none of them" (the colonies) "will ever submit to the loss of their valuable rights and privileges."

On the day of his election as delegate to the Continental Congress, George Washington

wrote:

"DEAR BROTHER JACK:

"It is my full intention to devote my life and fortune to the cause we are engaged in, if needful!"

CHAPTER XVI

GENERAL WASHINGTON, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

THE men of Virginia met the men of Massachusetts and other colonies in the second Continental Congress. (The first had been held in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia.) The second was convened in the building, in the same city, now called Independence Hall.

John Hancock, a little man in a red suit, the merchant prince from Boston, occupied the chair. John Adams, older than the rest, known

as "the Father of the Revolution," was there.
Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and Richard
Henry Lee-the friend whom the boy George
Washington addressed, in his letters, "Dear
J
Dickey"-were from Virginia.

The North and the South had begun to find already that their interests were competing. The battles of Lexington and Concord had just been fought, and it was known that an army would have to be raised from all the provinces. Many men had shouldered their muskets and gone to Boston. "Who shall be general?" was the question before the Congress. There were several candidates from Massachusetts. General Artemas Ward was a great favorite, while rich little John Hancock is said to have aspired to that honor.

Patrick Henry was energetic, eloquent and influential. Early in the convention he seemed to recognize the rival interests of the colonies, and announced to his fellow-delegates:

"I am not a Virginian; I am an American!” Colonel Washington was there in his officer's uniform. This showed that he expected to fight, "if needful," as he had written to his favorite brother. It may be his wife had encouraged him

in this. A relative had written to her about the folly of her husband in allowing himself to be drawn in to act with riotous rebels, for, if they did not succeed, they would be arrested as traitors to the crown, and probably hanged or beheaded on Tyburn Hill, the place of execution in London. But Mrs. Washington bravely wrote back:

"My mind is made up; my heart is in the cause. George is right; he is always right."

After much discussion, during which one delegate moved to write another letter of protest to the king-but others exclaimed:

"What good will that do? Haven't we written letters enough? Let's do something!"

When nominations were made for commanderin-chief of the Continental Army, old John Adams arose to speak.

Colonel Washington kept himself in the background. He made no speeches in the Congress, but he was influential in council. He was always surrounded by delegates who wished to consult him. When the old man of Massachusetts took the floor they all grew quiet, for he had evidently risen to nominate General Artemas Ward. All listened respectfully, as he described the

14-Washington

qualities and fitness of his candidate whom he did not name until the end of his speech. Then he raised his voice until there reverberated through the hall:

"I nominate George Washington of Virginia!"

Colonel Washington jumped up as if he had been shot, and rushed out of the hall into the library. When he was elected, a committee was sent to notify the General of his election to the supreme command.

In spite of his wife's expressed approval, General Washington's first thought was of her loneliness and sorrow during the long separation. Within two years she had been bereaved of her daughter, and her son had gone away to a home of his own. So, instead of exulting because of the high honor thrust upon him, he wrote his wife as follows:

"I am now set down to write you on a subject which fills me with inexpressible concern, and this concern is greatly aggravated and increased when I reflect upon the uneasiness I know it will give you. It has been determined in Con

gress that the whole army raised for the
defense of the American cause shall be
put under my care, and that it is neces-
sary for me to proceed immediately to
Boston to take upon me the command
of it.

"You may believe me, my dear Patsy,
when I tell you in the most solemn man-
ner that, so far from seeking this ap-
pointment, I have used every endeavor
in my power to avoid it, not only from
my unwillingness to part from you and
the family, but from a consciousness of
its being a trust too great for my capac-
ity, and that I should enjoy more real
happiness in one month with you at
home, than I have the most distant pros-
pect of finding abroad, if my stay were
to be seven times seven years.

"I shall feel no pain from the toil and dangers of the campaign; my unhappiness will flow from the uneasiness I know you will feel from being left alone.

There was nothing in this letter about his own sacrifice in leaving home, fortune and happiness, for the risks of an arch-rebel. The doings of the Congress were kept secret. The names of those