My Lord

Several Frenchmen taken in American Vessels, who are Prisoners on board His Majesty's Ships at Plymouth,¹ having been examined by the Civil Magistrates, & there not being found sufficient Evidence to ground the Committment of them to Prison, were remanded back to the said Ships; My Lords Commiss^rs: of the Admty acquainted Lord Weymouth, one of His Majesty's Secretaries of State therewith, and desired to receive the Kings directions concerning the said Prisoners; And his Lordships having in return signified his Majesty's pleasure that the said Frenchmen be set at Liberty after they shall have signed a Declaration that they will not bear Arms in the American Service, against His Maj^ts: Government, during the present Rebellion, And that it is His Majesty's further Pleasure that all Foreigners, in like situation, whenever the Civil Magistrates do not consider they have sufficient Grounds for legally committing them, be hereafter set at Liberty under the same Conditions, unless some particular Circumstances may render it adviseable to make further Enquiries about them; I am commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you, to give Orders in the Cases aforementioned, accordingly. I am &c^a: