In December last, pursuant to Instructions rec’d from, and at the particular instance of, Dr. Franklin, I presented, to the late Lords of the Admiralty, a Memorial, relative to the American Prisoners, now in confinement in Great Brittain and Ireland, which, contained, Propositions for an Exchange, to which Memorial their Lordships did not judge proper, to make any reply.

Since that period there has been a happy Change; The Legislature have passed an Act, for the removal of certain Difficulties, which obstructed the exchange of American Prisoners, thereby expressing, as I humbly conceive, their Sense of the Expediency and Propriety of the Measure.

I take the Liberty therefore of renewing to your Lordships, those Propositions, which I submitted so ineffectually to the consideration of the late Board, and am persuaded your Lordships will think them of such magnitude as to demand your Lordships earliest Consideration.

My Lords the first Proposition is, that if your Lordships, will cause all the American Prisoners, in Great Brittain and Ireland to be sent over to France, Dr. Franklin will give an acknowledgment of receiving them and will engage that an equal Number of English Prisoners shall be delivered for them in America Soldiers or Sailors or both.

Or 2dly that the Prisoners now here shou’d be sent to America in English Ships, and be exchanged there, under the directions of his Majestys Admirals or Generals, commanding on that Station.

My Lords, it has been suggested to me that Your Lordships acting in the Marine department, cannot with Propriety interfere with the Military one and exchange Sailors for Soldiers.

My Lords I humbly submit to your Lordships, that my Propositions go to the exchange of Men without entering into their Professional character, they are Propositions founded upon the Principles of Humanity, they go to the relief of Englishmen, Languishing in Confinement, and equally to the relief of Americans, who have sufferred a much longer Duration of it, and I am fully persuaded Your Lordships will clearly see that official Forms, ought not to obstruct or impede an Object of such great national and Political Consideration. I am &c