To George Washington from John Stanwix, 10 March 1758
From John Stanwix
Lancaster [Pa.] 10th March 1758
Dear Sir
I was on the 8th Favour’d with your Obliging and find your judgment tally wth Lord Loudouns & mine in reguard to Major Smiths wild schem.1 shall not trouble you with a long leter upon it but toucth upon a Theme much more interesting wch is the State of your health wch I am much concern’d to hear is in so bad a Condition as to put you upon resigning your Command wch I am very sure will not be so well filled for the Interest of the Country in General and for my own wishes in particular, but be that as it may no one can more ardently wish for every thing that may be agreable to you. am sorry to tell you that I hear Lord Loudoun is to go home2 & Lord George Sackville to command in his room with many other Alterations, that a very large Fleet is expected & seven Thousand men. as I have not seen any papers since the Arrivale of a twenty Gun ship at New York with dispatches, can only give you an imperfect sketch of what is talk’d on and beg you will believe that I am very truly Dr Sir your most Obed. humble Servt
John Stanwix
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. See GW to Stanwix, 4 Mar. 1758. General Forbes also had his doubts about Smith. In a letter to John Blair of 20 Mar. Forbes wrote: “There is one Major Smith that was taken prisoner two years ago, and lately returnd from England—where he had found means of being taken notice of [by] the Secretary of state Mr Pitt—from whom he received some Gratification, and is now return’d to his house in Augusta County—As he promises a great deal more than I Believe he can easily perform, yet if you can employ him in your provinciall troops, and [send] him to me I will Endeavour to make the most of him” (Scottish Record Office: Dalhousie Muniments).
2. For Loudoun’s recall, see Beverley Robinson to GW, 1 Mar. 1758, n.3.