When the officers assembled, Washington arose with a manuscript in his hand, and as he took out his glasses said, simply, “You see, gentlemen, I have grown both blind and gray in your service.”  His address was brief, calm, and strong.  The clear, vigorous sentences were charged with meaning and with deep feeling.  He exhorted them one and all, both officers and men, to remain loyal and obedient, true to their glorious past and to their country.  He appealed to their patriotism, and promised them that which they had always had, his own earnest support in obtaining justice from Congress.  When he had finished he quietly withdrew.  The officers were deeply moved by his words, and his influence prevailed.  Resolutions were passed, reiterating the demands of the army, but professing entire faith in the government.  This time Congress listened, and the measures granting half-pay in commutation and certain other requests were passed.  Thus this very serious danger was averted, not by the reluctant action of Congress, but by the wisdom and strength of the general, who was loved by his soldiers after a fashion that few conquerors could boast.

Underlying all these general discontents, there was, besides, a well-defined movement, which saw a solution of all difficulties and a redress of all wrongs in a radical change of the form of government, and in the elevation of Washington to supreme power.  This party was satisfied that the existing system was a failure, and that it was not and could not be made either strong, honest, or respectable.  The obvious relief was in some kind of monarchy, with a large infusion of the one-man power; and it followed, as a matter of course, that the one man could be no other than the commander-in-chief.  In May, 1782, when the feeling in the army had risen very high, this party of reform brought their ideas before Washington through an old and respected friend of his, Colonel Nicola.  The colonel set forth very clearly the failure and shortcomings of the existing government, argued in favor of the substitution of something much stronger, and wound up by hinting very plainly that his correspondent was the man for the crisis and the proper savior of society.  The letter was forcible and well written, and Colonel Nicola was a man of character and standing.  It could not be passed over lightly or in silence, and Washington replied as follows:—­

“With a mixture of surprise and astonishment, I have read with attention the sentiments you have submitted to my perusal.  Be assured, sir, no occurrence in the course of the war has given me more painful sensations than your information of there being such ideas existing in the army as you have expressed, and [which] I must view with abhorrence and reprehend with severity.  For the present, the communication of them will rest in my own bosom, unless some further agitation of the matter shall make a disclosure necessary.  I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given