To George Washington from Lord Howe, 27 May 1778
From Lord Howe
Philada May the 27th 1778
Sir
Having, by a packet just arrived from Great Britain, received the Kings Commands to transmit to the Congress and the Commander in Chief of their Troops, the Copies of two Acts passed this Session of Parliament, for quieting the disorders now subsisting in these Colonies and preparing the Way for the return of peace; I embrace the earliest opportunity to forward the inclosed Copies of those Acts, and of one other Act relating to the Government of the province of the Massachusets Bay, for your information, thereon; most sincerely hoping they will be productive of the desired good effects.1 I am, with due consideration Sir Yr most obt Servt
Howe
Copy, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; two copies, P.R.O.: Colonial Office, Miscellaneous; copy, MiU-C: Clinton Papers; copy, MdAA.
1. On 6 June, GW replied to Lord Howe with a short note: “On Thursday last I received the favor of your Letter of the 27th Ulto, with the Copies of the Acts to which it refers” (DLC:GW). For texts of the two acts “preparing the Way for the return of peace,” see GW to Henry Laurens (first letter), 18 April, n.6. The third act repealed the 1774 Massachusetts Government Act. For more on the British peace initiatives, see Henry Clinton to GW, 30 May.