292 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



Dr. J. HotijSton to Paul Zantzinger, 1781. 



Lcancaster, July 14, 1781. 

 Sir: 'My opiuion being desired concerning the State of the Fever of 

 the Prisoners in the Barracks in this Borough, I think it my Duty to 

 assure you that the Jail Fever attended Aviththe most malignant symptoms 

 prevails very generally among them, that it will be extremely difficult 

 to eradicate it from those already there without some additional Quarters 

 or Buildings, and morally impossible if those of the Convention be 

 added, and that the Inhabitants of the Borough, especially those any 

 way concerned in the Care of them, are in the most imminent Danger of 

 contracting the Contagion. 



I am. Sir, 



yoMT most obedient Servant, 



J. Houston. 

 Paid Zantzinger, Esquire. 



Board of War to Pres. Reed, 1781. 



War Office, July 17, 1781. 

 Sir : The Board are embarrassed in their Calculations of the Numbers 

 of Eations necessary to be delivered at Lancaster, and in forming a 

 judgment whether any Contract or to what Amount should be made for 

 York Town under an Uncertainty whether any and what Prisoners are 

 to be stationed at that place. As the Board left the Determination of 

 this Matter to Council so as to make the stationing the prisoners most 

 convenient to the State, we request the Favour of your Excellency and 

 the Honble Council to inform whether any Alteration is to be made in 

 the Cantonment of the Prisoners from that understood by the Board to 

 be the one fixed upon, viz., that the German Prisoners of the Conven- 

 tion should be stationed at Reading, the British Convention troops at 

 York Town, and the unconditional Prisoners at Lancaster. We are led 

 to give you this Trouble for the sake of precision, and that no unneces- 

 sary Contracts may be made at any place or larger Provision made any- 

 where than is absolutely necessary. 

 We have the Honor to be, 



with great Respect, 



your very obed. Servants, 



Richard Peters, 

 Directed, By order. 



His Excellency, President Reed. 



William Atlee to Pres. Reed, 1781. 



Lancaster, the 6th August, 1781. 

 Sir : Having just now some conversation with Col. Hubley respect- 

 ing the militia on duty at this Post, as Guards over the Prisoners of War 



