Thomas Jefferson Papers
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From Thomas Jefferson to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, 5 March 1781

To the Speaker of the House of Delegates

In Council March 5th. 1781

Sir

Baron Steuben has sent to this Place a number of the Levies raised under the act of assembly passed at the Session of May 1780, whom he declines retaining as unfit for Service. It was his Desire that it should be made known to the assembly. I therefore take the Liberty of inclosing to you his Letter. The Discharge of these men will on the one Hand lose the Bounty the public: on the other the retaining them brings on the additional loss of pay, Clothing, and Subsistence: unless it should be disapproved by the assembly, we shall direct them to be immediately discharged. I have the honor, &c,

T. J.

FC (Vi); at head of text: “Speaker of the House of Delegates.” Enclosure (missing): Letter from Steuben to TJ, date undetermined.

On 6 Mch. the House adopted the following resolution (agreed to by Senate 19 Mch.): “Resolved that if the Soldiers returned by Major General Steuben as unfit for service can be advantageously employed in Garrison duty or in the Laboratory that they ought to be retained; but if they cannot be employed in such service that the Governor be desired to discharge them” (attested copy, dated 19 Mch. and signed by John Beckley, clerk of the House, and William Drew, clerk of the Senate, Vi; JHD description begins Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia (cited by session and date of publication) description ends , Mch. 1781, Va. State Libr., Bull., 1928, p. 10, 38).

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