Francis Hopkinson to George Washington, 14 November 1777
From Francis Hopkinson
Borden Town [N.J.] 14: Novr 1777
Sir
The Intimacy of my Connection with Mr Duché renders all Assurances unnecessary that the Letter addressed by him to your Excely on the 8: of Octr last gives me the greatest Concern—I flatter myself some undue Means have been used to induce him to write such a Letter, so incompatable with the amiable Character he has ever maintained & so fatal to his Reputation. & I could not forbear communicating some of my Sentiments to him on the occasion. These I might probably have been able to conveyed to him by secret Means but did not chuse to risque the Imputation of a clandestine Correspondance. I have therefore taken the Liberty to send the enclosed Letter to you unsealed for your Perusal Resting it entirely on your better Judgment to cause it to [be] forwarded or not.1 I hope your Excelncy will pardon my giving you this Trouble. The Occasion is a very interesting One to me—My Friendship for Mr Duché calls upon me to do all I can to warn him against the fatal Consequences of his ill-advised Step—that he may, if possible, do some thing to avert them before it is too late. I am Sir With the warmest Wishes of my Heart for your Wellfare Your sincere friend & very hble servt
Fr. H.
ADfS, PHi: Hopkinson Family Papers.
1. In his letter to Jacob Duché of this date, Hopkinson expressed his “Grief & Consternation” at Duché’s “fatal Performance,” stated his belief that “our just defensive War will be crowned with Success,” and urged Duché to try to disassociate himself from his “ill-judged Address” (, 271–73). GW promised Hopkinson that he would try to forward the letter to Duché, but he eventually returned the letter, explaining that he had been unable to find a suitable opportunity to transmit it (see GW to Hopkinson, 21 Nov. 1777 and 27 Jan. 1778).