[Extract]

. . . As you will have occasion to send in a flag to Gen Howe, we beg leave to suggest the propriety of writing to Lord Howe, respecting the Ill usage our prisoners meet with on board the Prison-Ships at New York, and particularly we could wish his Ld Ship to be informed that the officers and seamen taken on board British Merchant Ships have not been considered as prisoners of war in this place but have always been left at liberty to dispose of themselves as they thought proper without restraint and have very generally got passages to different parts of Europe. On the Contrary we find such of our people as are taken onboard Merchant vessels are either made to work on board the Men of War or delivered on board the prison ships under intollerable ill usage and no distinction between Masters, Mates, foremast men & negros which is surely an unnecessary Cruelty On Men who are taken from an innocent pursuit of a Mentainance in they line they have been bred to, we don't know how they treat their Captives out of Merchant Ships carried into the Eastern States but imagine the same conduct is observed as here, and unless Ld Howe will do the Same by ours, it is time to retaliate by forcing some to work on board our Ships of War and committing others to Goal or putting them on bd Prison Ships &c There are now two very honest Masters that Sail out of this Port detained onboard the Whitby Prison Ship. Captain Thomas Bell & Captain Jacob Gesthins [Getsheus]. If his Ld Ship will not release them on the principles proposed Mr Morris will engage to send two British Masters for them if Sent here on Parole and will be much obliged to your Excellency to propose it. Bell has been very usefull heretofore and Should not be left to Suffer, therefore we hope you will excuse us for troubling you with this matter, —