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.

538 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [APPENDIX.
With respect to the exchange of commissioned officers, you will
permit me to premise, that this must be governed by the release of
the Hessian field-officers taken at Trenton, and Lieutenant-Colonel
Archibald Campbell of the seventy-first regiment, who have not only
been longest confined, but have hitherto been the objects of particular
exception; the exchange for those gentlemen, as well as for the other
officers, will then take place as is agreed upon. This will explain
the meaning of the paragraph in my letter quoted by you, with respect
to the release of officers upon parole prior to the arrival of LieutenantColonel Campbell and the Hessian field-officers. I desire to be
understood, that in this general exchange the officers and soldiers
belonging to the army commanded by Lieutenant-General Burgoyne,
who were taken prior to the convention of Saratoga, are to be considered within the description of prisoners, equally with those of the
army more immediately under my command.
It seems necessary, with regard to citizens, to postpone the exchange of them until the meeting of the commissioners, who, by a
personal discussion, may finally ascertain the distinctions and equality
of the persons to be exchanged. With due respect, I am, &c.
W. HOWE,.
No. XIII. p. 272.
GENERAL HOWE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Philadelphia, 10 March, 1778.
SIR,
I cannot refrain from expressing my surprise, upon the receipt of
your letter dated on the 9th instant, desiring that the meeting of the
commissioners, appointed by yourself to be on the day following,
should be deferred, and to so remote a period as the last of the
month, when you must be sensible how essential this meeting is to
the relief of the prisoners on both sides, and particularly of those
with you, whose sufferings are extreme from the want of the necessaries lately intended for them, which by the most unjustifiable means
they were prevented from receiving. Upon these considerations I
am to request you will propose some day in the ensuing week for
entering upon the business of the commission.
My order for sending General Lee to Philadelphia by sea was prior
to my knowledge of General Prescott's arrival at New York; I have
since signified my permission for him to come hither by land, accom