The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

116 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [_/ET. 45.
I observe by the terms of General Burgoyne's capitulation, that an exchange of prisoners may probably
take place; if so, the number of officers taken in his
army will liberate all ours. In that case, Mr. Douglass,
your aid-de-camp, will soon be redeemed. But if this
exchange should not take place, you may depend that
Mr. Douglass shall be called for as soon as it comes
his turn; for I have made it an invariable rule to give a
preference to those, who have been longest in captivity. I most sincerely wish you a speedy and effectual cure, as I am, with great regard, dear Sir, &c.
TO FRANCIS HOPKINSON AND JOHN WHARTON, OF
THE NAVY BOARD.*
Skippack Road, 27 October, 1777.
GENTLEMEN,
The more I reflect upon the evil, that may arise
from the enemy's possessing themselves of our unfinished frigates up the Delaware, the more convinced
I am of the indispensable obligation we are under to
prevent it effectually. If no other method could be
devised, I should be for absolutely burning them; but
scuttling and sinking them, with or without ballast, as
they, who are best acquainted with the difficulties of
raising them in either state at this season, may determine, will in my judgment answer the end. We all
know that the enemy have made one vigorous though
unsuccessful effort to dispossess us of our forts, and
drive off our vessels, which defend the chevaux-de-frise
# When the Congress retired from Philadelphia to York, the Navy
Board remained behind, and continued chiefly at Bordentown in New
Jersey, where their services could be more immediately rendered in
managing the concerns of the Continental shipping in the Delaware.