From George Washington to Thomas Clarke, 25 January 1785
To Thomas Clarke
Mt Vernon 25th Jan: 1785
Sir,
In your name & behalf Mr Laurens, as he passed thro’ this State last Month on his way from the seat of Congress to Charleston 1—presented me a very handsome gold headed cane: & accompanied it with such favorable sentiments of your good wishes towards the American revolution—& the flattering opinion you entertained of me, as to induce me, contrary to my usual custom, to accept of it. With this acknowledgment thereof, I beg you to receive my thanks for so evincive a mark of your esteem & approbation, & the assurances of my being—Sir, Yrs &c.
G: Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
1. Henry Laurens (1724–1792) was captured at sea by the British in 1782 when he was en route to Holland to negotiate a loan for Congress. He was taken to the Tower of London, and after his release he became in May 1782 one of the peace commissioners for the United States. Laurens remained in England until 1784, arriving in New York on 3 August.