Head Quarters, Middle Brook, February 12, 1779.
Sir: In my last I omitted to answer what part of your Excellency's letter of the 5th. inst. respecting Capt. Campbells proposal of attempting to bring off our Officers prisoners on parole upon Long Island. Was the measure justifiable, of which I have my doubts, it would in my opinion be impolitic. We could not hope to be compleately successfull, and strict confinement would certainly be the fate of all those who remained or who may hereafter fall into the enemy's hands.
I have good reason to suspect that many persons (Women particularly) who obtain leave from the Executive Council to go and come to and from New York under pretence of visiting their Friends, have, in fact, no other Business but that of bringing out Goods to trade with. Some have been detected within a few days and their Goods confiscated, by a law of the State of Jersey, to the Captors. To avoid the disagreeable necessity of seizing the property of individuals, and to put a stop to a Commerce which creates a great deal of uneasiness among the well affected inhabitants, I shall be obliged to you for inquiring well into the circumstances of those who apply for passes, and if their applications appear so well grounded as to obtain them, caution them against bringing out any kind of Goods, as they will most certainly fall into the hands of the Guards posted upon every Road in order to cut off this pernicious communication, which is contrary to Resolve of Congress and possitive laws of this State. The property has been only hitherto confiscated, but there will, if the practice is persisted
[Note:In the writing of Tench Tilghman. This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress , no. 69, vol. 2, fol. 129. ]