George Washington Papers

To George Washington from General Henry Clinton, 5 April 1779

From General Henry Clinton

New York April 5th 1779

Sir,

In my Letter of the 31st of last Month, I acquainted you that, in consequence of the proposal made to me in yours of the 14th, I should send down Colonel Hyde and Captain André to Staten Island this day, as Commissioners on my part, to meet the like number on your’s, for the purposes therein mentioned, either at Amboy, or Elizabeth Town, as you might wish; But as one of the Gentlemen has been taken ill, I am under the necessity of postponing the meeting until Wednesday next, at which time they shall certainly attend, if no unforeseen accident should prevent it.1 I have the honor to be, With due respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s Most obedient Servant

H. Clinton

LS, PHi: Gratz Collection; copy, P.R.O., 30/55, Carleton Papers; Sprague transcript, DLC:GW.

1The British commissioners met their American counterparts, Col. William Davies and Lt. Col. Robert Hanson Harrison, at Perth Amboy, N.J., on Monday, 12 April, and remained there until 23 April. For the failure of these prisoner exchange negotiations, see Harrison to GW, 18 April (DLC:GW), and the undated report printed in a note to that document.

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