Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/512




 * —I am interrupted in my daily attempts to soften the calamities of persons, and reconcile their case with our security, by a general cry of resentment, arising from an information That officers in the king's service, taken on the 27th of November, and Mr. John Brown, a deputy commissary, are to be tried in Jersey for high treason; and that Mr. Iliff and another prisoner have been hanged.

Though I am neither authorized to threaten or to soothe, my wish to prevent an increase of horrors, will justify my using the liberty of an old acquaintance, to desire your interposition to put an end to, or prevent measures which, if pursued on one side, would tend to prevent every act of humanity on the other, and render every person who exercises this to the king's enemies, odious to his friends.

I need not point out to you all the cruel consequences of such a procedure. I am hopeful you'll prevent them, and excuse this trouble from,

N. B. At the moment that the cry of murder reached my ears, I was signing orders that Fell's request to have the liberty of the city, and Colonel Reynold now be set free on his parole, should be complied with. I have not recalled the order, because, though the evidence be strong, I cannot believe it possible, a measure so cruel and unpolitic, could be adopted, where you bear sway.

To, Esq., etc., etc.


 * —Having received a letter under your signature, dated the 4th instant, which I have some reason to think you intended for me, I sit down to answer your inquiries concerning certain officers in the service of your king, taken on Staten Island, and one Browne, who calls himself a deputy commissary; and also respecting one Iliff and another prisoner, (I suppose you must mean John Mee, he having shared the fate you mention,) who have been hanged.

Buskirk, Earl and Hammel, who are, I presume, the officers intended, with the said Browne, were sent to me by General Dickenson, as prisoners taken on Staten Island. Finding them all to be subjects of this state, and to have committed treason against it, the council of safety committed them to Trenton jail. At the same time I acquainted General Washington, that if he chose to treat the three first, who were British officers, as prisoners of war, I doubted not the Council of Safety would be satisfied. General Washington has since informed me, that he intends to consider them as such ; and they are therefore at his service, whenever the commissary of prisoners shall direct concerning them. Browne, I am told, committed several robberies in this state, before he took sanctuary on Staten Island, and I should scarcely imagine that he has expiated the guilt of his former crimes, by committing the greater one, of joining the enemies of his country. However, if General Washington chooses to consider him also as a prisoner of war, I shall not interpose in the matter.

Iliff was executed after a trial by a jury, for enlisting our subjects, himself being one, as recruits in the British army, and he was apprehended on his way with them to Staten Island. Had he never been subject to this state, he would have forfeited his life as spy. Mee was one of his company, and had also procured our subjects to enlist in the service of the enemy.

If these transactions, sir, should induce you to countenance greater severities towards our people, whom the fortune of war has thrown into your