By the proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton, already mentioned in the preceding chapter, Negroes were threatened with sale for “the public service;” and Mr. Jefferson in his letter to Mr. Gordon (see preceding chapter), says the enemy sold the Negroes captured in Virginia into the West Indies.  After the capture of Stony Point by Gen. Wayne, concerning two Negroes who fell into his hands, he wrote to Lieut.-Col.  Meigs from New Windsor on the 25th of July, 1779, as follows:—­

“The wish of the officers to free the three Negroes after a few Years Service meets my most hearty approbation but as the Chance of War or other Incidents may prevent the officer [owner] from Compling with the Intention of the Officers it will be proper for the purchaser or purchasers to sign a Condition in the Orderly Book.

" ...  I wou’d cheerfully join them in their Immediate Manumission—­if a few days makes no material difference I could wish the sale put off until a Consultation may be had, & the opinion of the Officers taken on this Business."[593]

In June, 1779, a Spanish ship called “Victoria” sailed from Charleston, S.C., for Cadiz.  During the first part of her voyage she was run down by a British privateer; but, instead of being captured, she seized her assailant, and found on board thirty-four Negroes, whom the English vessel had taken from plantations in South Carolina.  The Spaniards got the Negroes on board their ship, disabled the English vessel, and then dismissed her.  Within a few days she was taken by two British letters-of-marque, and headed for New York.  During her passage thither she was re-captured by the “Hazard” and “Tyrannicide,” armed vessels in the service of Massachusetts, and taken into the port of Boston.  By direction of the Board of War she was ordered into the charge of Capt.  Johnson, and was unloaded on the 21st of June.  The Board of War reported to the Legislature that there were thirty-four Negroes “taken on the high seas and brought into the state.”  On the 23d of June [1780] the Legislature ordered “that Gen. Lovell, Capt.  Adams, and Mr. Cranch, be a committee to consider what is proper to be done with a number of negroes brought into port in the prize ship called the[594] Lady Gage."[595] On the 24th of June, “the committee appointed to take into consideration the state and circumstances of a number of negroes lately brought into the port of Boston, reported a resolve directing the Board of War to inform our delegates in Congress of the state of facts relative to them, to put them into the barracks on Castle Island, and cause them to be supplied and employed."[596] The resolve passed without opposition.

     “CLXXX. Resolve on the Representation of the Board of War
     respecting a number of negroes captured and brought into
     this State.  Passed June 24, 1779.

     “On the representation made to this Court by the Board of
     War respecting a number of negroes brought into the Port of
     Boston, on board the Prize Ship Victoria: