S^r.

I have to acknowledge the Rec^t. of your Letter of the 28^th. Ult^o. to Rob^t. Pierpont Esq^r. late Commissary of Prisoners for this departm^t:—And would Inform you, that the Ship called the Royall Bounty sent by S^r. George Colyer from Hallifax, for Newport with a Number of Prisoners belonging to this State, under the Guard of an Arm'd Vessell Called the Cabot Cap^t. Dod,¹ was brought into this Harbor; the Prisoners on board having Liberated themselves. And would observe Had these Prisoners been sent Imediately to Boston in the Royall Bounty as a Cartel, no attempt of that nature would have taken place, or been Justtified and notwithstanding you say "Newport was the place destined for their Exchange," yet when this State had sent a Cartel Imediately to Hallifax,² and was there ready to receive these very prisoners, that they should be sent under an Armed Force to another port, destroys the very Idea of a Flag & that regard which ought always to be paid to a Cartel—

I would therefore, as Commissary of Prisoners in this department, acquaint you that the said Ship Royall Bounty has been Tryed at a Maritime Court & Adjudged forfeited to the Captors & that this State does not look upon themselves answerable either for the Vessell or for those persons who Liberated themselves—

I am further to acquaint you, that Cap^t. Tho^s. Compton late Commander of the Royall Bounty, and Cap^t. John Steward with Francis Cooper his Mate shall be Imediately sent to Newport, the former for Cap^t. W^m. Boatman of Salem & the two Latter for Cap^t. Tho^s. Valentine & Rich^d Carlen his Mate, of Boston, now Prisoners at New York, if you will please to Signifie the same to me that the Excha^e shall take Place I am S^r.