George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-22-02-0297

From George Washington to William Livingston, 7 September 1779

To William Livingston

Head Quarters West Point 7th Sepr 1779

Dear Sir

I yesterday recd your favr of the 3d Inst.1 I thank your Excellency for your attention to mine on the subject of Officers who have violated their paroles—and on the prospect of a scarcity of Flour.2 I have little doubt but that the farmers will thresh out part of their Grain earlier than usual, when influenced by a few virtuous individuals in each district.

It hath been our constant practice hitherto to exchange Officer for Officer of equal Rank giving a preference to those who have been longest in captivity. We have several times endeavoured to settle a Tariff for enlarging the scale of Exchanges by composition where circumstances of equality of Rank would not apply, but we have not been able to agree upon one. I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect & Esteem Yr Excellency’s most obt.

Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

1This letter has not been found.

2See GW’s circular letters to the states of 26 Aug. (second circular) and 28 August. When the council of New Jersey met on 7 Oct., Livingston presented GW’s 26 Aug. circular on parole violators; the council advised Livingston “to issue a proclamation requiring the said Delinquents to return to the Enemy agreeable to parole and in all respects to conform themselves thereto” (Bernstein, N.J. Privy Council Minutes, 127 description begins David A. Bernstein, ed. Minutes of the Governor’s Privy Council, 1777–1789. Trenton, 1974. In New Jersey Archives, 3d ser., vol. 1. description ends ).

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