General Washington to Richard Henry Lee

v3:1249

Camp at Cambridge, October 29,1775.

DEAR SIR: As you will be fully informed of every matter and thing relative to the Army, by your own Committee, I should not have given you the trouble of a letter at this time, were it not on Colonel Reed' s account. He is, as I presume you may have heard, concerned in many of the principal causes now depending in the courts of Pennsylvania; and should those causes be pressed for trial, by his brethren of the profession, it will not only do him a manifest injury in his practice and future prospects, but afford room for complaint of his having neglected his business as a lawyer. This he thinks may be avoided, if some of you gentlemen of the Congress, in the course of conversation with the Chief Justice and others, would represent the disadvantages which must result to him, in case his causes should be hurried to trial.

That Colonel Reed is clever in his business, and useful to me, is too apparent to mention. I should do equal injustice, therefore, to his abilities and merit, were I not to add, that his services here are too important to be lost, and that I could wish to have him considered in this point of view by your honourable body, when occasion shall favour.

I shall take it kind of you to give me, from time to time, such authentick intelligence of the manoeuvres of the Ministry as you think may be relied on. We get none but newspaper accounts here, and these very imperfect.

I am, with sincere esteem and regard, dear Sir, your affectionate friend and countryman,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.