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.

476 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [LET. 51.
TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILLIAM S. SMITH.
Rocky Hill, 31 August, 1783.
DEAR SIR,
I received your favor of the 26th, and am much
obliged by your attention in procuring the articles I
had requested. I am also glad to find there is at
length a prospect, that the British will in reality soon
take their departure from the United States.
Whatever my private sentiments as an individual
may be respecting the violent policy, which seems in
some instances to be adopted, it is not for us, as military characters, to dictate a different line of conduct.
But I should suppose the encouragement you have
given to those British and foreign soldiers, who have
been discharged, that they would be permitted to remain in the country, was very unexceptionable and
proper. The same indulgence, however, cannot be
extended to such natives of the country as have served
in their new corps, without the particular interference
of the States to which they belong. And I think it
necessary you should be advised, that granting passports to citizens, of any description, for the purpose
of giving protection in coming from New York into the
country, may not only be considered as an assumption
beyond the limits of any commission, which has been
derived from Congress, but will probably be productive of altercations with the civil powers, and at the
same time involve us in very disagreeable consequences in many other respects. I am, dear Sir, with very
great esteem yours, &c.*
* It was the opinion of Colonel Smith, that there were not less than
fifteen thousand persons in New York, who wished to remain, and were
not conscious of any other crime, than that of residing within the
British lines, but who would be driven from the country if rigid laws