Washington for his own part had but little trust in the sense or the knowledge of his enemy.

He felt that Yorktown was decisive, but he also thought that Great Britain would still struggle on, and that her talk of peace was very probably a mere blind, to enable her to gain time, and, by taking advantage of our relaxed and feeble condition, to strike again in hope of winning back all that had been lost.

He therefore continued his appeals in behalf of the army, and reiterated everywhere the necessity for fresh and ample preparations.
As late as May 4 he wrote sharply to the States for men and money, saying that the change of ministry was likely to be adverse to peace, and that we were being lulled into a false and fatal sense of security.

A few days later, on receiving information from Sir Guy Carleton of the address of the Commons to the king for peace, Washington wrote to Congress: "For my own part, I view our situation as such that, instead of relaxing, we ought to improve the present moment as the most favorable to our wishes.

The British nation appear to me to be staggered, and almost ready to sink beneath the accumulating weight of debt and misfortune.