State of Rhode Island &c.
Gent.

In answer to yours of the 28^h. Nov^r. last must inform you, that We have settled an exchange of the Prisoners captured in the Syren, with Sir Peter Parker, upon the following Conditions—That all the Prisoners with him belonging to this State should be released, and after that is effected, to exchange the Remainder, for Prisoners belonging to any of the United States, who were taken in Armed Vessels—in consequence of which We have sent to Sir Peter Parker 70 of the People belonging to the Syren, in return we had 29 Men sent belonging to the Warren Privateer Silas Howel Commander including the Officers¹—Eight Persons belonging to the Buckram Privateer²—Five Persons belonging to the Tartar Privateer³ (which were taken in a Prize⁴)—One belonging to the Belona,⁵ & one to the Freedom Privateer⁶ all belonging to your State—And eleven Persons taken in Trading Vessels—so that we have not released at present any of the People belonging to this State, who have been taken in Armed Vessels, they being at Halifax and New York.—Sir Peter Parker hath informed us that he hath wrote to those places for the Prisoners belonging to this State, of whom we sent him a List; and that they should be released.—

As our Ports are so intirely blocked up, that we have no opportunity to bring in any Prisoners it must be left intirely to the event of chances, our ever getting any to release those belonging to this State.—Therefore we must before we can give you any encouragement to have any of the Syren's People have those belonging to this State released, and after that is done We are very willing that the remainder should be disposed of for Releasing any of our Brethren who are in Captivity.—I am [&c.]