From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 1 April 1777
To Major General Charles Lee
Morristown April ⟨1st 1777.⟩
Dear ⟨Sir⟩
I am to inform you, that Congress not perceiving that any advantage would be derived either to yourself or the public Interest from an interview between you and a part of their Members, could not consider ⟨them⟩selves at liberty to comply with your request.1 At the same time I am to assure you, that every ⟨means⟩ will be pursued to provide for you⟨r safety and⟩ the attainment of your liberty. Th⟨is I had in cha⟩rge when Major Morris w⟨as permitted to visi⟩t you, but thought proper ⟨to defer the com⟩munication of it for reaso⟨ns which you would deem⟩ satisfactory.
The inclosed Letters came when ⟨Congress⟩ transmitted the result of your applicatn. ⟨T⟩hat from Mr Morris contains sundry Bills of Exchange the detention of which I hope has not subjected you to the least possible ⟨inconv⟩enience.2 I am Dr Sir with great regard and esteem Yr M⟨ost Obedt Servt.⟩
Df (mutilated), in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The draft is torn in several places. The missing text is supplied within angle brackets from the Varick transcript.
1. See Charles Lee to Hancock, 19 Mar., DNA:PCC, item 158, and Congress’s resolution of 29 Mar. in , 7:207.
2. These letters have not been identified.