975.3 OFFICIAL LETTERS TO THE HONORABLE AMERICAN CONGRESS, Written, during the War between the UNITED COLONIES AND GREAT BRITAIN, BY HIS EXCELLENCY, GEORGE WASHINGTON, COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE NOW PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES.. Copied, by Special Permiffion, from the Original Papers preferved VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR CADELL JUNIOR AND DAVIES, G. G. AND J. RO- Te ADVERTISEMENT. RESPECTING the fource from which the follow ing letters have been drawn, and the grounds on which the reader is expected to reft his belief of their authenticity, it may be fufficient to inform him (and, for the truth of the affertion, to appeal to His Excellency, Thomas Pinckney, the American Minifter Plenipotentiary), that permiflion was obtained from the proper authority, to tranfcribe, from the original papers preferved in the Secretary of State's office in Philadelphia, thefe and fundry other authentic documents relating to the conteft between the colonies and the mother country, viz. Letters from the Commanders of the continental forces, and other perfons employed in the public. fervice,-intercepted Letters from British Officers and other adherents to the royal caufe,-Communications from the Governors, Conventions, and Committees of the feveral American States,-Difpatches from Agents and Commiffioners,-Inftructions,-Reports of Committees of Congrefs,-parts of the Secret Journals hitherto unpublished,-and various [vi] various other pieces, elucidative of the events which led to and finally eftablished American Independence. That permillion was granted early in the year 1792, and immediate advantage was taken of the indulgence; though, from various circumftances, of little confequence to the reader to know, the publication has been fo long delayed. Even at this late period, the editor contents himfelf with laying before the public but a part of the collection,-intending, if thefe volumes meet with a favorable reception, to continue the publication, and prefent his readers with a variety of interefting pieces penned by the leaders and principal agents in the American Revolution, and tending to throw light on many important tranfaétions that have hitherto been either enveloped in total darknefs, or, at 'beft, but obfcurely perceived, and imperfectly un 'derstood. Some parts of thefe letters may perhaps appear too full of minutie to intereft that clafs of readers, who, unaccustomed to enter into the inveftigation of caufes or confequences, delight only in recitals of battles, fieges, and other ftriking occurrences which conftitute the more prominent features of hiflory. But, to the reafoning philofophic reader, who wishes to explore the fecret fprings of action, -to trace events to their remote and latent caufes,-to difcover and examine the fubordinate and collateral circumftances (oft trifling in appearance, and generally overlooked by the vulgar eye), which, in the firuggles of contending nations, give a pro |