From Benjamin Rush
Philadelphia August 29th 1804
Dr Sir,
I have this day learned that a letter1 from me to Governor Henry of Virginia which was sent by him to Genl Washington with the General's Answer to it,2 are to be printed in the history of his life. It is foreign to my wishes to hint at3 present at the State of the4 public mind towards General Washington towards the Close of the year 1777, & which events subsequent to that year, altered in his favor. I shall mention one passage only in his letter to Mr Henry5 in which there is an evident mistake. "This man (alluding to me) has been elaborate, and studious, in his professions of regard for me, & and that long since his letter to you." The letter written to Mr Henry was dated on the 12th of January 1778. I resigned my Charge of the military hospitals on the 30th of the same month. All official intercourse ceased from that day between General Washington and me. I retired to private life remote from the Army immediately afterwards, nor did I even see General Washington until fourteen months after the date of my letter to Mr Henry, and their first at Morristown in New Jersey.
In the month of December 1777 I addressed two letters to the General as Commander in Chief of the army dated from Princeton. The first, stating the errors Abuses, & distresses which prevailed in the military hospitals, the second, containing Complaints6 of the Administration of the hospitals by the Director General. Both these letters were written in the customary7 Stile of respect to persons in high Stations, but though written before the 12th of January 1778 contained no expressions that could convey the ideas before mentioned in the Generals letter to Mr Henry.8 An attested copy of the first of the letters shall be sent to you if required— the second is mislaid. The originals of both were sent by the General to Congress & I suppose are still on their files.9
The mistake on the part of General Washington in the reference to the time in which those letters were received, & of their Contents, is a natural One, especially by a person daily occupied in receiving and writting letters.
After this Statement of facts I submit it to your judgment whether it would not be proper not to publish the letters10 alluded to, or to erase the passage objected to in General Washington's letter to Govr Henry, as well as the inference11 he has drawn from it.12
It will give me pleasure to hear from you soon upon this Subject. From Dear Sir with great respect your most Obedt Servant
Benjn Rush
Source Note
Copy, PPL. This letter was sent to BW at Mount Vernon, with a note on the docket, "To be sent to Judge Washington if absent from home." It also contains the note, "Copy of a letter to Bushd Washington also of One to Judge Marshall."
1. Rush originally wrote, "A friend of mine put into my hands this day, a letter" and crossed it out.
2. Rush originally wrote, "Answers produced by it, all of which I am informed" and crossed it out.
3. Rush originally wrote, "not my business at" and crossed it out.
4. Rush originally wrote, "to take notice of the" and crossed it out.
5. Rush originally wrote, "dated March 27‑1778" and crossed it out.
6. Rush originally wrote after this word, "of the Director General" and crossed it out.
7. Rush first wrote the word "usual."
8. Rush originally wrote, "be construed to mean 'elaborate & studied perfessions of regard.'" and crossed it out.
9. Rush originally wrote, "I believe are on the files of Congress" and crossed it out.
10. The phrase originally said, "any of the said letters."
11. Rush first wrote the word "Conclusions."
12. The sentence originally ended "in the close of the letter."
Note: Because this document is only a verified first-pass transcription, it and the document metadata may still contain errors.