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THE LEE PAPERS. 257

agine a more efficacious method than that which was pursued. But I must here beg leave to observe, that those gentlemen who talk so familiarly of bringing on a general engagement, must understand themselves as little as they can be understood by others. To bring on a general engagement is not always in our power. An enemy of any capacity will take such measures as not to be under the necessity of fighting against his inclinations ; and, however it may be received, I cannot help being persuaded, that some of the British generals are not deficient in this great essential. Clinton, Grey, and Erskine, were bred up, and considered no despicable officers in one of the best schools of Europe. Prince Ferdinand and his nephew, the hereditary prince, think, it is said, and do most certainly speak very honourably of them. Now, although it must be supposed that men of this stamp will make it a rule to retain the power of refusing a general engagement, there are strong grounds for believing, that on this day (whether from our manœuvres, or from the often ungovernable impetuosity of the British troops) they would have been put under the necessity of committing the most considerable part of their army to the decision of arms, if the opportunity on our side had been availed of. They were tempted to pass three of the great ravines which traverse the plain ; and there is room to flatter ourselves they would have passed the last, if they had been wisely suffered. They would then have been actually in our power ; that is, they would have been under the necessity of fighting against unequal force; for they had scarcely the possibility of retreating, and it was at our option to engage whatever part of the army we thought proper, whether the whole, one half, or only a third, as they had immediately emerged from the ravine, and before they could have had time to develope and form ; our rear was, on the contrary, quite clear and unembarrassed, and were, in fact, entire masters of our manœuvres; at the same time, Colonel Morgan, and the militia on the flanks, by this separation of the major part of the ene-VoL. III.— 17