Sir:

I have just received your letter of the 28 Ulto., and would willingly relieve your anxiety about the prisoners by removing them by the time you mention. But it is necessary that provision should be made for them at the place to which they may be removed, and it will require more time than that you mention to fix on a place and make the necessary provision, besides it would also require the opinion of the Council to sanctify such a step in me. However, I will do the best I can, and will either have them removed or send an officer to take charge of the guard in your absence.

I have also your letter of the 29th, with a letter from the persons you mentioned in the nature of a petition. In answer to their petition; notwithstanding they take upon them to tell me they are not prisoners of war, but private adventurers, yet I consider them and every other person taken with arms in their hands, fighting against the liberties of America, prisoners of War; their application must be to the Assembly. I will not allow them to take the oaths of allegiance without the express resolution of the General Assembly to that effect. I wish you an agreeable journey to the Westward,