new; they shall then be transported with free
permits, and under seal, to secure them from new examinations on the
route, until they leave the kingdom. I think you will agree, that it
would not be possible to grant them more favorable terms. I beg you to
request the Commissioners to make known to us those Americans, for
whom this favor is requested, that I may give the necessary orders,
and prevent all abuses in this respect.

I have the honor to be, &c.

NECKER.

* * * * *

TO THE AMERICAN PRISONERS IN PLYMOUTH, OR ELSEWHERE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Passy, September 20th, 1778.

Gentlemen,

Although we have not written to you directly for some time, you may be
assured we have not been unmindful of your interests, your comfort, or
your liberty. We have been engaged a long time in negotiating a cartel
of exchange. This work we found attended with many difficulties, but
at last have obtained assurances from England, that an exchange shall
take place. We have also obtained from the government of this
kingdom, a passport for a vessel to come from England to Nantes, or
L'Orient, with American prisoners, there to take in British prisoners
in exchange. We now sincerely hope that you will obtain your liberty.
We cannot certainly say, however, that all will be immediately
exchanged, because we fear we have not an equal number to be sent to
England. Those that remain, if any, will be those who have been the
latest in captivity, and consequently have suffered the least.

While the British government refused to make any agreement of
exchange, the Commissioners here never discouraged their countrymen
from escaping from the prisons in England, but on the contrary have
lent several sums of money, sufficient with great economy to bear
their expenses to some seaport, to such as have made their way hither.
But, if the British government should honorably keep their agreement
to make a regular exchange, we shall not think it consistent with the
honor of the United States to encourage such escapes, or to give any
assistance to such as shall escape. Such escapes, hereafter would have
a tendency to excite the British administration to depart from the
cartel, to treat the prisoners remaining with more rigor, and to
punish those that escape, if retaken, with more severity.

On the other hand, we have now