Archive · The instruction of 1782: from Philadelphia to Paris
August 30, 1782
Governor Harrison to the Virginia Delegates in Congress
The letter the editors of Madison’s papers judge probably prompted his motion eleven days later: “Mr. Willoughby who had had ninety taken from him and is thereby ruin’d.”
What it says, in plain language
Harrison tells Virginia’s delegates in Congress that owners want permission to send a flag of truce to New York to reclaim people. He has refused so far, but promised “Mr. Willoughby who had had ninety taken from him and is thereby ruin’d” that he would ask what Congress thinks, and he reports that privateers are said to be kidnapping people to the West Indies. The editors of Madison’s papers judge that this letter probably prompted Madison’s motion eleven days later.
No image of the original is online here. File copy in Harrison’s Executive Letter Book, in the clerk William Tatham’s hand, Library of Virginia (not digitized). The letter the delegates received has not been located.
Transcription
Council Chamber Augt. 30th. 1782.
Gentlemen,
I recd. some time ago the Journals of Congress that you sent me but find they are not complete those of 79 being wanting be so good as to send them by the first Oppery.
Some prisoners return’d from New York have enfused an Opinion into the Heads of our people that their Negros carried away by the Enemy may be obtain’d from Sir Guy Carleton if I would permit them to go with a Flag for them Applications have been made for such a permission which I thought myself bound to refuse as the Intercourse would be dangerous and the Obligation if they were successful might have too powerful an influence over their future Conduct. I have however on the earnest solicitation of Mr. Willoughby who had had ninety taken from him and is thereby ruin’d promis’d to write to you on the Subject, to know in what light such a Step would be look’d on by Congress, and I beg the favor of you to give me your Opinion. One powerful Motive that induced Mr. Willoughby to apply so early was that his informant told him that on the prospects of peace the privateers Men were kidnaping them and sending them to the West indies, and that in a little Time there would be very few left in N. York. if it should be the case can no step be taken to put a Stop to the practice. Your Bill for support of the prisoners return’d from captivity shall be duly honor’d. I am &c
B. H.
Text from Founders Online (National Archives), checked against the manuscript image where one is shown. Original spelling kept; modern editorial notes are not reproduced.