Sir

Your Letter of the 31^st. December was brought me by the Cartel Vessel Favorite, with a Number of the Kings Subjects liberated from Boston & mentioned in Your List.

Lord Viscount Howe Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Fleet in America having been pleas'd to direct my sending a Number of the American Prisoners to Rhode Island to be exchanged from thence, I had just embark'd upwards of 260 on board the Cartel Royal Bounty¹ for that purpose, who waited only for a Wind to Sail when your Cartel arriv'd.—The Numbers so much exceeding what the Favorite cou'd carry, I saw no occasion to make alteration in the Arrangement, & She Sail'd the next Day for Rhode Island from whence the Exchange will be made under the immediate Direction of Lord Howe, to whom I have sent the List of the Officers & People liberated which arrived here, and for whom his Lordship or the Commanding Officer at Rhode Island will direct an equal Exchange to be made.—

I have signify'd to Quarter Master Ogilvy, and M^r. Burns Surgeons Mate that Officers of equal Rank will be releas'd for them.—

It rests alone with Lord Howe whether any prisoners shall be set at Liberty in Exchange for those you say were liberated with Capt^n. Jones,² Capt^n. Macdonald³ & M^r. Ross,⁴ as I have particular Directions from his Lordship on that Head.—

Daniel Heister⁵ is sent in the Royal Bounty Cartel to Rhode Island.—

I desir'd that the Rev^d. Mr. Eagleston⁶ might be exchang'd for M^r. Brooks Chaplain of the Hancock,⁷ instead of which another Clergyman is sent here. I shall however permit Mr. Brooks to be releas'd but I shall be glad M^r. Eagleston may be immediately set at Liberty.⁸

I was perswaded that the piratical Robberies of Crabtree⁹ (mention'd in my former Letter) and other little privateers, wou'd not be approv'd by those in Authority at Boston, and I am very glad to have this Opinion confirm'd in Your Letter. I am [&c.]

Cap^t. Fettyplace,¹⁰ M^r. Moss, & M^r. Cooper will proceed in this Cartel/