Head Quarters [Cambridge] 24th January 1776
Sir
I am directed by his Excellency General Washington, to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 16th Instant, requesting leave to go into the Town of Boston to Solicit The Admiral for your Exchange The Admiral Has already declined every negotiation for Exchange of prisoners. & has not permitted any Money to be sent to those Gentlemen now in the Hands of the United Colonies, though frequently acquainted with Their Necesities, and Press'd to releive them. Certain Prisoners taken by a Frigate has been by the Admirals Order sent to England, 2 so that it is not now in his Power to give any Exchange for those in there Hands, and from The Admirals behaviour in other Matters, it very Clearly appears, you would not be permitted to come Back to your Parole; should His Excellency even Allow you to go into the Town of Boston These Reasons you must allow are sufficiently convincing to Oblidge The General at present to Decline complying with your request ー I am Sir
H. G.
1. Washington Papers, LC. Stanhope, an acting lieutenant on board H.M.S. Glasgow, was taken prisoner in Newport on November 29, 1775, and sent to Northampton on his parole. See Volume 2, 1205.
2. The crew of Washington's brig Washington.
