The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-08-24 00:00:00, page 3

Eagle off Staten island, 19th August, 17761
Sir,
CONCURRING with the proposition you have been
pleased to make in your favor of the seventeenth for
an exchange of prisoners in my department, viz. “ Officers
for these of equal rank, and sailors for sailors," I will take
the liberty to propose an officer of the fame rank witELieut.
Jefr.h, when he arrives.
The Cerberus being absent, T. have no other information
receding the situation of Mr. Josiah, than what is commu
nicated in your letter. But the matter, you may be assured,
lhall be inquired into, and every attention paid to the rules
of propriety, as well as the dittoes of humanity, or. all such
occasions.
Principles and conduct form .the true diftinaion of rank
amongst men ; yet, without a competent habit in the manners
of the world, they are too liable to meet with unmerited
disregard. But iniult and indignities to persons of whatever
rank, who are become parties in these unhappy disputes,
cannot be juftified, and are, I persuade my felf, as much dis
The following LETTERS and ORDERS are published
by order of' the Hon. Congress of the American States.
Head Quarters, New-York, 17th August, 1776.
My Lord,.
BEIN G authorized by Congress, as their Commanders
in every department are, to negotiate an exchange of
prisoners, and presuming, as well from the nature of your
Lordflrip's command, as the information Gen. Howe has been
pleased to honor me with, that the exchange in the naval
line will be fubj<& to your Lordflrip's direction, I beg leave
to propose the following mode of exchange for your Lord
grip's consideration, viz. “ Officers for those of equal rack,
and sailors for sailors."
If the above proposal ffiould be agreeable to your Lordffiip,
I am charged, in a particular manner, to exchange any offi
cer belonging to the British navy, in our hands, and of equal
rank, far Lieutenant Josiah, who was lately made prisoner in
a ship retaken by the Cerberus frigate.
The reason, my Lord, of my being charged to propose the ex
change ol Lieut, Josiah in preference to that efany other officer,
is that authentic intelligence has been received, that, regard-'
less of his rank as an officer, he has not only been fubjefted
to the duties of a common seaman, but has experienced ma
ny other marks of indignity.
As a different line cf conduct, my Lori, has been ever
observed towards the officers of your navy, who have fallen
into our hands, it becomes not only a matter of duty but of
right in me to mention this to your Lordlhip, to the end that
an inquiry may be made into the yafe above referred to.
From your Lordinip’s character for humanity, I am led to
presume, that the hardships imposed on Lieut. Josiah are
without either your knowledge or concurrence, and therefore
most readily hope, that upon this representation, your Lord
ship will enjoin all officers, under y®ur command, to pay
such regard to the treatment of those that may fall into their
hands, as their different ranks and fituatiens may require,
and such as your Lordihip would.wifh to fee continued by us
to those who are already in our power, or who may hereafter,
by the chance of war, be fubje^ed to it. I have the honor
to be, my Lord, your Lordflrip's mod obedient servan t,
george Washington.
To the Right Honorable Lord Viscount Howe Admiral
and Commander in Chief of the British navy in
America. (Copy.)
421
approved of by every officer under ray command, as they can
never cease to be by'me. I am, with great personal ref,eft.
Sir, your mod obedient humble servant. HOWE.
To General George Wallington, &c. &c. &c.
His Excellency General CARLETON's ORDERS.•
QUE 3 EC, August 4, 1776. #
THE commanding officers of corps will take efpecia!
care every one under their command be informed,
that letters or messages from rebels, traitors in arm, against
the King, rioters, didurbers of the public peace, plunderers,
robbers, assassins, or murderers, are on no occasion to ,be ad
mitted ; that should emiffzries from such lawless men again
presume to approach the army, whether under the name of
flag of truceinen or ambassadors, except when they come to
implore the King's mercy, their persons shall be immediately
seized and committed to close confinement, in order to be
proceeded again ft; as the law directs ; their papers and let
ters, for whomsoever, even f: r the Commander in Chief, are
to be delivered to the Provott Martial, that, unread and un
opened, they may be burned by the hands of the common
hangman ; at the fame time the Commander in Chief expe&3
that neither the assassination of Brigadier Gen. Gordon *, nor
the late notorious breach of faith, in resolving not to return
the troops and Canadians taken at St. John's, in exchange for
those rebels who fell into the hands of the Savages at the Ce
dars and Quinchin, purchased from them at a great price,
and reftoreu to their country on those express ' conditions, be
imputed to the Provincials at large, but to a few wicked and
designing men, who firft deceived, then step by step milled
the credulous multitude to the brink of ruin, afterwards
usurped authority over them, established a despotic tyranny
not to be borne, and now, wantonly and foolishly endeavour
to provoke the spilling the blood of our unhappy countrymen
of this continent, in hopes of covering their own guilt, or
confirming their tyranny, by the general deftru&ion of their
country. Let their crimes pursue these faithlefs, bloody
minded men, who assert that black is white and white black,
it belongs to Britons to dilhnguilh themselves not less by their
humanity than their valor; it belongs to the King's troops to
save the blood of his deluded fubjefts, whose greatest fault
perhaps is having been deceived by such men to their own de
liruftion ; it belongs to the crown, it is the duty of all faith
ful Servants of the crown, to refeue from oppression, and
restore to liberty, the once happy, free, and loyal people of
this continent.
All prisoners from the rebellious provinces, who choose to
return home, are to hold themselves in readiness to embark
at a short notice; the Commidary, Mr. Murray, shall visit
the transports defined for them, and fee that wholesome pro
visions, necessary clothing, with all possible convenience for
their passage, be prepared for these unfortunate men ; they are
to look on their refpedive provinces as their prison, and there
remain, till farther enlarged, or summoned to appear before
the commander in chief of this province, or any other com
mander in chief for his Majesty, for the time being, which,
summons they shall obey.
Gen. Howe will regulate their place of landing.
E. FOY, Deputy Adjutant Gen.
(A true Copy.)
FRANCIS CARR, Clerk,
Aid de camp to Lieutenant General Burgoyne.
* It is imfetysble to conjecture ivbat is meart, in this extras
dinary production by " the aCaTnation of Brigadier G^n. Gor
don," the public having never been informed of any thing c^
earning any such perjore.