Page:Charles Lee Papers 1873 Vol 3.djvu/337

the tryal, every Man out of the Army, every Man on the Continent who has read the proceedings of the Court Martial (perhaps indeed I might except Mr. Penn of North Carolina and Doctor Scudder of the Jerseys with a few others of about their size in understanding) is of opinion that the stigma is not on him on whom was pass'd but on those who pass'd this absurd iniqui- tous and preposterous sentence — for to be just, I do not believe you quite blockhead enough to think the charges had a shadow of support — and if ever by some wonderfull metamorphosis you shou'd become an honest man [you] will confess it— as to the confirmation of this curious sentence, I do not conceive myself at liberty to make any comments on it, as it is an affair of Con- gress for which Body I ever had and ought to have a profound respect, I shall only lament that they are dis- grac'd by so foul a Member as Mr. William Henry Drayton — You tell me the Americans are the most mercifull People on the face of the Earth. I think so too, and the strongest instance of it is that They did not long ago hang up you and every Advocate for the Stamp act, and do not flatter yourself that the present violent airs of Patriotism you give yourself, and your hard labour'd letters to the Commissioners and the King will ever wash away the stain — if you think the terms I make use of harsh or unmerited my Friend Major Edwards is commission'd to point out your remedy.

Charles Lee.

To Major General Horatio Gates.

Philadelphia March the 29th 1779.

My Dear Gates,

I shou'd in propriety have answer'd the last letter (indeed the only letter) I have receiv'd from you — but was prevented by imaginary busyness and a resolution when I did write to write to you in the most ample