Sir

Having received information that a demand has been made by a Flag from Rhode Island that a Number of Prisoners Equal to the Number that lately arrived at Marblehead in the Ship Royal Bounty bound from Hallifax to New Port after taking the Ship out of the Hands of the British Captain.¹

The Council of this State have thought Proper to send you Copy of a Letter from S^r George Collier to Commissary Pierpoint² whereby it clearly appears that the said Ship was bound from Hallifax to New Port and Consequently notwithstanding S^r George calls her a Cartel she Could by no means be Considered as Such—And therefore there Can be no propriety in their Demand of a Number of Prisoners in Exchange for those who happily liberated themselves in passing from One Port of the Enemy's to another—

In the Name and in behalf of the Council I am Sir, [&c.]