George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Heman Swift, 5 April 1781

Wethersfeild April 5th 1781.

Sir,

I expected before this time to have been able to transmit to Your Excellency some further and more interesting intelligence of Mr Lee’s character and Circumstances whilst in New York, altho’ it is a generally [received] opinion that he is one of Sir Harry’s emissaries, yet no unequivocal or Substantial evidence of the matter can be obtain’d.

The Civil authority have commenced a Suit against him upon a Charge of Forgery, and it appears to be the wish of every person that if he be really a Spy that he may be detected in his Villany.

I beg leave to inform Your Excellency that a number of men of the Town of Glastonbury who have been employed in driving Teams in the Army have the winter past return’d and bro’t home with them a number of peices of valuable Cloath which the people are of opinion (from the circumstances of the persons) must have been stolen from the public; among which are about 35 Yds of superfine broad Cloath, some Linnen, &c. &c. &c. The Inhabitants from a desire of detecting them if they should appear guilty have made application to me to be inform’d whether the public Stores have been robbed; I was unable to give them the necessary information, but for myself am fully convinced that the Articles were stolen from the public, or from some private Gentleman with the Army. I, therefore, tho’t it my duty to give your Excellency this information, And have the honor to be, Your Excellency’s, Most Obt Servt

Heman Swift

DLC: Papers of George Washington.

Index Entries