From George Washington to the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 18 December 1776
To the Pennsylvania Council of Safety
Head Quarters Bucks County [Pa.] 18th Decemr 1776
Gentn
I have taken the Liberty to trouble you with one Jno: Vandyke, who was taken prisoner in Jersey and delivered up to me as a most dangerous and inimical person. I enclose you Colo. Chambers’s Letter who took him.1 He has made his Escape several times before and will therefore require good looking after. As he is a person of some Consideration, perhaps he may serve to exchange for some Friend of ours who has had the ill luck to fall into the hands of the Enemy. I could therefore wish he may be kept at or near Philadelphia. I am Gentn Yr most obt Servt
Go: Washington
As he is a very intelligent person care should be taken to deprive him of Means of Correspondence by Letter or otherwise.
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, PWacD: Sol Feinstone Collection, on deposit PPAmP.