To George Washington from Thomas Mifflin, 27 June 1796
From Thomas Mifflin
Philadelphia June 27th 1796
Sir
I have the honor to inclose, for your Excellency’s information, the copy of a Report from the Resident Physician of the Health Office of Philadelphia; and to request, that you will direct such co-operative measures, on the part of the Officers of the United States, as may effectually counteract the danger, which is apprehended from vessels holding an intercourse with the shores of New-Jersey, in evasion of the Quarantine prescribed under the authority of the laws of this State.1 I am, with perfect respect Sir Your Excellency’s Most obedient humble Servant
Tho. Mifflin
LS, MHi: Pickering Papers; copy, PHarH: Executive Correspondence, 1790–99; LB, PHarH: Executive Letterbooks; LB (marked over), PHarH: Executive Letterbooks. For GW’s handling of Mifflin’s communication, see his letter to Timothy Pickering, 4 July, and notes 2 and 3.
1. Part of the enclosed letter of this date from James Mease to Mifflin reported that “some of the Masters of Vessels when I informed them, all were to remain on board, until the expiration of the quarantine, denied the authority of our State laws, in respect to preventing them from going to Jersey; and tho’ it is clear to me, they are under the laws of Pennsylvania, which they [are] bound to obey, yet having no means to prevent their intercourse with that State, I can only answer for keeping them from our side” (MHi: Pickering Papers; see also Mifflin to GW, 25 June).