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.

318 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET. 46.
The enclosed draft of a bill was brought to headquarters yesterday afternoon, by a gentleman who informed me, that a large cargo of them had been just
sent out of Philadelphia. Whether this insidious proceeding is genuine, and imported in the packet, which
arrived a few days ago, or contrived in Philadelphia, is
a point undetermined and immaterial; but it is certainly
founded in principles of the most wicked, diabolical
baseness, and meant to poison the minds of the people,
and detach the wavering at least from our cause. I
suppose it will obtain a place in the papers, and am not
without anxiety that it will have a malignant influence.
I would submit it, whether it will not be highly expedient for Congress to investigate it in all its parts, and
to expose in the most striking manner the injustice,
delusion, and fraud it contains. I trust it will be attacked, in every shape, in every part of the continent.
I have the honor to be, &c.*
" The paper here referred to contained a draft of Lord North's Conciliatory Bills, as they were called. They had made their way with
quick despatch to General Washington's camp. They arrived in New
York on the 14th of April, and were published on the 15th by Governor
Tryon, accompanied by a declaration certifying that they were genuine
copies of the drafts sent to him by Lord George Germain. He added;
" To prepare the way for the return of peace, the above bills were read
in the House of Commons on the 19th day of February last, in pursuance
of the unanimous resolve of the House on the 17th of the same month;
and I have his Majesty's command to cause them to be printed and
dispersed, that the people at large may be acquainted with their contents, and with the favorable disposition of Great Britain'towards the
American colonies." Lord North's speech, on presenting the bills to
Parliament, was likewise published at the same time. None of these
particulars had come to General Washington's knowledge, when he wrote
the above letter. From the manner in which he speaks of the bills, as
well as from his next letter to Congress, it is evident that he considered
them a forgery at the time he was writing. Nor was he singular in
this opinion. Mr. Laurens, President of Congress, in a letter to Governor
Clinton, said," I differ from gentlemen, who suppose the performance
originated under authority in England. It appears to me to be destitute
of the most essential marks. I believe it to be of Philadelphia manu