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To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 3 May 1778

From Henry Laurens

York Town [Pa.] 3d May 1778.

Sir.

My last trouble to Your Excellency was dated the 30th Ulto by Ross.

The present will cover an Act of that date for ascertaining the Rank & pay annexed to Brevet Commissions, whether this is, or is not intended to have a retrospective effect, I think is not clearly expressed by this Letter, & as I apprehend such operation may in many Instances give Umbrages I shall embrace the first proper opportunity for obtaining an explanation of the Act or information to my own understanding.1

I dispatch this Messenger principally to inform Your Excellency of an event the knowledge of which may nevertheless very probably have reached Camp before this can arrive there, as our Messenger from France Mister simeon Dean had spoken every where on his Journey to York of the Treaties between the Court of Versailles & the United States of America which were executed on the 6th February 1778—these were read in Congress late last Evening & will probably be ratified & published in the course of the present Week, except a Secret Article which it is also probable is very well known abroad2—be this as it may I view the Treaties of Alliance & Commerce, although not free from exception, as circumstances of advantage to these united States & which afford a bottom for vast improvements. I beg leave therefore to congratulate with Your Excellency & with every friend to the great American Cause—I shall move Congress to morrow to order duplicates of the Treaties to be immediately transmitted to Your Excellency in the mean time this of a Letter from Doctor Franklin & Mister Deane which will go enclosed will communicate the great outlines.3 I have the honor to be With the highest Esteem & Regard Sir Your obliged & obedient servant

Henry Laurens
President of Congress.

ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 13.

1. See JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 10:410.

2. GW apparently first received news of the treaty with France on 30 April (see GW’s letter to William Smallwood of that date). Congress read and voted on the treaty, including the secret article on the conditions for Spanish accession, on 4 May (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 11:419–55, 457–58).

3. The enclosed letter of 8 Feb. from Silas Deane and Benjamin Franklin to Laurens is printed in Franklin Papers description begins William B. Willcox et al., eds. The Papers of Benjamin Franklin. 42 vols. to date. New Haven, 1959–. description ends , 25:634–35.

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 3 May 1778
    Author
    Laurens, Henry
    Recipient
    Washington, George
    Date
    3 May 1778

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 3 May 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-15-02-0026. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 15, May–June 1778, ed. Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2006, pp. 21–22.]

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