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to somewhat less than three hundred men, to enter into the ninth regiment at Pittsburg. ‘The aid they may give there, will be so immediate and important, and what they could do to the south- ward, would be so late, as, 1 hope, will apologise for the imter- ference. T. J.
LETTER VIII. TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Wilhamsburg, July 17, 1779. SIR,
I some time ago, enclosed to you a printed copy of an order of Council, by which Governor Hamilton was to be confined in irons, in close jail, which has occasioned a letter from General Phillips, of which the enclosed is a copy. The General seems to think that a prisoner on capitulation, cannot be put in close confinement, though his capitulation should not have provided against it. My idea was, that all persons taken in war, were to be deemed pri- soners of war. ‘That those who surrender on capitulation (or convention) are prisoners of war also, subject to the same treat- ment with those who surrender at discretion, except only so far as the terms of their capitulation or convention shall have guarded them. In the capitulation of Governor Hamilton (a copy of which I enclose,) no stipulation is made as to the treatment of himself, or those taken with him. ‘The Governor, indeed, when he signs, adds a flourish of reasons inducing him to capitulate, one of which is the generosity of his enemy. Generosity, on a large and com- prehensive scale, seems to dictate the making a signal example of this gentleman ; but waving that, these are only the private mo- tives inducing him to surrender, and do not enter into the contract of Colonel Clarke. I have the highest idea of those contracts which take place between nation and nation, at war, and would be the last on earth to do any thing in violation of them. I can find nothing in those books usually recurred to as testimonials of the laws and usages of nature and nations, which convicts the opinions I have above expressed of error. Yet there may be such an usage as General Phillips seems to suppose, though not taken no- tice of by these writers. I am obliged to trouble your Excellency on this occasion, by asking of you information on this point. ‘There is no other person, whose decision will so authoritatively decide this doubt in the public mind, and none with which I am disposed
