May it please your Excellency

The multiplicity of business you must be Engaged in. The flattering assurance of our being Exchang’d in a short time. And my not being in imediete want. was the motive of my not troubling you before. also supplosing M^r: Thorton to have Inform’d you of the Station of every person here—¹ Permit me now to Inform your Excellency that I had the Command of (a Cruizer) the Brigantine Moschetto. bellonging to the State of Virginia & was taken by the King ship Ariadne Cap^t. Pringle.² on the 4^th. June 1777. & brought here from Antigua in the Hind³ Aug^t. last I have understood that an Exchange is now on foot for 200 of us Your Excellency knows if there is truth in this report. & would beg leave to Remind you that if such an Exchange should take place you would please to think on me. & three of my Officers. Viz^t. Cap^t. of Marines, Midshipman. & Boatswain.⁴ which are all the Men I have here. I am in doubt. that there are not Officers sufficient in France to Exchange for the number we have here. however I hope your Wisdom may cause that difficulty to be surmounted I hope you would please to comunciate your sentiments to me through the same Channel you receve this. which will be conveyd to the Rev^d. M^r: Wren & that good man will take a pleasure in Informing me of it—When M^r: Thornton was here he was so harrased by the People. that I had no oppertunity of knowing if there was a possibility of Drawing on the State of Virginia Thorough you Excellencys meen’s. for some small matter to purchase Necessaries shoul I be so fortunate to be among the number of those that that was Exchanged. or to supply me while here. should it not be my fortune

Your Excllency Charracter is such that I need not Apologize for this trouble I have given you & Believe me that I am among many thousands one who thinks it the greatest Honour to Subscribe him Self Your Excellencys [&c.]

The Rev^d. M^r. Wren desires his most respectfull Compliments to your Excll.