Thomas Newton Jr. letter August 2, 1793.

Thos. Newton, Jr.. to the Governor.
August 2d  1793
Norfolk
Sir:
Your Exc'y's letter from Fredericksburg, inclosing one from Mr. Brooke, I received; he must be mistaken as to the Ship Brandon. Capt. Woodrowe being here, I have inquired after her and find she is now in East River in the county of Mathews, repairing, & may be fitting there. It has ever been my study to act with that circumspection which y'r Excellency recommends. French ships of war & privateers have * * & repaired here, which I consider is not a violation of the neutrality, but none have arrived that I know or have heard of. Brittish Ships have, before we knew that they ought not so to do. Your Exc'y is well acquainted that my District is confined to the limits of the Borough; in that I shall use every care to prevent breaches of the neutrality. The Commanding officer of the county, (in whose limits such acts will most probably happen,) did not get y'r Excell’y's letters of June the 8th. I supplied him with a copy, but no arrangement has taken place of the militia in the County as yet. We have ac'ts of mud Island fort on the Delaware being put in order, & a company of militia stationed there, to be weekly releived. Without something of the kind is done here, our militia can have but little effect; they can only prevent Guns from being taken from the shore — vessels armed may do as they please, as muskets in our river cannot command them. Two batteries — one on each side of the River — cou'd prevent any from sailing. I know y'r Exc'jy feels for our situation, & am sorry you have it not in your power to place us on a more respectable footing; & you may rely that if we were well prepared for defence, that it would be the most effectual means of preserving the neutrality. Our defenceless situation causes insults from all parties, which would not happen if they saw the means of preventing them, & at the same time to protect those who might take shelter with us. If as many English ships had been here as French, and as few of the latter as of the former, God knows what would have been the consequence. The French have been peaceable & quiet, & our town has been as still as it was before thoy came. Too much praise cannot be given them for their orderly conduct.
I am with the greatest Respect,
Y'r Ob't Serv't.
Your Execllency will please to inform Mr. Brooke that the Brandon has not been here, but it is nearer Essex than us. 3d August, Barbadoes is opened for the American . A vessel is Just arrived from Bermudays; was detained five weeks, and then released, & no compensation made, as I am informed. She brings more distressed French people. The privateer plundered every thing they had saved I Just now heard that the Ambuscade had gone out to fight an English Frigate on a challenge sent in to New York, and that several have gone out in boats to view the battle. I have sent an extract of your letter to Gloster, and informed Mr. Anderson of the Brandon's arming in Mathews county, with a request to let the commanding officer of Mathews know it.

August 10th
To Thos. Newton, Jr., Lt. Coll. commandant of the Militia in the Borrough of Norfolk:
Sir:
I consider it my duty to transmit to you the enclosed letter. You ought to shew it to the collector. As I understood that the officers of the customs would receive, & I suppose have received special instructions touching this subject, it is a doubtful point in my mind whether the mere purchase of arms and munitions of war in our parts by the belligerent powers is a violation of the President's proclamation, but no doubt can exist; but the arming vessels is a violation thereof. Let me intreat you to recollect that moderation & impartiality never was more necessary than at present to all officers who may be compelled by events to use the authority invested in them. I trust this exhortation to you cannot be necessary, but such is my anxiety that right, and right only be done by the officers of this commonwealth, & that too in the most unexceptionable manner that I cannot refrain from impressing on y'r mind the worth of those virtues on the present moment, regard all nations alike in your official conduct, & treat all who violate the proclamation of the President exactly in the same manner. Copy of a letter ree'd from his Exc'y H. Lee, Esq., July 30th, Fredericksburg.

Fort Norfolk Documents

Before 1793, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865

Source of Information

CALENDAR of VIRGINIA STATE PAPERS and OTHER MANUSCRIPTS, FROM AUGUST 11, 1792, TO DECEMBER 31, 1793, PRESERVED IN THE CAPITOL AT RICHMOND. ARRANGED AND EDITED BY SHERWIN McRAE. VOLUME VI. RICHMOND: A. R. MICOU, SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC PRINTING. 1886