From James Hutton
als: American Philosophical Society
April 14. 1779 late at night
Dear old Friend

I gave Mr Du Pont a Lr. for you today. This Evening I recd one from a Brother in London who writes thus. April 9

“Upon the Reciept of your Lr. that afternoon of the 4th Instant, I went immediately to Mr Bell (commissioner for Sick, wounded & Prisoners) & communicated to him what you wrote on the Subject of Capt Mugford & the other three Prisoners, he begged a Copy of that part of your Lr. which relates to this Business & then told me that they had recieved advice that Capt Mugfords Mate and two Sailors were set at Liberty & that thereupon they had set at Liberty a Captain & Mate that were Prisoners at Tenterden in Kent and two Sailors Prisoners at Deal, and that last Tuesday April. 6 or Wednesday April 7. Passports were dispatched to those French Prisoners. This was News of great Joy to me.”

So that on our side the Exchange of our 4 Prisoners is done. It remains only that Capt Mugford, the Mate & our two Sailors be actually set at Liberty, which it seems was not yet the Case April 7. when I think Capt. Mugford’s last Letter to me was dated which I sent to England for his wife, & our Brethrens Information. They are at Bourbourg, Dunkirk & Bergues under the Care of the Commissary of Marine at Dunkirk. I have wrote to Mr Bertin to desire him to get M de Sartine to send orders for their actual Release. The only thing I want now is such a kind Salvegarde from the French as you was so good as to give me. I wish you could get that Executed soon that I might be gone from hence. I was glad to let you know how things stand at present with regard to our Labradore affair; & to the matters I wrote to you about this morning, & am Dear Sir Yr most obliged

Hutton

Addressed: To / Doctor Franklin / Passy.
Notation: Hutton 14 Ap. 79
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