Note 13 — THE CORRESPONDENCE OF C. A. DE LA LUZERNE. (continued 3)

In Congress, November 7th, 1782. "On the report of a committee, to whom were referred the letter of the 19th of August from the Commander in Chief, the report of a committee thereon, and also another of the 25th of October from the Commander in Chief, with the copy of a letter to him from the Count de Vergennes, dated the 29th of July last, interceding for Captain Asgill;

"Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be, and he is hereby directed to set Captain Asgill at liberty."

November 8th. "Resolved, that the Commander in Chief be instructed to call, in the most pointed terms, on the British commander at New York, to fulfil his engagement contained in his letter of the 13th day of August last, 'to make further inquisition into the murder of Captain Huddy, and to pursue it with all the effect, which a due regard to justice will admit.'

"Resolved, that to prevent any misconstruction, which may arise from the resolution directing Captain Asgill to be set at liberty, it be declared, and it is hereby declared, that the Commander in Chief, or commander of a separate army, is, in virtue of the powers vested in them respectively, fully authorised and empowered, whenever the enemy shall commit any act of cruelty or violence, contrary to the laws or usage of war, to demand adequate satisfaction for the same; and in each case, if such satisfaction shall not be given in a reasonable or limited time, or shall be refused or evaded under any pretence whatever, to cause suitable retaliation forthwith to be made; and the United States in Congress assembled will support them in such measures."