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. 247
deemed myself as inexcusable in further controverting
the will of Congress, as I should have been, had I remained silent when I thought my voice might have conduced to the general good. That this has been my
only motive for taking up so much of your time I beg
you will believe, as sincerely as that I am, with the
utmost respect, &c.
TO SIR HENRY CLINTON.
Philadelphia, 26 February, 1782.
SIR,
I have appointed the meeting of our respective commissioners to be at Elizabethtown on the 15th of next
month. If I hear nothing further from your Excellency, I shall take it for granted, that you accede to the
time and place. And I would propose, as is usual in
such cases, that a cessation of hostilities should take
place, during the meeting, from Amboy to Newark,
both included.
As my commissioners will go fully authorized to
treat of the exchanges of Lord Cornwallis and the
Honorable Mr. Laurens, I have no occasion to be particular in my answer to your Excellency's letter on
that subject. I shall only observe, that I apprehend
Lord Cornwallis misunderstood Colonel Laurens, in
the conversation they had upon that matter in Virginia. I could never have given an assurance, that
his Lordship should be exchanged for Mr. Laurens,
the father of the colonel, as I had no authority to
make any such stipulation.
I have the honor to be, &co