George Washington to Thomas Sim Lee

The Letter with which your Excellency was pleased to favor me, dated the 7 inst: was received on the 10, and might have been acknowledged the next day; but I waited the arrival of Friday's mail in hopes that I should have had a report from the Secretary of War relatively the Ship Rochampton. Disappointed in this, I am not able to give any opinion thereon, uninformed as I am of the specific articles of charge which have been exhibited by the British Consul. The French minister complains of the detention.

With respect to the second case mentioned in your letter, and those of the British Consuls, I have only to observe that as these Gentlemen are not ignorant, that the Custom-house officers in every port are instructed to keep a vigilant watch upon all armed vessels, and the presumption being that they also are not inattentive, there seems to have been no necessity for lodging a complaint unaccompanied with proofs.

It is scarcely possible to give instructions which will embrace every case minutely that may arise during the war; nor do I conceive it essential. Your Excellency will readily perceive by the communications which have been made to you, the principles upon which the General Government act in the recess of Congress, respecting the belligerent powers. These principles are to adhere strictly to treaties, according to the plain construction and obvious meaning of them, and, regarding these, to act impartially towards all the Nations at war. Keeping these principles in view and observing the rules which are founded on them, with your disposition to do justice and to preserve this Country in peace, I persuade myself you can be at no loss, that your decisions will be always right, and I hope they will always be prompt.

Being removed from the public Offices, intending when I left Philadelphia not to be absent from that City more than fifteen or eighteen days, I brought no public papers of any sort (not even the rules which have been established in these cases,) along with me; consequently am not prepared at this place to decide points which may require a reference to papers not within my reach. but as I find cases are daily occurring which call for attention and decision, I have requested the Heads of Departments to attend at Philadelphia, or in its vicinity, by the 1st of next month, whither I shall go and be present myself. With great esteem and regard

I am &c.