New London July 23 1778
Sir
... I acquainted your Excellency that the Flag for New York & Newport had both Saild. The one from Newport returned yesterday & notwithstanding the Conductor had positive orders to bring the prisoners back unless they delivered him the persons sent for, they sent up in return one Virginia Capt & a number of French men—declaring they had positive orders from Lord How not to Exchange any prisoners blonging to the New England States, aledging as a reason that some time since a number of American Prisoners made their Escape from a Flag into Salam or Marblehead & that they expect we account for them.1
We are informed by this Flag that ye Enemy are Fortifying Cannicut that ye Fleet yt arrived there a few Days since from N York Landed about 3000 men & returned yesterday for New York empty 22 in Number.2 I am with the greatest esteem [&c.]
Thos Shaw
L, Ct, Jonathan Trumbull Papers, vol. 8, pp. 166a-b. Addressed after close: “To His Excellency Govr Trumbull."
1. On the seizure by American prisoners of war of the British cartel ship Royal Bounty, see Master's Journal of H.M. brig Cabot, 12–13 Jan. 1778 and 14 Jan. 1778, NDAR 11: 99 and 115–16; and The Continental Journal, and Weekly Advertiser (Boston), 29 Jan, 1778, NDAR 11: 229. For discussions of the controversy, see Capt. Walter Griffith to Secretary of the Admiralty Philip Stephens, 12 Apr. 1778, NDAR 12: 95 and Vice Admiral Viscount Howe to Stephens, 9 May 1778, NDAR 12: 303–7. The prisoners brought their “prize” into Marblehead, Massachusetts.
2. On 9 July, Sir Henry Clinton sent 1,850 troops and enough provisions to endure a siege to Newport. Gen. Robert Pigot did establish batteries on Conanciut Island, but he was not prepared to defend them and ordered that they be abandoned as soon as the French fleet passed them. McBurney, R.I. Campaign, pp. 76–77 and 82–83.
