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His Excellency

    Joseph Reed Esquire
    President of the State of
         Pennsylvania

From Paul Zantzinger read in Council July 19. 1781.

                                              Lancaster July 14.th 1781

Sir

                      I have the Honor of Inclosing to your Excellency a Petition of the Corparation of the Borough of Lancaster. At the request of the Inhabitants, who are very desirous of having the Convention Troops removed, your Excellency will at the same time receive Doctor Hustons Certificate shewing the necessity of the Removal of those Troops. I hope the Hon.ble Council will take into their serious Consideration. & if possible remove them from this place. I have the Honor to be

Your Excellencys most Ob.d & H.ble Serv.t Paul Zantzinger

[to] His Excellency Joseph Reed Esq.

Lancaster July 14.th 1781 Sir, My Opinion being desired concerning the state of the Fever of the Prisoners in the Barracks in this Borough I think my Duty to assure you that the Jail Fever attended with the most malignant Symptomsprevails very generally among them—that it will be extremely difficult to eradicate it from those already there without some additional Quarters or Buildings, morally impossible if those of the Convention be added—& that the Inhabitants of the Borough especially those any way connected in the Care of them, are in the most imminent Danger of contracting the Contagion

I am Sir Your most Obedient Servant J Houston

[to] Paul Zantzinger Esquire

Petition of Lancaster [Boro] 1781 July 15th

To his Excellency the Presidency and the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: The Petition and Memorial of the Corporation of the Burghers and Inhabitants of the Borough of Lancaster, Most Humbly sheweth, That they conceive themselves under the indispensable necessity of addressing your Honorable Board, respecting your late Resolution, that all the Prisoners of War now in this Borough should be accomodated within the Piquets & beg Leave to suggest the following Facts which may not be deemed altogether unworthy of their Notice. The Barracks at this Post have been generally considered sufficiently roomy to contain nine hundred or at the most one thousand healthy Men but not a greater Number without the greatest Inconvenience. The Prisoners of War & the Convention Troops amongst us at present are computed to be fourteen hundred exclusive of Women & Children (supposed to be near six hundred more

more) amongst whom a most contagious Disorder has raged for some Time, which notwithstanding the greatest Care, has proved fatal to very many of them.

The Barracks here have been considered as a Kind of temporary Stage for Prisoners passing & reposing & have been occupied as such for some Time.

The Country adjacent has been exceedingly drained of Provisions for some Years past, owing to the great Number of Soldiers and Prisoners, as well as others, who have lived in this Borough. Of the Want of Flour we complain not, but we find Beef & Pork very scarce Articles.

The Insecurity of the Town from such a Body of Prisoners being stationed in one Place is too obvious to need and Comments: We are sensible there are too many disaffected Persons in the Vicinity of this Borough who would count it meritorious to be instrumental in their Escape.

There Corporation take the Liberty of stating the above Facts to the Council. To deduce Arguments from them would be superfluous. They wish not to be thought desirous off assuming indue Liberties or to be disposed to

censure any public Measures. The Health of the Inhabitants and Security of the Town as well as the Rights of Humanity towards our Enemies are the sole Inducements to this Address. It will be our Pride to co-operate in every public Measure calculated for the Common Safety. If the Matters suggested have any Weight we doubt not they will be duly attended to by his Excellency the President and the Supreme Executive Council.

Lancaster Borough July 15th 1781.

Paul Zantzinger. Ch. Burgess, [G.] Ross

John Hopson George Musser Ludwig [La____] Michel Diefendoerfer [signed in German script] Matth.s Young Jacob Glatz