Cambridge, March 7, 1776.
[Extract]
I am sorry to hear of your ill-fated fleet. We had it, I suppose because we wished it, that Hopkins had taken [Henry] Clinton, and his transports. How glorious would this have been! We have the proverb on our side, however, that "a bad beginning will end well." This applies to land and sea service.
1. John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington (Washington, 1931-1944), IV, 379-84. Hereafter cited as Fitzpatrick, ed., Writings of Washington.
