From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 23 February 1780
To Samuel Huntington
Head Quarters Morris Town 23d Feby 1780
Sir
I do myself the honor to inclose your Excellency a New York paper of the 21st—which contains his British Majesty’s speech and several other Articles of European intelligence.1
Your Excellency’s favor of the 12th inclosing Copies of sundry matters respecting the State of Georgia and the exchange of Brigr Genl Elbert, only reached me last Evening. I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect yr Excellency’s most obt and humble Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read this letter on 28 Feb. ( 16:210).
1. The paper was almost certainly Hugh Gaine’s New-York Gazette: and the Weekly Mercury of that date (see Huntington to GW, 29 Feb.). On page two of that edition, Gaine printed “His Majesty’s most gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament” of 25 Nov. 1779, and his answers to the address of the House of Lords of the same date. George III declared that he was “firmly resolved to prosecute the war with vigour, and to make every exertion in order to compel our enemies to listen to equitable terms of peace and accommodation.”