[Forton Prison, Portsmouth, 1778]
March 14th this day Mr Hartly and Mr Thornton1 came to see us and told us that we should be exchanged very soon and that he would do all that lay in his power for us and addressed the Officers to write a petition to Lord North and another to Lord Sandwich which was accordingly done and sent them by Mr Hartly member of Parliament
D, DLC, Forton Prison, England, American Prisoner's Journal, 1777-79, collection 2272.
1. David Hartley and John Thornton. This was Thornton's second mission to England on behalf of the American prisoners. For his first mission, see John Thornton's Memorandum for the American Commissioners in France, [Between 5 and 8 Jan. 1778], above. It was apparently during this second sojourn that he was persuaded to spy for the British. Benjamin Franklin Papers 25: 26-28, 692.
