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.

218 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [2ET. 45.
TO SIR WILLIAM HOW~,E.
Head-Quarters, 20 January, 1778.
SIR,
Your letter of the 8th instant, enclosing Lieutenant
Eyre's representation, was duly received. I am not at
liberty to contradict the facts, which he has related;
but I am inclined to think, from his own statement, that
his conduct has not been so discreet, as it should have
been; and that, if he experienced a severer treatment,
than had been usually imposed upon officers, prisoners
with us, it proceeded in some measure at least from
that cause. But were not this the case, if the insults
and incivilities, which Mr. Eyre complains of having
suffered, were ever so unprovoked by him, though I
wish not to justify them, yet I cannot forbear observing, that they are not to be wondered at, since the
accounts generally received of the treatment of our
officers in your hands are replete with instances of the
most flagrant indignities, and even cruelties.
Americans have the feelings of sympathy, as well as
other men. A series of injuries may exhaust their patience, and it is natural, that the sufferings of their
friends in captivity should at length irritate them into
resentment, and to acts of retaliation. If you suppose
Mr. Eyre's representation to be just, and that he escaped from a rigorous confinement, under no obligation
of parole, I cannot conceive upon what principle you
still consider him my prisoner. But, if you are of a
different opinion, I shall expect some gentleman of ours
in your possession, who was taken in a similar character, in return for him. He was reported to me, at the
time of his capture, as a volunteer, in which light I still
view him. The officer you mention did not attend the
flag of truce with my knowledge or consent. His con