Letter from Lord Drummond to General Washington, August 17

v1:1026

August 17, 1776.

SIR: Being deeply interested in the welfare of America, I think it my duty to communicate a matter of intelligence which I flatter myself may be rendered conducive to the restoration of a desirable peace; and in this view I request your Excellency' s permission to land at New York, to go directly to Philadelphia, in order to lay the same before the General Congress.

In the course of a conversation I have had with Lord Howe, I perceive that the powers he is invested with, as well as his disposition for establishing an equitable and permanent peace, are altogether misunderstood by the Colonies; for, in consequence of a sketch of some propositions being offered for his consideration, he very frankly assured me he was willing to confer upon those grounds with any gentlemen of the greatest influence in this country. As I am at liberty to declare his sentiments, I have the honour to enclose for your Excellency' s information a copy of my correspondence with his Lordship and of the propositions referred to in his letter, which are the motives of my present request.

Attending in the boat to be indulged with your answer, I have, &c˙, DRUMMOND.

To General Washington, &c˙, &c.