31 is the same in reality as the omission of a separate letter, which has no hearing upon the matter intended to be represented. When, for any reason, the train of the writer’s ideas is suddenly broken off, or his meaning obscured, by the omission of a paragraph, sentence, or phrase, it certainly is essential that the fact should be noted; but such is not the case in any of the above selections, and probably not in any others comprised in the “ Life of Washington.” The following selections are introduced for the purpose of a comparison between Judge Marshall’s text and that of the Letter-Books. The italics indicate the discrepances. Judge Marshall’s Text. LETTER TO “ Great numbers of them have gone off, in some instances almost by -whole regiments, in many by half ones, and by companies at a time. This circumstance of itself, independent of others, when fronted by a well-appointed enemy, superior in number to our whole collected force, would be sufficiently disagreeable ; but when it is added that their example has inText of the Letter-Books. CONGRESS. Sept. 2d, 1776. “ Great numbers of them have gone off, in some instances almost by whole regiments, by half ones, and by companies at a time. This circumstance of itself, independent of others, when fronted by a well-appointed enemy, superior in number to our whole collected force, would be sufficiently disagreeable, but when their example has infected another part of the
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