The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

The following letters (supposed to be genuine) were omitted in our last for want of room.

Copy of a letter from Lady ASGILL, dated at London, 18th July, 1782, to M. le Comte de Vergennes.

SIR,

If the politeness of the French Court will permit an application of a stranger, there can be no doubt but one in which all the tender feelings of an individual can be interested, will meet with a favorable reception from a nobleman whose character does honor not only to his own country, but to human nature. The subject, Sir, on which I presume to implore your assistance, is too heart-piercing for me to dwell on; as common fame has most probably informed you of it, it therefore renders the painful task unnecessary. My son! (my only son!) as dear as he is brave, as amiable as deserving to be so, only 19 years of age, a prisoner under the articles of capitulation of York Town, is now confined in America, as an object of retaliation! Shall an innocent suffer for the guilty? Represent to yourself, Sir, the situation of a family (under those circumstances) surrounded as I am by objects of distress, distracted with fear and grief! No words can express my feelings, or paint the scene! My husband given over by the 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 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, dispatch a letter to General Washington from France, and favour me with a copy of it to be sent from hence.

I am sensible of the liberty I take in making this request; but I am also sensible, that 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

O-

(Signed) A S G I L L.

Translation of a letter from M. le Comte de Vergennes, dated at Versailles, 21st July, 1782, to his Excellency General Washington.

SIR,

It is not in quality of Minister of a King, the Friend and Ally of the United States (though with the knowledge and consent of his Majesty) that I now have the honour to write to your Excellency.

It is as a man of sensibility, and a tender father, who feels all the force of paternal love, that I take the liberty to address to your Excellency my earnest solicitations in favor of a mother and family in tears.

Her situation seems the more worthy of notice on our part, as it is to the humanity of a nation at war with her own, that she has recourse, for what she ought to receive from the impartial justice of her own General.

I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency a copy of a letter which Mrs. Asgill has just wrote me. I am not known to her nor was I acquainted that her son was the unhappy victim destined by lot to expiate the odious crime that a formal denial of justice obliges you to revenge. Your Excellency will not read this letter without being extremely affected: it had that effect upon the King and Queen, to whom I communicated it. The goodness of their Majesties has induced them to desire (that the inquietudes of an unfortunate mother may be calmed, and her tenderness restored). I feel, Sir, that there are cases where humanity exacts the most extreme rigour--perhaps the one now in question may be of that number.

But allowing reprisals to be just, it is not the less horrid to those who are the victims: and the character of your Excellency is too well known, for me not to be persuaded that you desire nothing more than to be able to avoid the disagreeable necessity.

There is one consideration, Sir, which, though it is not decisive, may have some influence on your resolutions: --Captain Asgill is doubtless your prisoner; but, he is amongst those whom the arms of the King contributed to put into your hands at York-Town. Although this circumstance does not operate as a safeguard, it, however justifies, the interest I permit myself to take in this affair. If it is in your power, Sir, to consider and have regard to it, you will do what is very agreeable to their Majesties.

The danger of young Asgill, the despair of his mother, afflicted them sensibly, and they will see with pleasure the hope of consolation shines out, for these unfortunate people. In seeking to deliver Mr. Asgill from the fate which threatens him, I am far from engaging you to seek another victim: the pardon to be perfectly satisfactory must be entire: I do not imagine it can be productive of any bad consequences. If the English General has not been able to punish the horrid crime you complain of, in so exemplary a manner as he should, there is reason to think he will take the most efficacious measures to prevent the like in future.

I sincerely wish, Sir, that my intercession may meet with success. The sentiments which dictate it, and which you have not ceased to manifest on every occasion, assure me that you will not be indifferent to the prayers and tears of a family, which has recourse to your clemency through me: It is rendering homage to your virtue to implore it.

I have the honor to be, with the most perfect consideration, your Excellency's, very humble and obedient servant,

(Signed) VERGENNES.