the undrfguifed verity fhoukl he
.be m.lconce.vcd and mifieprefented.
ftandingmoft of the papers, which may proper
ly be deemed official, are preserved; y et P t h e
\CZ led fr 0f ,mU,mCrablc thi "S s > of a mote de
licaie and secret nature, is confined to the perish.
remembrance of fo.ne few of the present «
iteration. With eltcem, I am, Sir, you'r m o st obe"
diem humble fcrvant. "'"■oitooe-
'* it would he eafv for theConnt de C .air * i ■
before h.j departure from the Weft InH*. , C " ,ir, ''"H !™t
answer to a challenge
, T JS .:r thc f " r d " th > " or fniart,
Mak"* me avcrfr Jo fi«rht;
But'to prefcrve a tender heart,"
Xo! mint-, Sut'Celia's right. -
Then let your fury h- fapp rc ft
Not inr. but Ccha fpjrc ;
"ioui■ lwo r <; is wdcometo my breaG,
W nencver flic's not there.
G. WASHINGTON
i'ilnj TABLET*. -No 145.
That thenJh&tild be idle, vicious people in the com
"•unity is owing te bad injlitutions."
"jPHERE is a certain indolence of investigation
in the mind, that makes us apt to attribute
he evils that prevail in society, to some radical
lerects in human nature. Ir is incredible how
none we arc to Jcontratft an habit of afligning
uch causes, for every appearance, as will give us
he lead trouble of thinking. The zealous patri
)t charges all public evils to the mifinanagement
ifpuolic men. He is fatisfied that is the true To
ut.on of the difficulty, and searches for no cause
hat is more deep or rational. The recluse theo
■ogian accounts for vice and misery in a differ
-lit manner Hill. To the original depravity of
•he human heart, all the evil, that appears in the
. Wol ' niull » i" his view, be altribed.
lomluch a fountain he traces all the disorders
.hat toi, me in and disgrace society. lam nothow
' j '-ijling this queftioii on theological
''' 3 !! tl ' er , etole ven ture to assert that
< ckcts of molt of the evils that cover the face
f hemo'al world,nay be mitigated or deftroy
:d byjudicious initiations. *
I'e.t.nps my principles can noway be better!!-
V ,aI » y nil appeal to Ihe circum(lances
>t this cuy. > very person who has resided here
O'hx years p afl " Ul it have been a witness with
h 1 " / thC n " mber of abandoned
rs has duniniCied. This reformation
nuft be attributed in some degreeto the pood re
d! dalles of'' bCCI - :ulo i ,tc<i employing
ill dalles of citizens. The means of fiibfiftence
ne rendered so easy, that the temptation to
_omn.it enormous crimes may easily be refilled
Vnd when an hab.t of indultry i, formed „
s: to rar:
uniung, 0) the depreciations of fraud.
hole men who govern the affairs of tile cow
nunity, and are honored with the appellation*
"hers of the people, lay them felves P unde, the
i.uTmo ah of tT IO r S -° Watch ° Ver the happineii
morals of the society to which they belon-r
«a es may be deemed civil families, over whi'ci
ho fe who art as head, fhonld exercise pa e, tai
rare and v,g, Llnce . Arc inhabitants iiido
ent or Mcio.is, a patrioticlegillator will counter
.' I t0 ver r v 'S»'-ous motives to over.
•ted to & hUtt £ a£v<
Kcupations. This can belt be acconmlifl.c l h,
;,s ftssstsuy ** -
' art > "J'*' '"lis Itimulates induftt v whi 1
iives wealth and ltren<nh to the J
3ut a wife and virtuous one takes"l ppent(l
hen live view, and fees v°of mT®
REMARKS ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
TT is curious to observe — t
l^ssssssss^£L^
in modern mercantile ftilefa W?1 J
change is honored by the payor whi - •
cepted and paid. In u " ' Sac '
fvnonimotis with accept * The ZTdT
introduced by'an exoeri«F« v J? " or Was
or C o,„plair.S d u^',°k f e , 5
Ma. if ,r,„,fe r „d to ,h.'m]
tli ast is made upon a man whr> 1 ' Where a
drawer, but who it I r j M not owe thc
ssw&fcssi'• cr »&
touMEenanccd. tßatword. nU.btmlK?
proper meaning Did a t own
his acceptance of a bill bv wrV CVCr li ß ni o r
ceived and honored this j'" S u / on "> re "
is not probable : and fnL .• y°f ?Jt
sense will bring back our m»> 'T 6 ° r otller g°°d
.■« p.. in the & of
r " h
tew instances when an ha, e are a ver 7
convey a letter for him • butT\, * perfon ' to
an acst of kindneft a« ' always a favor,
introduced this abufeof word™ 0^01 has
T^funS^tArg?» t the use <"
wares and merchandize are c^IW^ nCe '*^? ds '
revenue, which to me anncar. • }eQs of '
594
je(ls of revenue ; the purposes to »i;.i • •
ed, are the oijttis of revenue Cm!/ s a P?ii*
,f,, pajnjeut of
nient are the objeits of revenue ],?n fioVe '«-
ticles on which,are subject;; ; tiiearr i?^' tJle ai '"
poses to which, are the objects. S 01 P ur -
Intelligible ..md intelligent are also f,„
confounded. We often hear persons
then, he is a very intelligible man, when J- a " 0 '
he is a man of underltandin? thai- ;? ,S
gent man. An intelligent man i. 1 *"
be easily uriderttood 1./othcS"'«
is one who has knowledge or nnrli ,i « ,!m
An intelligent man understands • a, '•
man may be understood. '
— _____ N. W.
