The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-07-27 00:00:00, page 3

PHILADELPHIA, July 27.
The following is an exadt state of what passed at
the interview between his Excellency General
Washington and Colonel Patterson, Adjutant-
General of the army under General Howe, July
20, 1776.
AFTER usual compliments, in which, as well as through:
the whole conversation, Col. Patterson addressed Gen..
Washington by the title of Excellency, Col. Patterson entered,
upon the business by faying, that Gen. Howe much regretted
the difficulties which had arisen refpeaing the address of the
letters to Gen. Washington ; that it was deemed confident
with propriety, and founded upon precedents of the like na
ture by Ambassadors: and Plenipotentiaries where disputes or
difficulties of rank had arisen; that Gen. Waffiing.ton might
recollect he had, last summer, addressed a letter to Gen. Howe,
To the Hon. William Howe, Esq; that Lord Howe and Gen.
Howe, did not mean to derogate from the refpeft or rank of
Gen, Washington ; that .they held- his- person and charac
ter in the highest edeem ;, that the direction, with the addi
tion of &c. &c,&c. implied every thing that ought to follow.
He then produced a letter which; he did not direftly offer
do Gen. Washington, but observed that it was the fame letter
which had been sent, and laid it on the table, with a super
scription to George Washington, &c, &c. &c. The Gen. de
clined the letter, and Said, that a letter directed to a person
in a public character, Should have feme description or indica
tion of it, otherwise it would appear a mere private letter ;
that it was true, the &c., &c,.&c t implied every thing, and
they also implied any thing ; .that the letter to Gen. Howe
alluded to, was an answer to one received under a like address
from him, which the officer, on duty having taken, he did
not think proper to .return, but answered it in the fame
made of address ; that he Should absolutely decline any letter
directed to him as a private person, when it , related to his
public fation. Col. Patterson then said, that Gen. Howe
would not urge his delicacy farther, and repeated his asser
tions, that no failure .of refpefl was intended.. He then said,
that he would endeavour, as well as he could, to recollect
Gera Howe's fentimeats on the letter and resolves of Congress
sent him a few days before, refpe&inglhe treatment of our
prisoners in Canada. " That the affairs of Canada were in,
another department, not fubjeft to the controul of Gen.
Howe,.but that he and Lord Howe utterly disapproved of
every infringement of the rights of humanity," Col. Patterson
then took a paperout of his pocket; and, after looking it
over, Said he had expressed nearly the words. Gen. Walking
ton then said that he had also forwarded a copy of the Rea<
solves to Gen. Burgoyne, Tawhich Col. Patterson replied
he did net doubt a proper attention would be paid to them,
and that he (Gen. Washington) was sensible that cruelty
was not the charaaeriftic of the British nation; Col. Pat
terson then proceeded to fay he had it in charge to mention
the case of Gen. Prefcot, who they were informed was treated
with such rigour, that, under his age. and infirmities, fatal
copfequences might be apprehended.
Gen. Washington replied that Gen. Prefect's treatment had
not fallen under his notice ; that all persons under his parti
cular direction, he had treated with kindness, and made their 4
fituati, n as ealy and comfortable as pofible ; that he did not
know where Gen. Prefcot was, but believed his treatment
very different .rem their information. Gen. Washington
then mentioned the case of Cel. Allen, and the officers who
had been confined in hollon jail. As to the firfl, Col. Patter
373
son answered that Gen. Howehad no knowledge of it but by
information from Gen. Washington, and that the Canada de
partment was not under his direction or controul ; that as to
the other prisoners at Boston, when ever the state of the army
at Boston admitted it, they were treated with humanity and
even indulgence ; that he asserted this upon his honor, and
should be happy in an opportunity to prove it.
Get. Washington then observed, that the conduct of seve
ral of the officers would well have warranted a different treat
ment from what they had received; some having refufed to
give any parole, and others having broke it when given, by
escaping or endeavoring so to do. » Col. Patterson answered,
°that as to the^firft, they mifunderftbod the matter very much,
and seemed to have mistook the line of propriety exceedingly;
and as to the latter, Gen. Howe utterly disapproved and con
demned their condu&. t.
That if a remonstrance was made, such violations of good
faith would be severely punished; but that he hoped General
Washington was too just to draw public inferences from the
milbehavior of some, private individuals ; that bad men were
to be found in every class and society ; that such behavior
was considered as a dishonor to the British army. Col. Pat
terion then proceeded to fay; that the goodness and benevo
lence of the King had induced him to appoint Lord Howe
and Gen. Howe his Commissioners, to accommodate this un
happy dispute, that they had great powers, and would derive
the greatest pleasure from effecting an accommodation ; and
that he (Col. Patterson) wished to have this visit considered
as making the firft advances to this desirable object. Ged.
Washington replied, he was not veiled with s any powers on
this fubjea, by those from whom he derived his authority
and power. But from what had appeared 1 or tranffired on
this head, Lord Howe and Gen. Howe were ~only to grant
pardons ; that those who had committed no fault wanted no
pardon, that we were only defending whatwe* deemed our
indisputable right. Col. Patterson said that would open a
very wide field for argument. He then expressed hrs ap
prehensions that an adherence to forms was likely to obftrua
business of the greatest moment and concern.
° He then obferved^that a proposal had been formerly made
of exchanging Gov.Skece for Mr.' Lovell ; that he now had
authority to accede to that proposal. Gen. Washington re
plied, that the proposition had been made by the direction of
# Congress, and having been then rejeded, he could not now
renew the business, or giveany answer, till he had previously
communicated it to them.*
" Col. Patterson behaved with the greatest attention and po
liteness during the whole business, expressed dlrong acknow
ledgements that the usual ceremony of blinding his eyes had
been dispensed with. 1 At the breaking up of the conference,
Gen. Washington Wrongly invited him to partake of a fnvall col-•
lation provided for him,which he politely-declined,alledging.his
late breakfast, and an impatience to return to Gen. Howe, tho'
he had not executed bis comraifhon so amply as he wished.
Finding he did-not-propose laying, he was introduced to the
General Officers, alter which he took his leave, and was
fafely concluded to his own boat, which waited forhim, about
four miles distant from the city.
Made public by order of the Gongrefe,
JOHN HANCOCK, President;
In: CONGRESS, July 19, 1776.
R'efolved, That the PAPER MAKERS in Pennfylvan#
be detained from proceeding with the AJBciatobs to New*
Jersey, Extr^dfrom the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary,