William Bingham Esqr., the late Continental Agent for this Department, informed Your Excellency, the latter end of March last, that the Situation of the Public Affairs in this place required his speedy Departure for the Continent. At the Time of that Gentleman’s embarking for America there were several British prisoners under Confinement in this Place, who had been captured by American armed Vessels, and sent in here, to be exchanged for such of our own People as the Fortune of War might have thrown into the Hands of the Enemy, and might be under Confinement in any of the English Islands in these Seas. Mr. Bingham left the Exchange of these prisoners with His Excellency the Marquis de Bouillé, General and Commander in Chief of this Island; the Transaction of all other Public Matters he committed to our Care, until such Time as the pleasure of Congress was known.

We are now to inform Your Excellency, that Admiral Rodney has refused to settle a Cartel for the Exchange of prisoners, and that, in consequence thereof, the General lately sent to France, from this place, via St. Domingo, all the British Prisoners that were under Confinement in this place, as well such as were captured by American Vessels, as those that were taken by the Vessels of France, in order to be there exchanged. We herewith do ourselves the Honor of transmitting Your Excellency a List of those who were captured by the Subjects of the United States, that Your Excellency may the better be enabled to make a Demand of them, for the Purpose of applying them to the Relief and Exchange of an equal Number of our unfortunate Countrymen, that may be languishing in Confinement in Great Britain.

A Spanish Fleet of twelve Ships of the Line, three Frigates, a Sloop of War, and a Longer, with 130 Transports under their Convoy, having 12,000 Troops on board, arrived in these Seas the beginning of June; by the last Accounts they were at Guadeloupe in Company with twenty three Ships of the Line, under the Command of Monsieur de Guichen, (with 2000 Troops on board,) who has lately taken on board his Fleet a Supply of Provisions for six Months.

A fast sailing Brig arrived here the 29th Ultimo from Newbury, by whom we learn that Monsieur de Ternay had not arrived in America when he left the Continent, though he was daily expected.

As the West Indies are likely to become a busy Scene of Action, we will do ourselves the Honor of transmitting Your Excellency, as soon as possible, an Account of the progress and Events of any Expedition that may be set on foot in the Seas, and should be glad to receive Instructions through what Channel Your Excellency woud chuse we shall address any future Dispatches to You from this place, when no Opportunities immediately offer for any of the Ports of France.

We are very sorry to inform your Excellency that we have received repeated Accounts from St. Eustatius that Charlestown has unfortunately fallen into the Hands of the Enemy. It is said to have capitulated for want of a sufficient Supply of Provisions. No Authentic Accounts of this unfortunate Affair have, as yet, come to our Hands, though we have great Reason to believe it to be too true.

We have the Honor to be, with the greatest Respect, Your Excellency’s very obedient humble Servants,