To Benjamin Franklin from George Washington, 18 August 1776
From George Washington
ALS: American Philosophical Society
New York Augt. 18th. 1776.
Sir,
I have been honourd with your favour of the 16th., and the several Inclosures contained therein, which are now return’d with my thanks for the oppertunity of perusing them. I also Inclose you a Letter from Lord Howe, sent out (with others) by a Flag in the Afternoon of yesterday. With it comes a Letter for Lieutt. Barrington, who if not among those who broke their Parole, and went of for Canada, is in York, Pensylvania.3 With very great esteem and respect, I have the honour to be Sir Your Most Obedient Humble Servant
Go. Washington
The Honble. Benja. Franklin Esqr.
3. Howe’s letter to BF is above, Aug. 16, 1776. Lieut. William Barrington, of the 7th foot, had not gone to Canada, and was not at York but at Lancaster. When a group of his fellow officers had taken off northward the previous June from Lebanon, Pa., Barrington had stayed behind. He was now asking, after his release from the Lancaster jail, to have his baggage back and to be allowed parole, which on Aug. 24 the Pa. council of safety gave him. Force, 5 Amer. Arch., I, 411–12, 761, 1325; see also Worthington C. Ford, British Officers Serving in the American Revolution . . . (Brooklyn, 1897), p. 24.