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264 THE LEE PAPERS.

troops. If this is a crime, I am ready to acknowledge it. There were times, I confess, when the promulgation of such an opinion would have been impolitic, and even criminal ; but in these times, it is notorious to the world that my conduct was the reverse. Every thing I wrote, every thing I said, tended to inspire that confidence in their own strength, which it was thought the Americans wanted ; and it is believed, that what I said, and what I wrote, had no inconsiderable effect ; but now, circumstanced as we are, I cannot conceive the danger, or even impropriety, in speaking of them as they deserve, particularly as their excellence redounds to the honour of America. I could not help, whilst I was prisoner, being astonished at the bad policy and stupidity of some of the British officers, who made it their constant business to depreciate the character of the Americans in point of courage and sense. I have often expressed my astonishment, making a very natural observation to them, that if the persuasion of their opponents' cowardice and folly were established in the world, the great merits they themselves pretended to must, at the same time, be utterly destroyed. That I have a very great opinion of the British troops, I make no scruple to confess ; and unless I had this opinion of them, I do not see what ground I could have for my eulogiums on American valour. This is a truth, simple and clear as the day ; but be it as it will, it is now most certain, let the courage and discipline of the British troops be as great as imagination can paint, there is at present no danger from either the one or the other. The dangers that now threaten, are from other quarters ; from the want of temper, moderation, œconomy, wisdom, and decision amongst ourselves ; from a childish credulity ; and in consequence of it, a promptness to commit acts of the highest injustice on those who have deserved best at the hands of the community ; but above all from the dæmon of avarice and monopoly now with his giant gait stalking the Continent, and devouring everything that falls in his way. In short