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 I.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 263
all being in the East River. I shall add no more.
This is dropped as a hint to be improved upon, or
rejected, as circumstances point out and justify.
I am, &c.
TO SIR WILLIAM HOWE.
Head-Quarters, 9 March, 1778.
SIR,
I have your letters of the 14th and 21st of February,
and the 2d of March, of all which due notice shall be
taken. Particular circumstances make it inconvenient
for my commissioners to meet yours at the time appointed. I must, therefore, beg to have the meeting
deferred till the 31st of March.*
Mr. Boudinot, who has lately returned to camp from
New York, informs me, that notwithstanding MajorGeneral Prescott has been several weeks in the city,
in pursuance of our agreement for the liberation of
officers on parole, General Lee is not permitted to
come out; and that orders had been received from
you to send him round to Philadelphia by water, that
you might take his parole in person. There can be
no reason to prevent his parole being taken where he
- This delay was caused by the ill-timed resolve of Congress, which
gave rise to General Washington's letter of the 8th. He hoped, that,
by postponing the time, Congress would reconsider their proceedings,
and enable him to comply with his promise, and this hope was realized.
Yet the circumstance was very unfortunate, as it naturally created suspicions in the mind of General Howe, and produced an unfavorable impression. He wrote, March 24th, to Lord George Germain as follows.
"The time appointed for the meeting of the commissioners being postponed by General Washington to the 31st of this month, without assigning
any satisfactory reason, leads me to believe that neither he, nor those
under whose authority he acts, are sincere in their professions to carry
an exchange into execution at this time."