The distressed Situation I now find myself in, makes me bold to claim some Protection from your Excellency, as an American Subject born at Marque's hook & living in Philadelphia, my Case being as follows. I sailed from Cape Français, about 5 Months ago in a Schooner called the Three Brothers, under Command of Captain Harris, & belonging to William Morris with Sugar, Molasses & Rum bound to Philadelphia & afterwards taken off Cape Loopen [Henlopen] by The Mashton English Man or Warr & 36 Guns Frigate Capt. Parker Commander & conducted to Portsmouth in England, & happened to be forcibly Kept on Board the said Fregate on Duty of a Sailor 'till about a Fort Night before I came on Board the Brigg The Cornwallis Capt. Crawford Comdr. mounting 16 Guns & mann'd with 19 hands, having luckily made my Escape at Spithead, where the Fregate was then a lying, in a Boat belonging to the Said Fregate with three other Americans along with me & went on Shore to Portsmouth's Point where I found a Chance of going home to my native Country & of Course shipped myself on Board this Brigg (The Cornwallis) laden with Beef, Bred, Candle Soap Linen &a & some Soldier Cloathes for the Scotch HighLanders when on our Passage from Portsmouth to Newfound Land we were boarded off Mount's Bay by a Luggar of 11 Guns, called The Fox, Dunkirk Privateer under Command of one Chitty Mastr on the 29th of last Month. The Captain of said Privateer told me I could list in his Luggar if I had a Mind, which I heartily accepted of directly, & desired me to go on Board the Prize to work her, which I did. The said Brigg Corwallis was brought Safe into Havre-de-Grace last Night about 11 o'Clock. Now as this next Morning I have been put in Jail by the Order of Mr. Mistral the Chief Commissary there who told me to apply to your Excellency in Order to be releas'd, which I do & hope you'll take pity upon me & send immediate Orders for my Re-leasement, begging you humbly to consider that all this Trouble has not happened to me thro' my own Default, but that I was & now am & shall ever be desirous to serve either France or my Native Country to the utmost of my Power. I was the only man left aboard the said Prize The Cornwallis, the Capt. of the Lug-gar having told me that he should go to Cherbourg, but the Prize was conducted into Havre. And as all this is the only Particulars I can furnish you with, both about Myself & the Prize & to the best of my Knowledge, I humbly wait untill you be pleas'd to release me out & to look upon me as a loyal American Subject, & remain in the meantime Your Excellency's, the most Humble & Obedient Servant & loyal Subject.