knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. At the same time, in justice to my own feelings, I must add that no man possesses a more sincere wish to see ample justice done to the army than I do, and so far as my powers and influence, in a constitutional way, extend, they shall be employed to the utmost of my abilities to effect it, should there be any occasion. Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your country, concern for yourself, or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your mind, and never communicate, as from yourself or anyone else, a sentiment of the like nature. With esteem, I am sir,

Your most obedient servant,

G. WASHINGTON,

Leaving Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh one turns southward and crosses Quassaick Creek, at one time known as the Vale of Avoca, to hear above the whirr of today's many intersecting railroads the echoes of Indian paddles. It is said the ghosts of Indians still linger here in their canoes waiting to carry away Washington, for near is the site of the Ettrick house whose host treacherously invited the Commander-in-Chief to dinner with intent to kidnap him.

"General, you are my prisoner," said Mr. Ettrick, pushing aside his wine-glass and rising from the table.

THE WILLIAMS HOUSE.

66

Pardon me, sir, but you are mine," was the quiet answer, and instantly the life-guards appeared and poor Ettrick was put in chains,

his pretty daughter escaping on account of the timely warning she had given her father's guest.

Standing on the slopes of Snake Hill, to the west of Newburgh, where was the last can

tonment of the American Army on the site of the Temple, a building used for Sunday services, for Masonic purposes and as a gathering-place for social entertainment, a site now marked by a

monument, one hears again those words spoken by Washington when in

March, 1783, the circulation of the Newburgh letters caused

unrest among the unpaid troops.

THE VERPLANCK HOUSE.

"You see, gentlemen," he said as he arose to read his address, putting on his spectacles as he spoke, "that I have not only grown grey but blind in your service. . . .

"Let me conjure you," he continued, "by the name of our common country, as you value your own sacred honor, as you respect the rights of humanity, as you regard the military and national character of America, to express your utmost horror and detestation of the man who wishes under any specious pretense to overturn the

liberties of our country and who wickedly attempts to open the flood-gates of civil discord.

By thus determining and thus acting you will persue the plain and direct road to the attainment of your wishes you will by the dignity of your conduct afford occasion to posterity to say when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to mankind, Had this day been wanting, the world had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining."

Crossing the river by the ferry sloop to Fishkill one finds in this Revolutionary centre of military supplies much of interest. Here were Baron Steuben's headquarters in the Verplanck house, where the Nicola letter was written and the Society of Cincinnatus in part was formed; here at Swartwoutville the headquarters of Washington; here on the Wicopee, in the James Van Wyck house, the residence of John Jay, and at Brinkerhoff, in the home of Matthew Brinkerhoff, the roof which sheltered Lafayette when he lay ill of a fever. The Dutch Church in Fishkill has been made famous by Cooper's Spy. Trinity Church was a hospital, and on the banks of the Hudson at Presqu' Ile one rests under the oak which shaded Washington when he waited for his letters to be brought to him from Newburgh.

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