Humanity and Generosity

On August 22, 1776, the Marine Committee of the Continental Congress wrote to Commodore Esek Hopkins, “You will instruct the Commander of each vessel to write us, by all opportunities, of their proceedings….  They will no doubt, from principles of humanity and generosity, treat their prisoners with all kindness and attention their respective situations and circumstances will admit of; and we hope their conduct will in all things be such as to merit the continuance of our confidence.”  

For more on the Marine Committee, and the earlier Naval Committee, recommending kindness to prisoners, please visit the post here.