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.

432 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [ACT. 51.
American inhabitants. I beg the favor of your Excellency's reply, and have the honor to be, &c.*
TO THE DUKE DE LAUZUN.
Head-Quarters, 10 May, 1783.
SIR,
I had not the honor of receiving your favor of the
1st instant until the 7th. Being at that time at Orangetown on a conference with Sir Guy Carleton, it had a
circuitous route to make before it reached me. This
circumstance you will be so good as to admit as an
apology for my not giving an earlier reply.
I have now the honor to mention to you, as I did
some time ago to the minister of France, that, viewing
the peace so near a final conclusion, I could not hold
myself justified in a desire to detain the troops under
your command from the expectations of their sovereign, or to prevent their own wishes of a return to
their native country and friends.
Nor can I omit, on this occasion, to express to you,
Sir, and to all the brave officers and soldiers of your
corps, the high esteem I have for them, and the regard I shall ever entertain for their services in the
cause of the United States, to whose independence
and establishment as a nation they have contributed a
noble share.
Your particular services, Sir, with the politeness,
zeal, and attention, which I have ever experienced
from you, have made a deep and lasting impression on
my mind, and will serve to endear you to my remembrance. It would have been a great satisfaction to me
* See Sir Guy Carleton's answer, dated May 12th, in the APPENDIX, No. IX.