[June 6, 1778]
My Lord1
The unprovoked and cruel war that has been waged against these States, renders every idea inadmissible, that proposes a return to the domination of that Power which by its own Acts of devastation and slaughter, has forced a separation. The Acts of the British Parliament lately transmitted by your Lordship having this domination principally in view require no further comment. But the good people of N.A. my Lord not insensible of what belongs to humanity, can forgive their enemies, and wish to stop the effusion of human blood. When therefore the king of G.B. shall be seriously disposed to peace, Congress will readily attend to such terms as may consist with the honor of Independent nations, with the interest of their Constituents, and with the sacred regard they mean to pay to Treaties.
By order of Congress
Lee PapersUniversity of Virginia Archives
Printed in Smith, Letters of Delegates, 10:34. Printed also in James Curtis Ballagh, The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, Volume 1, 1762 - 1778, p. 411. Lee drafted this letter as a member of the committee of five appointed to reply to the letters sent Congress by Lord Howe and Henry Clinton, written respectively on 27 May and 3 June. Lee wrote and struck out the signature "H. Laurens," and endorsed the letter "Draught of answer for the British Commission. June 6, 1778." Congress adopted the final draft on 6 June.
1 Richard Henry Lee wrote this intended letter to Lord Howe as a member of the committee appointed this day to formulate a response to recently received letters from Howe and Sir Henry Clinton forwarding three conciliatory acts of Parliment to Congress. Since the delegates approved a more moderate reply to Howe drawn up by William Henry Drayton, one of Lee’s colleagues on this committee, it is possible that Lee’s draft was never presented to Congress for consideration. See JCC, 11:572 - 74.