consequence, remanded to their confinement in the jail, which must be considered as a voluntary one, until they can determine with themselves to be inoffensive in word as well as deed. A flag sails hence to-morrow to New York, to negotiate the exchange of, some priBy her I have written to General Phillips on this subject, and enclosed to him copies of the within; intending it as an answer to a letter I received from him on the subject of Governour Hamilton.

soners.

I have the honour, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON.

SIR,

TO THE SAME.

Williamsburgh, Oct. 2, 1779.

Just as the letter accompanying this was going off, Colonel Mathews arrived on parole from New York by the way of head quarters, bringing your Excellency's letter on this 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 Governour Hamilton that a final determination of his fate was formed before this new information. As the enemy have released Captain Willing from his irons, the Executive of this state will be induced 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 Governour Hamilton's affair should be settled, we have stopped our flag, which was just hoisting anchor with a load of privates for New York. I must, therefore, ask the favour of your Excellency to forward the enclosed by flag, when an opportunity offers, as I suppose General Phillips will be in New York before it reaches you. I have the honour, &c.)

TH: JEFFERSON.

TO THE SAME.

SIR,

In Council, Oct. 8, 1779.

In mine of the second of the present month, written in the instant of Colonel Mathews' delivery of your letter, I informed you what had been done on the subject of Governour Hamilton and his companions previous to that moment. I now enclose you an advice of Council, in consequence of the letter you were pleased to enclose me, from the British commissary of prisoners, with one from Lord Rawdon; also a copy of my letter to Colonel Mathews, enclosing, also, the papers therein named. The advice of Council to allow the enlargement of prisoners, on their giving a proper parole, has not been recalled, nor will it be, I suppose, unless something on the part of the enemy should render it necessary. I rather expect, however, that they will

see it their interest to discontinue this kind of conduct. I am afraid I shall hereafter, perhaps, be obliged to give your Excellency some trouble in aiding me to obtain information of the future usage of our prisoners. I shall give immediate orders for having in readiness every engine which the enemy have contrived for the destruction of our unhappy citizens, captivated by them. The presentiment of these operations is shocking beyond expression. I pray Heaven to avert them: but nothing in this world will do it but a proper conduct in the enemy. In every event, I shall resign myself to the hard necessity under which I shall act. I have the honour, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON.

These measures of retaliation resulted with the happiest effects, and the enemy soon became convinced that we had "too many of their subjects in our power, and too much iron to clothe them with." Thus, when neither the dictates of humanity nor the usages of civilized society could claim attention, distressing experience forced itself into notice and obtained consideration. But the Governour was still vigilant, and stood prepared to adopt again the same system, when the British government should resort to their former practices In a letter to the commander in chief, dated November 28th, 1779, he remarks: 66 Lamothe and Dejean have given their paroles, and are at Hanover Court House. Hamilton, Hay, and others, are still obstinate; therefore, still in close confinement, though their irons have never been on since your second letter on the subject. I wrote full information of this matter

to General Phillips also, from whom I had received letters on the subject. I cannot, in reason, believe that the enemy, on receiving this information, either from yourself or General Phillips, will venture to impose any new cruelties on our officers in captivity with them. Yet their conduct, hitherto, has been most successfully prognosticated by reversing the conclusions of right reason. It is, therefore, my duty, as well as it was my promise to the Virginia captives, to take measures for discovering any change which may be made in their situation. For this purpose, I must apply for your Excellency's interposition. I doubt not but you have an established mode of knowing, at all times, through your commissary of prisoners, the precise state of those in the power of the enemy. I must, therefore, pray you to put into motion any such means you have, for obtaining knowledge of the situation of Virginia officers in captivity. If you should think proper, as I could wish, to take upon yourself to retaliate any new sufferings which may be imposed on them, it will be more likely to have due weight, and to restore the unhappy on both sides, to that benevolent treatment for which all should wish."

The intermediate situation of Virginia had, hitherto, in a great measure, saved her interiour from the ravages of invasion. The storm of war had spent its force on the more northern states, and was now beginning to burst with all its horrours upon the south, while Virginia was left to throw its aids in whatever quarter it was required.

In tracing these military operations, especially so far as the subject of these memoirs is connected with them,

we must derive much of our information from the lucid and happy detail contained in the "Biography of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence," a work to which we acknowledge previous obligations. This, with the correspondence of Mr. Jefferson himself, will be sufficient guides to every important event which occurred during his administration of the affairs of Virginia. More acceptable companions we could not present to the reader, and any thing we might offer, would be dull and uninteresting to the instruction and entertainment they afford.

In the spring of 1780, says the biographical annalist, the ferocious Tarleton had made his appearance on the southern borders of Virginia, marking his path with unusual barbarity. Immediately after him, followed the main army and Lord Cornwallis. It was then time for this devoted state to exert herself. Troops were rapidly raised and sent off to the south, lines of communication established, and every preparation made to meet the enemy. It is needless to remark, that all the former habits and pursuits of the Governour, had been of a kind little likely to fit him for military command; but aware of the importance of energy and exertion, at such a crisis, he bent his mind to the new task which fortune had thrown upon him, with alacrity and ardour. "Our intelligence from the southward," writes Mr. Jefferson to General Washington on the eleventh June, "is most lamentably defective. Though Charleston has now been in the hands of the enemy a month, we hear nothing of their movements, which can be relied on. Rumours say that they are penetrating northward. To remedy this