The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

150 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [.AET. 45.
ment they received while they were your prisoners.
I will not comment upon the subject. It is too painful.*
TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL CONWAY.
Head-Quarters, 16 November, 1777.
SinR,
In answer to your favor of this date, it remains with
Congress alone to accept your resignation. This being
the case, I cannot permit you to leave the army, till
you have obtained their consent. When that is done, I
shall not object to your departure, since it is your inclination. I thank you much for your wishes for the
liberty of America, and the success of our arms, and
have only to add, that, in case you are permitted to
return by Congress, you will have my hopes for a favorable passage, and a happy meeting with your family
and friends. I am, Sir, &c. t: See the Answer to the above, and also Sir William Howe's letter
of November 6th, in the APPENDIX, No. VII.
t General Conway had the day before sent his commission to Congress, and he gave as a reason to General Washington, that a longer
stay in America would endanger his rank and hopes of promotion in
France, adding, — " Although I leave the continent, I shall ever cherish
the cause for which I fought; and, if the plan I sent to Congress is accepted, I hope I shall serve the cause more effectually in another part
of the world." What this plan was he does not intimate; nor is it apparent from the journals, that Congress accepted his resignation, though
it would seem that he retired from the army. He wrote at the same
time a long, complaining, boastful, and somewhat impudent letter to
Mr. Charles Carroll, which was meant for Congress, and was accordingly
read in that assembly. In that letter he said, "Seven weeks ago several gentlemen wrote to me from the seat of Congress, mentioning the
very extraordinary discourses held by you, Sir, by Mr. Lovell, Mr. Duer,
and some other members, on account of my applying for the rank of
major-general. If I had hearkened to well grounded resentment, I should
undoubtedly have left the army instantly."