From George Washington to General Henry Clinton, 14 September 1779
To General Henry Clinton
Head Quarters West-point 14th Sepr 1779.
Sir
You will herewith find a passport for the safe conveyance of the money and necessaries for the use of the troops of Convention, which your Excellency requested in your letter of the 8th instant.1
I inclose the within letter at the desire of Mrs Harnage.2 I have the honor to be your Excellency’s most obt servt
Go: Washington
LS, in James McHenry’s writing, P.R.O.: 30/55, Carleton Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. An unsigned draft of the passport, in the writing of James McHenry and Tench Tilghman and dated 14 Sept. at headquarters at West Point, reads: “To all whom it may concern[:] The brigantine Patsey, about 180 tons burden, Thomas Harding master—laden with 10,000 Sterling in specie and a quantity of wine and other neccessaries for the use of the troops of the Convention of Saratoga, now at Charlotteville in Virginia is hereby granted a passport to Hampton road in Chesepeak bay Virginia. and after being allowed a reasonable time to discha[r]ge her Cargo—the said Vessel is to return under the protection before recited to the port of New-York in ballast.” A note at the end of the document, apparently intended to accompany the signature, reads: “By his Excellency’s command” (DLC:GW).
Clinton issued a sailing passport for the brigantine Patsey on 30 Sept. that enabled it to proceed “with a Flag of Truce” from New York to Hampton, Va., deliver its cargo, and return to New York (P.R.O.: 30/55, Carleton Papers).
2. The enclosed letter from Honour Harnage to Clinton has not been identified, but see Harnage to GW, 25 August.