The Memorial of Thomas Hutchins, a native of the state of New Jersey in america, and late a Captain and Engineer in the British King’s Service.

Humbly [Shuvith?]

That your Excellency’s Memorialist was in the Month of august last taken into Custody by U... of a Warrant from Sir John Fielding of the City of London, in which your memorialist was charged with High Treason for having conveyed Infomation and corresponded with the Friends of the United States of america in France. That your Memorialist was Committed to and kept in Clerkenwell Prison upwards of seven weeks; loaded with..., put among Felons and treated with every kind of severity and Insult and forbidden to see or write to his Friends; That after several long Examinations at the Board of Trade The British minister thought proper to discharge Him from Prison, and being reduced to great Distress by his Pay both as Captain and Engineer being stopped, and being also refused payment of an account which the British Government owed Him (to the amount of 869:19:0 sterling.) He was obliged to take Lodgings in a Garret within the Verge of the Courts. Your memorialist was offered two Thousand Guineas for his Captains Commission. But although He had frequently petitioned to sell it from the Beginning of the War between the United States and Great Britain He was as often refused and about three weeks before He was committed to Prison, He was offered a Majority in one of the new Regiments then raising, which He would not accept, as he would not bear arms against his Countrymen. Therefore on the 11th of this month (February) finding himself treated with Contempt by the British officers and despairing of obtaining Liberty to sell his Commissions, He sent his Resignation to Lord Amhurst both as Captain and Engineer, and in a Private Manner with drew from Great Britian & came to France [?], destitute of Money, chusing rather to abandon his Commissions (the whole of his Fortune) and in cur a Loss of 2969:19:0 sterling (exclusive of his appointment at England and 10,000 acres of Land worth 20,000 Dollars) than continue in a service altogether irksome and painful to Him. Your memorialist begs leave further to [?] That He has viewed with Reputation as a British officer more than Twenty Two years (Eighteen whereof, He was constantly employed as an Engineer). And That He is most anxiously solicitous of entering into the army of the United States, For these Considerations, your memorialist humbly hopes That your Excellency will be pleased to commend his Request Sufferings and Loss to the Honorable Congress of the United States and your memorialist as in Duty bound shall ever pray &c.