My son, (an only son) as dear as he is brave, amiable as he is deserving to be so, only nineteen, a prisoner under the articles of capitulation of Yorktown, is now confined in America, an object of retaliation. Shall an innocent suffer for the guilty? Represent to yourself, Sir, the situation of a family under these circumstances; surrounded as I am by objects of distress, distracted with fear and grief, no words can express my feeling, or paint the scene. My husband given over by his physicians, a few hours before the news arrived, and not in a state to be informed of the misfortune; my daughter seized with a fever and delirium, raving about her brother, and without one interval of reason, save to hear heart-alleviating circumstances.
Let your feelings, Sir, suggest and plead for my inexpressible misery. A word from you, like a voice from Heaven, will save us from distraction and wretchedness. I am well informed General Washington reveres your character; say but to him you wish my son to be released, and he will restore him to his distracted family, and render him to happiness. My son's virtue and bravery will justify the deed. His honor, Sir, carried him to America. He was born to affluence, independence, and the happiest prospects. Let me again supplicate your goodness; let me respectfully implore your high influence in behalf of innocence; in the cause of justice, of humanity; that you would, Sir, despatch a letter to General Washington, from France, and favor me with a copy of it, to be sent from hence.
I am sensible of the liberty I have taken in making this request; but I am sensible, whether you comply with it or not, you will pity the distress that suggests it; your humanity will drop a tear on the fault, and efface it. I will pray that Heaven may grant you may never want the comfort it is in your power to bestow on
ASGILL.
TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Translation.
Philadelphia, August 5th, 1782.
Sir,
This letter will be handed you by M. de Cloisy, who will inform you particularly of the motives of his journey to the northward.
I address myself with freedom to your Excellency, for a service, that no one has it more in their power to render than yourself, and which is of the greatest importance to the naval army commanded by M. de Vaudreuil. It is not to be doubted, that a large naval force will arrive at New York, either from the West Indies or from Europe. It is essential that our naval commanders should have the most exact and most frequent intelligence in this respect, respecting the number of vessels, their names, their destination, the time of their arrival, of their departure, the number of troops they embark, or artillery; in fact, not a single movement can be known with too much precision. And I must request, that you will take the necessary measures to give M. de Vaudreuil regular information on all these points. It could be wished, that you would station regular expresses to facilitate the communication between you and him.