“There is one passage of your letter, which I cannot forbear taking particular notice of.  No expression of personal politeness to me can be acceptable, accompanied by reflections on the representatives of a free people, under whose authority I have the honor to act.  The delicacy I have observed, in refraining from everything offensive in this way, entitles me to expect a similar treatment from you.  I have not indulged myself in invective against the present rulers of Great Britain, in the course of our correspondence, nor will I even now avail myself of so fruitful a theme.”

Apparently when Sir Henry Clinton succeeded to the command of the British army the same old device to insult the General was again tried, for Dumas states that Washington “received a despatch from Sir Henry Clinton, addressed to ‘Mr. Washington.’  Taking it from the hands of the flag of truce, and seeing the direction, ‘This letter,’ said he, ’is directed to a planter of the state of Virginia.  I shall have it delivered to him after the end of the war; till that time it shall not be opened.’  A second despatch was addressed to his Excellency General Washington.”  A better lesson in courtesy was contained in a letter from Washington to him, complaining of “wanton, unprecedented and inhuman murder,” which closed with the following:  “I beg your Excellency to be persuaded, that it cannot be more disagreeable to you to be addressed in this language, than it is to me to offer it; but the subject requires frankness and decision.”

Quite as firm was one addressed to Cornwallis, which read,—­

“It is with infinite regret, I am again compelled to remonstrate against that spirit of wanton cruelty, that has in several instances influenced the conduct of your soldiery.  A recent exercise of it towards an unhappy officer of ours, Lieutenant Harris, convinces me, that my former representations on this subject have been unavailing.  That Gentleman by the fortunes of war, on Saturday last was thrown into the hands of a party of your horse, and unnecessarily murdered with the most aggravated circumstances of barbarity.  I wish not to wound your Lordship’s feelings, by commenting on this event; but I think it my duty to send his mangled body to your lines as an undeniable testimony of the fact, should it be doubted, and as the best appeal to your humanity for the justice of our complaint.”

A pleasanter intercourse came with the surrender of Yorktown, after which not merely were Cornwallis and his officers saved the mortification of surrendering their swords, but the chief among them were entertained at dinner by Washington.  At this meal, so a contemporary account states, “Rochhambeau, being asked for a toast, gave ’The United States’.  Washington gave ’The King of France’.  Lord Cornwallis, simply ’The King’; but Washington, putting that toast, added, ’of England’, and facetiously, ’confine him there, I’ll drink him a full bumper’,