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.

PART II.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 273
I wish, Sir, I was not obliged to say, that there are
some ambiguities still characterizing the measures taken
concerning General Lee, which justify alarming surmises, notwithstanding all that has passed to the contrary. I have now been as explicit as you can desire,
on the subject of Colonel Campbell and the Hessian
gentlemen; and I hope to find you as explicit on the
subject of General Lee, by giving directions, without
further delay, to liberate him in place of General Prescott. General Lee's request, mentioned by you, to be
permitted to come by land to Philadelphia, can be no
objection to this requisition. It was founded upon your
order to send him round by water to that place; and,
conceiving it would be insisted on, that he should pass
to Philadelphia, he preferred the mode of going by
land, as the least inconvenient alternative. But the
measure appears to me wholly improper, and a departure from our late stipulation, calculated to impose unnecessary hardships on that unfortunate gentleman, and
to produce needless procrastination, at least, in allowing
him the common benefit of a general agreement.
With due respect, I am, &c.
TO PHILIP SCHUYLER, JAMIES DUANE9 AND VOLKERT
P. DOUrT,% COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Valley Forge, 13 March, 1778.
GENTLEMEN,
You will perceive, by the enclosed copy of a resolve
of Congress, that I am empowered to employ a body
of four hundred Indians, if they can be procured upon
proper terms. Divesting them of the savage customs
exercised in their wars against each other, I think they
may be made of excellent use as scouts and light
VOL. v. 35