George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 28 April 1778

From Henry Laurens

York Town [Pa.] 28th April 1778

Sir.

I writ to Your Excellency yesterday by Wilkinson, this Evening Your Excellency’s favour of the same date containing Copy of a Letter to M. General Tryon & Extracts from Govr Livingston & Genl Heath came to hand—these shall be presented to Congress to morrow.

Within the present Cover Your Excellency will receive, an Act of Congress of 27th for enabling the General commanding the Artillery to be of the intended Council if your Excellency shall judge it proper.1

The bearer hereof is charged with a packet containing 500 Copies of the Oath of Allegiance & Abjuration—& he is directed to call on Mr Bailey printer at Lancaster for 200 Copies of the Act for granting pardons printed in the German tongue.2

This Morning I reported to Congress a Letter from Major General Conway requesting leave to resign his Commission, which the House immediately Resolved to accept; I shall transmit to General Conway the proper notification by the next Express Messenger to Albany.3 I have the honour to be With the highest Esteem & Regard Sir Your Excellency’s Obedient & humble servant

Henry Laurens, President of Congress.

ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 13. The ALS is docketed in part, “ansd 1st May”; a notation on the letter-book copy indicates the letter was carried “by [Joseph] Sharp.”

1. The enclosed copy of this act, which responded to sentiments expressed by GW in his letter to Gouverneur Morris of 25 April, is in DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 10:397.

2. Francis (Frantz) Bailey (c.1744-1817) was at this time printing the Pennsylvanische Zeitungs-Blat and various pamphlets including an edition of the Articles of Confederation at Lancaster. Later he published the Philadelphia Freeman’s Journal, 1781–92, and a multivolume set of The Constitutions of the Several Independent States of America, The Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation between the Said States, and The Treaties between His Most Christian Majesty and the United States of America (Philadelphia, 1781). Bailey also served at times as official printer to Congress and to the state of Pennsylvania.

3. For Maj. Gen. Thomas Conway’s letter of 22 April, see DNA:PCC, item 159 (see also Laurens Papers description begins Philip M. Hamer et al., eds. The Papers of Henry Laurens. 16 vols. Columbia, S.C., 1968–2003. description ends , 13:169–70). For the vote in Congress on accepting his resignation, see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 10:399. Laurens notified Conway in a letter of 7 May (DNA:PCC, item 13; see also Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 9:619).

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 28 April 1778
    Author
    Laurens, Henry
    Recipient
    Washington, George
    Date
    28 April 1778

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 28 April 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-14-02-0600. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 14, 1 March 1778 – 30 April 1778, ed. David R. Hoth. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2004, pp. 669–670.]

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