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[Council to S. Smith.]
In Council 26th March 1778.
Sir.
Thomas Worthington complains to us that one Benjamin
Todd, who we suppose is a Sergeant, inlisted his Convict
Servant Man named Thomas Bennett, knowing that he was
his Servant, and that he applied to you for the Servant, and
you refuse to return him. We are at a Loss to conjecture on
what Principle a Servant, and especially a convicted one, could
be inlisted or detained, as we have no Law to warrant such a
Proceeding, and, from the frequent Desertions of People so
circumstanced, Genl Washington thought proper to discounte-
nance it. We request, on Mr Worthington's shewing that
Thomas Bennett is his Servant, that you will restore him and
that you'll give Orders to the Officers under you, not to inlist
Servants, by which you will prevent their running away from
their Masters, in Hopes of getting to the Enemy which, whilst
Servants were inlisted, proved a great Injury to the People of
this State, and very little, if at all, strengthened our Army.
Lt Colo Saml Smith. We are &ca
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C. C.
133
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