168) Valley forge May 18th. 1778 My dear Sir, Your favor of the 15th. Inst. [sic] gave me singular pleasure- I thank you for the agreeable intelligence it contains; which (tho [sic] not equal to my wishes) exceeds my expectation, and is to be lamented only for the delay, as the evils, consequent of it, will soon (as I have often foretold). be manifested in the moving state of the Army, if the Departments of Quarter Master and Commissary will enable us [illegible], and keep pace with the [struck: [illegible] of the] Enemy, who, from every acct., are busy in preparing for their departure from Philadelphia- whether for the West Indies- a rendezvous at New York, to prepare for their [2] voyage- or for some other expedition, time only can discover.- The sooner however the Regimental regulations, & other arrangements are set about; and for godsake [sic] My dear Mom's let me recommend it to you, to urge the absolute necessity of this measure, with all your might. As the Council held at this place was by order of Congress & the members constituting [struck: of] it, pointed out by them, it was determined, out of respect to that body, to treat the New Members with civility- Indeed, the wish of all here, that no private differences should interrupt that harmony which is so essential in public Councils, had no smaller share in the amity that appeared- Contrary I own to [underlined: my] expectations, the same Sentiments respecting the measures to be [3] pursued, peruaded [sic] the whole- our resolutions of consequence, were unanimous.- I was not a little star prized to find that a Gentln. who, sometime ago (when a cloud of darkness hung heavy over at & our affairs looked gloomy) was desirous of resigning, now stepping forward in the line of the Army- But, if [underlined: he] can reconcile such conduct to his feeling as an [underlined: Officer] & Man of [underlined: honor]; & Congress has no objection to his leaving his Seat in another department, I have nothing [underlined: personally] to oppose to it.- Yet, I must think, that Gentlemens stepping in, and out, as the Sun happens to beam forth, or obsures [sic], is not [underlined: quite] the thing, not [underlined: quite] just with respect to those Officers who take the bitter with the meat.-[4] I am told that C_nw_y(from whom I have received another impertinent Letter datedthe 23d. Ulto. [underlined: demanding] the commd. [sic] of division of the Continental Army) is, through the medium of his friends soliciting his Commission again.- Can this be? And if so, will it be granted? I am very sincerely, and Affectionately Yr. G:o Washington [docket]: 18 May 1778 Genl. Washington