That is a wonderful story...
"General Washington received a letter from Colonel Lewis Nicola, proposing that the Continental Army could easily make him King of the newborn nation. Washington's response -- so atypical of heroes and conquerors throughout history -- was one of "great surprise and astonishment". "Be assured, Sir," Washington insisted to Nicola, "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 I must view with abhorrence, and reprehend with severety
I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address which to me seems big with the greatest mischiefs that can befall my Country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable ... Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your Country, concern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your Mind, and never communicate, as from yourself, or any one else, a sentiment of the like Nature.
It is said that Nicola was so stung by Washington's rebuke that he wrote the General no less than three letters of apology. |
