January 1-December 31, 1781 11

[Sam. Huntington, President of Congress, Philadelphia, to
Gov. Lee.]
You will receive herewith enclosed, Copies of two Acts of Con-
gress of the 5^th & 8^th Instant
By the former you will be informed that from the unwarrantable
& cruel Treatment which our People who are Prisoners with the
Enemy have of late received from them, in the opinion of Congress
an Exercise of the Law of retaliation has become necessary and it is
especially recommended to the Executives of the States respectively
to take effectual Measures for carrying into Execution the Acts of
Congress of the 13^th of January 1780 respecting Prisoners taken by
the Citizens Troops or Ships of particular States
By the other Act (of the 8^th Instant) it is earnestly recommended
to the several States from New Hampshire to North Carolina in-
clusive to procure for the Use of the Officers in Captivity at New
York & on Long Island to be charged to the United States their
respective Quotas therein mentioned in Specie or Bills of Exchange
on New York.
It is presumed the necessities of those Officers, the Distresses they
have already suffered and the more disagreeable Situation they must
yet be reduced to for want of the Means of Subsistence unless those
supplies are obtained will be sufficient to induce a Compliance with
this requisition as speedy as possible.

January p
Red Book
No. 9
Letter 115

[Joseph Bruff, Talbot Court house, His Excl^y Tho^s Sim Lee.]
(fav^d p^r Capt. Howard)

The Leut^nt of Dorchester County, having sent Eight of the Pris-
oners Taken on Board the Active Priviteer to me with a Request,
that I would send them under a proper Guard to Annapolis; I have
committed them to the care of Capt. Howard, who happen'd to be
at this Place on his return home, and willingly undertook the charge
of them. I make no doubt he will deliver them safe. I thought it
better, to send them by him than any other way as it appear'd not only
safe but Attended with less Expence to the State

January 10

[Thomas Johnson, Jr. Sec^y to the Counl. Annapolis Mary^ld to
Sec^y of the Board of Admiralty Phil^a]

Having heretofore received blank Commissions, Bonds and In-
structions for Private Armed Vessels, from the Secretary of Con-
gress, on my last Application to him he requested me in future to
apply to the Secretary of the Board of Admiralty.
I have therefore to request you will as soon as possible send a
supply having Issued all those received of him. Many Inconvenien-
cies have attended the Owners of Vessels for the want of Commis-
sions, to remove which I hope there may be no delay in sending them.
All the Bonds in my Possession shall be transmitted to you by the
next Post

January 10
Red Book
No. 8
Letter 45
(Draft)