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they may be exposed, and successfully returned to their natal soil and to the arms of their fond and tender friends. If Mr. Tillotson and lady4 are yet at the Manor of Livingston you will remind them with affection of your friend and Humble Servt M Warren mwp1 1. Dated 1781 in Letterbook draft, but the rc now at Princeton is dated June 14, 1780. 2. Probably Ellen Lothrop, who died in 1780. See l 53. 3. Montgomery must be at Clermont, the Livingston seat; she would eventually move to her own home on the Hudson, which she had built in 1804. 4. Dr. Thomas Tillotson of Maryland married Janet Montgomery’s sister Margaret Livingston in 1779 and served as a military physician during the war. 55 to winslow warren1 [As if ww’s social escapades and his trip to Europe were not cause enough for his mother’s concern, he added to her distress when his Holland-bound ship, the Pallas, was captured off Newfoundland by the British admiral and governor Richard Edwards and taken to St. John’s. ww remained a prisoner there for a number of months, although he was apparently treated with relative civility. Later in the summer, other Americans, including the American diplomat Henry Laurens, were also captured. ww, Laurens, and John Steele Tyler (the brother of future playwright Royall Tyler) were then sent in September to London as prisoners. Although ww’s ship was seized in May, mow did not learn of it until August.] Plymouth August 20th 1780 My dear son, My mind is this moment releived from the greatest anxiety;—two days since, I heard you had been made a prisoner by the capture of the Pallas. All the horrors of a guard-ship arose before me, and imagination presented a beloved son, pale and emaciated by hunger and hardship, reduced to the same distresses into which the wretchedness of war has plunged many 140  to winslow warren, august 1780 who like himself had been used to more than the conveniences of life; who had not only been nursed in the lap of affluence, but blessed with tender and judicious friends, which adds the highest zest to enjoyment. I now understand you have not fallen into the hands of an ungenerous enemy—but that humanity and politeness mark the character of the man, as benevolence, hospitality and honour distinguish the commander of the British squadron at St. John’s. If any one connected with him by friendship or blood should ever be detained in the United States, I wish it may be in my power to manifest my gratitude to him by doubling that attention to their happiness which the feelings of compassion ever excite in my bosom towards the unfortunate.2 But I am far from considering you in that class at present and if you accept the genteel offer of a passage to Holland &c. via England it may give you more pleasure, and perhaps be attended with greater advantages than if you had pursued your first plan. But as you have from an early period been left to form your own projections, your parents will throw no embarrassments in your way from motives of affection or fear, but still leave to your own judgment, the determination of your choice, when you have balanced the circumstances in favour of returning in the next Cartel, with advantages you may reap from pursuing your intended voyage to Europe. M Warren mwp1 1. Note in Letterbook draft reads, “When a prisoner of war—captured by Admiral Edwards and carried to Newfoundland.” 2. Note in Letterbook draft reads, “I had the pleasure of returning the civilities of Admiral Edwards to my son, by attentions to two of his nephews afterwards captured and brought to Boston, by the Ship Alliance, on board which your Brother James was an officer, who acted his part in an engagement with two British armed Ships to the approbation of the American Commander and everyone else. Both the British Ships were captured by the Alliance. One of them was a twenty gun Ship commanded by a nephew of Admiral Edwards. This officer appeared much gratified by the visit made to your parents. His brother was so wounded that he could not attend. I have sometimes thought it a singular circumstance, that two of the family of Admiral Edwards should in so short a time after the captivity of one of my sons, be brought prisoners into our harbour...

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