LONDON.
EASTERN GRANDEUR.
THE proceflion of the Nabob from Cl,; f »
, Calcutta, in order to pay hb conm) P °' T ' t0
Lord Cornwallis, on his arrival in® • Cnt,to
thy of description, as k gives an id ea '?\u T r '
of magnificence of Eaftcrn Princes yle
Seven elephants, of the firftmairnitnrfp ,
ed by their Keepers, in like manner as our
terhorfes: leated on the backs ofwhlh
throne of indescribable splendor, was theN k'V
with a man behind him holding a ru l tr b b '
The throne was composed of P-old pearl- ' j
brilliants : and the Nabob's drfft
lovereignty : Nor was ever animal moreerJjj 3
capanfoned than the no less honored than S T
iug elephant on which he rode l *
Lt?' j "i"
nels sptrfbn to ihegreanlt po/Cblc a-lvaniiL™"
Arrived at the entrance oftheCovernor'shfufr
i °p V V knelt l^e h*lt reasoning animal for hl* '/
Juttrious matter to alight, who' proSSed *£»
immense retinue, drefled all in new turban" and
un,forms, to a breakfaft that had been
for this princely guett. p-^paiei
strange effect of music.
sic is continued, »; e will set un a L V-
AtzsL: r
2 e wh- u 1 ' 1 ' armS S' lve the c ' er Ry ,nan a
->T h,eh h f : "?g Perufcd, he immediately de
iveied n to the intended bridegroom, who was
so confounded at the contents, "that h'e ran out
a'tonilW * % fpeakmg 3 word, to the
bride. * mortification of his intended
n A L E M, September 7.
a - b^ gLeo P ard > Ca Pt- Woodbury,
aurhnrir e> r lll f 2 from Bilboa ; andon the
me cS -° f ,ettCr from Mr " to a
"r ~S. tOWn ' rece 'ved by her, we ate
Brit Tin' to ,l ?> . at t ' le d 'fp ute between Great
dlv.l. pain ' which has caused r " ch fornii
unnn IT \? men , ts >. ar "l kept expetftation folong.
•e. 1 et ™> 1S at length amicably fettled by
negociation This letter is dated the 22 d ofjuly.
Tj,_ j 0 S T O N, Sept. 8.
at ti,«. D°ftor of Laws, was conferred,
C FflK rF te iir°« I )! niencement ac Providence, on
SnSSc WASHINGTON, President of the
. States :—And the degree ofDothrofDi
mrl "rJ°"w 1C < ev - Hopkins, of Newport,
and the J Por ;,a n(li P
tlir 1" r"' f GH Williamson, Esq. one of
he. reprefentauves in Congress from North-Ca
olina, arrived in town yelterday.
C«„L NJ i AMIN Bo . Vrn > £<q. (and not Mr. J W
' .c' as "'entioned in our last, through the
dfrol °n 3 P c ' from Providence) is chosen Fe
. e P I c fentative for the State of Rbode-
L•' ' ,' ya ma joricy of near 300 rotes. The
oiteo t lis gentleman indicates the happyabo
lit on of ant,federal! si„ in Rhode-Mand.
r.io| IS , U PP 0 „5"> f' O'n the enumeration already
. \C' ' lac Msffachuf itts will be intitled to fend
/• ' ve . _ e P r -ftntattves to Congress : And for these
'here I'm may J ud & e fromprefent appearances,
„" ear y 1200 candidates.
Th„ c „ VlDENC£""sept." 4.
n r * oj { ow mg gentlemen were eie&ed to re
P'eient this town in general Membly, at O(flo
TrJnrP\ V,Z - Welcome Arnold, Esq. Col. Amo*
j tNeWcI, ' Ef q- an d Sylvanus Martin.
Monday evening Jaft, as a gentleman was
1 aveJmg fj.j,", Dighfon to Barrington (through
e >0 oth) he was met by three Ruffians on horfe
th ac / rom P by a footpad. After passing
em » the Horsemen instantly turned, and eager.
y purjued the Gentleman,fniackingtlieirwhips;
, lU a . er a cl'ace of about two miles, finding
i.eni e ' v es much in the rear, those noi'tuniai.
adventurers gave up the pursuit."