The Virginia Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, October 17.

In CONGRESS, September 28, 1778.

The President laid before Congress a letter, dated New York, 19th of September, 1778, signed, H. Clinton, and directed to his Excellency Henry Laurens, Esq; the President, and others the members of the American Congress, at Philadelphia, enclosing a paper, purporting to be an extract of a letter from the Right Hon. Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, to his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. &c. &c. &c. dated Whitehall, June 12, 1778; which were read, whereupon,

Ordered, that the Secretary return the following answer:

Sir,

I am directed to inform you that the Congress of the United States of America make no answer to insolent letters.

I am, &c.

SIR,

New York, Sep. 19, 1778.

NOTHING but his Majesty's positive instructions, of which I send you an extract, could have induced me to trouble you or the American Congress again on the subject of the troops detained in New England, in direct contravention of the treaty entered into at Saratoga.

The neglect of the requisitions already made on this subject, is altogether unprecedented among parties at war.

I now, however, repeat the demand, that the convention of Saratoga be fulfilled; and offer, by express and recent authority from the King, received since the date of the late requisition made by his Majesty's commissioners, to renew, in his Majesty's name, all the conditions stipulated by Lieutenant General Burgoyne, in respect to the troops serving under his command.

In this I mean to discharge my duty, not only to the King, whose orders I obey, but to the unhappy people likewise, whose affairs are committed to you, and who, I hope, will have the candour to acquit me of the consequence that must follow from the new system of war you are pleased to introduce.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient, and most humble servant,

H. CLINTON.

His Excellency Henry Laurens, Esq; the President, and others the members of the American Congress, at Philadelphia.

Extract of a letter from the Right Honourable Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, to his Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. &c. &c. &c. dated Whitehall, June 12, 1778.

I AM to signify to you his Majesty's pleasure, that you do take every necessary step for the strict observance of what is stipulated in the convention of Saratoga on the part of Lieutenant General Burgoyne, and that you do give the fullest assurance that the troops, when embarked, shall be immediately sent to Great Britain, and every condition agreed upon between Lieutenant General Burgoyne and Major General Gates, respecting them, be faithfully observed.

A true extract.

JOHN SMITH, Secretary.

Ordered, that the letter from General Sir Henry Clinton, of the 19th of September, 1778, with the extract of the letter from Lord George Germain, be published, together with the resolution of Congress thereupon.

HENRY LAURENS, President.