From George Washington to Thomas Wharton, Jr., 5 April 1778
To Thomas Wharton, Jr.
Head Quarters Valley Forge April 5th 1778
Sir,
I take the liberty to inclose you a letter from Mrs Mary Pemberton, requesting a passport for some waggons to be sent out with articles for the use of her husband and others, now in confinement.1 As the persons concerned are prisoners of the state, I did not think proper to comply with her request. I have assured her, that I would transmit her letter to you, and did not doubt, but her application would meet with your ready concurrence.2 If you will be pleased to send the passport required to me—I will convey it by a flagg. The letter mentions one or more waggons—I dare say, you will extend the indulgence, as far as may be requisite, and consistent with propriety.3 I have the honor to be Sir Your most Obedt servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, NNGL; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Facsimiles of the LS bearing the printed inscription “Original in the Office of Public Documents Harrisburg Penna 1848” can be found in various repositories.
1. See Pemberton to GW, 31 March.
3. On 6 April the Pennsylvania supreme executive council read this letter and “Ordered, That a protection be granted for Two Waggons & the necessary persons to take care of them & conduct them to this borough on their way to the said Prisoners” (PHarH: Records of Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary Governments, 1775–1790; see also , 11:457–58).