George Washington to Captain Jonathan Lawrence, Jr., 17 May 1781
To Captain Jonathan Lawrence, Jr.
Head Quarters New Windsor May 17th 1781
Sir
I have this moment received your Letter of yesterday’s date.
With regard to the proposal made by the Person mentioned in Yours, I cannot say that I place much confidence in the sincerity of it—and yet I think it is not altogether to be neglected.1
I have no objection to your meeting him with a flag, or his coming to the place you propose—And you are a[u]thorized to assure him in my name,2 of perfect indemnification for his past conduct, and entire exemption from fu[r]ther service, if he shall execute the plan in contemplation. But I must recommend, in the most pointed positive terms, that you will use the strictest precaution to prevent deception, or any ill consequences that might ensue from the insidious Arts of an Enemy, watching to take every advantage of us. I am Sir Your Most Obed. Servt.
Df, in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW refers to Loyalist captain Thomas Ward (see Lawrence to GW, 16 May, and n.3 to that document).
2. At this place on the draft, Humphreys initially wrote “the most positive manner” but struck out that phrase and inserted “my name” above the line.
3. For the British expedition to Virginia, see General Orders, this date, and n.1 to that document. Information from Lawrence subsequently came through Col. Alexander Scammell (see GW to Scammell, this date, and Scammell to GW, 24 and 26 May).
4. For enemy troops on Long Island and Staten Island, N.Y., see the entries for 21 and 23 May in , 2:526, 528.