The Fisher's Reach 4^3 ticipations of the future about to ])e turned on the world, forced by penury and by what they call the ingratitude of the public, involved in debt, without one farthing to carry them home, after spending the flower of their days, and many of them their patrimonies, in establishing the freedom of their country, and suffering everything this side death -- I repeat it -- when I consider these irritating circumstances, without one thing to soothe their feelings or dispel their prospects, I can not avoid apprehending that a train of evils will follow of a very serious and distressing nature. . . . You may rely upon it the patriotism and long-suffering of this army is well-nigh exhausted, and there never was so great a spirit of discontent as at present.

But however \-ehement his protest on l^ehalf of his long-suffering soldiers, to them his counsels were temperate and charged with lofty dignity. To them he defended the rulers, and pledged his own w^ord that right should be done. When the paper, drawn up and signed by officers who had stood at his side through the darkest of the conflict, informed this man of kingly nature that they w^ould have him king in name and fact, grief and indignation contended for mastery in his breast. It is with a mixture of surprise and astonishment [so his answer ran] I have read the sentiments you have submitted for mv perusal. Be assured, sir, no occurrences in the course of the war have given me more painful sensations than your information of there being such ideas existing in the army as you have expressed, and which I must view with abhorrence and reprehend with severity. I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address which to me seems Ijig with the greatest mischief that can befall my country.