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. 293
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Head-Quarters, 10 May, 1782.
SIR,
I do myself the honor to transmit to your Excellency
the enclosed papers. They contain a continuance of
the correspondence, which has been produced between
me, General Robertson, and Sir Henry Clinton, in the
case of Captain Huddy. That from Sir Henry did
not come to hand till some days after the receipt
of General Robertson's letter, and after my reply to
the latter. I am in daily expectation of an answer from
General Robertson, which I hope will bring this ungrateful business to a conclusion.
I take this opportunity to convey to Congress sundry
English and New York newspapers, which have within
a few days past been put into my hands. Their contents are new and interesting, and I take the earliest
occasion to present them to Congress.
Although I view the debates, so far as they import
proposals of pacification to America, to be idle and delusory, yet I cannot but express my fears for the effect
they may have upon the exertions of the States, which
are already too feeble and void of energy. The people,
so far as I am informed, are catching at the idea of
peace with great eagerness; and the industry which
the enemy are using for its propagation is to me a very
suspicious circumstance. For my own part, I view
our situation such, that, instead of relaxing, we ought to
improve the present moment as the most favorable to
our wishes. The British nation appear to me to be
staggered and almost ready to sink beneath the accumulating weight of debt and misfortune. If we follow
the-blow with vigor and energy, I think the game is
our own.., ~.,.,~~y