[Extract]

(N^o. 9.)

Governor Hay.

Sir,

I have received and laid before The King your two Dispatches of the 19th July, & one of 17th numbered 19.¹

The Assembly having refused to make provision for defraying the expense of the Rebel Prisoners landed by Cap^t Pringle,² you have no other resource than that of drawing upon the Treasury for your reimbursement, & I doubt not their Lordships will give orders for the payment of your Bills, if they are accompanied with the proper vouchers.

It would certainly be very improper to set these Prisoners at large, or to put them on board Merchant Ships without any obligation from the Masters for their safe delivery But in order to relieve you from your present embarrassment on this account, as well as to ease the public of the extraordinary charges of keeping them confined in the Island of Barbados, I would recommend to you to put them on board any of His Majesty's Ships that may touch at Barbados, in such numbers as they can be received, in order to their being sent to England by the Admirals directions; and in case you cannot so dispose of the whole you might agree with the Masters of different Merchant Ships to take the remainder in small numbers, & to carry them home as Prisoners, their passage to be paid upon Certificates of their delivery on board any of His Majesty's Ships at Plymouth, Portsmouth, in the Downs, or at the Nore; and this method

I should advise you to pursue in all future Cases of the same nature.... I am &c.