Navy Board [Charleston] 30th July 1778—
Sir.
The Commissioners of the Navy think it their duty to inform your Excellency, That Mr. Farrow who went out Pilot of the Brigg Comet and escaped from New York, has informed them that Captn. Pines and his Lieuts are still confined there as prisoners,1 and they apprehend that the Lieut of the Brigg Defence2 are also still Confined; The Commissioners mention this before the Cartel proceeds to St. Augustine imagining that Captns. Bachop & Osborn with their Lieuts. may (if sent to New York) be Exchanged for the above Mentioned Officers—And as a Speedy Release of the State officers would be an Encouragement to Enter into the Service they recommend the Consideration thereof to Your Excellency3
By Order of the Board
Edwd Blake first Commissr
South Carolina Commissioners, p. 171.
1. South Carolina brigantine Comet, Capt. James Pyne, commanding, was captured by H.M. frigate Daphne on 22 Dec. 1777. See Journal of H.M.S. Daphne, 22 Dec. 1777, NDAR 10: 786.
2. South Carolina brigantine Defence was captured by H.M. frigate Roebuck on 2 Apr. 1777. It appears that the commander of Defence, Capt. Thomas Pickering, had already been exchanged or paroled, although he complained of "harsh treatment" while a prisoner. See Elphinstone to Lowndes, 24 August 1778, Keith Papers, 1: 129.
3. Lowndes did as the Board suggested and wrote Gov. Patrick Tonyn of East Florida proposing to exchange East Florida privateer captains Peter Bachop and George Osborne for James Pyne and his officers. The offer was rejected, however. The British naval commander at East Florida, Capt. George Keith Elphinstone, wrote Lowndes on 24 August: "With respect to Bechop and Osbourne now in confinement, I can assure you they have no connection with the King's Service, nor are they to be looked on in any other light than Masters of Vessels bearing letters of marque, consequently they may be exchanged for men of like rank and no other.” Ibid. Even before Elphinstone's letter could have arrived, the Navy Board renewed its appeal for the exchange of Capt. James Pyne in a letter to Lowndes of 27 August, South Carolina Commissioners, p. 176.
