George Washington Papers

From George Washington to James Hallett, 22 July 1779

To James Hallett

Westpoint July 22d 1779

Sir

I have received Your Letters of the 10th & 12th Instant—both of the same tenor, with a Certificate and the Copies of Two more.1 I know nothing myself of your merits or demerits; but if reports are true—your conduct has been very unwarrantable to say no worse. You should make your appeal to the Honorable the Marine Committee or the Honbl. the Board of War for a hearing—before whom or persons properly authorised for the purpose your case will be examined— and when you will have every opportunity in your power to make your defence & evince your innocence in case you are not guilty of the matters objected against you.2 I return you the Certificates which you transmitted, that you may derive every advantage from them that they can give you. I am Yr Hble sert

Go. Washington

Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC: GW. The draft manuscript is addressed to Hallett “in the State prison” at Philadelphia.

1Hallett’s letters to GW of 10 and 12 July have not been found; the enclosures have not been identified.

2For Hallett, a former lieutenant in the 4th New Jersey Regiment who apparently was under investigation for serving as a chaplain aboard a Continental frigate after taking an oath of allegiance to Great Britain, see George Clinton to GW, 7 March, and n.2 to that document, and Elias Boudinot to GW, 19 May, and n.2 to that document; see also GW to Clinton, 7 Sept., and to the Board of War, 14 Sept. (both DLC:GW).

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