Thomas Jefferson Papers
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From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 2 October 1779

To George Washington

Williamsburg Oct. 2. 1779.

Sir

Just as the letter accompanying this was going off Colo. Mathews arrived on parole from New York by the way of headquarters bringing your Excellencys letter on [t]his subject with that of the British Commissary of prisoners. The subject is of great importance and I must therefore reserve myself to answer after further consideration. Were I to speak from present impressions I should say it was happy for Governor Hamilton that a final determination of his fate was formed before this new information. As the enemy have released Capt. Willing from his irons the Executive of this State will be ind[uced] perhaps not to alter their former opinion. But it is impossible they can be serious in attempting to bully us in this manner. We have too many of their subjects in our power and too much iron to clothe them with and I will add too much resolution to avail ourselves of both to fear their pretended retaliation; however I will do myself the honour of forwarding to your Excellency the ultimate result of council on this subject.

In consequence of the information in the letter from the British commissary of prisoners that no officers of the Virginia line should be exchanged till Governor Hamiltons affairs should be settled we have stopped our flag which was just hoisting anchor with a load, of privates for N. York. I must therefore ask the favor of your Excellency to forward the enclosed by flag when an opportunity offers as I suppose General Phillips will be in N. York before it reaches you. I have the honour to be Sir With the greatest esteem your most obdt. & most hbl. servt.,

Th: Jefferson

Tr (DLC). Enclosure: see below.

The letter accompanying this: TJ to Washington, 1 Oct. 1779, q.v. your excellencys letter: Dated 13 Sep. 1779. The letter of the British commissary of prisoners is missing. the enclosed: TJ to Phillips, 2 Oct. 1779. On James Willing, an American agent on the lower Mississippi, taken captive in 1778, see James A. James, Oliver Pollock, N.Y. and London, 1937, passim. On the Hamilton case generally, see TJ to Bland, 8 June 1779, and references there.

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