Papers of John Adams, volume 11
1781-02-19
The latest English newspapers have copied a long article from the New York Gazette on the subject of an alleged mutiny of 2,000 men in General Washington's army. However discredited, for good reason, this impure source 155may be, the news is cause for concern here for the good party and gives some hope to the Anglomanes. Please sir, answer me as soon as you know or are persuaded of the facts, and, supposing some of it is true, tell me what the consequences will be so that I may calm the weak and diminish the joy of the ill-intentioned.1
The provincial states of Holland will reassemble next Wednesday. One must hope that the scene here comes alive at least a bit. The time approaches when we ought to have news from St. Petersburg.
I am with great respect, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant
The account of the mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line that appeared in various London newspapers, including the London Chronicle of 8–10 Feb., came from New York's Royal Gazette of 6 January. The article referred to Washington as a lieutenant general of France and left little doubt that his army was disintegrating. For a fuller view of this event, see James Lovell's letter of 2 Jan., and note 6, above.