Most Honored Sir!

I have Learn’t with great pleasure that your Excellency injoy’s a good health, for I am inquiring about it, from all the travellers who are coming from America. I am now forwarding to Congress an Act passed in to our King’s Council for Sundry favors granted to the American Trade. Mr. Jefferson apply’d to me for advice Relating to that matter long while before that Act took’d place, but I was sorry to find that only a small part of the favors I had required was granted. It is a very great pity that the french Ministers are not thoroughly acquainted with all particulars concerning trade, and Know very little about the duties perceived in our Custom houses, which Case increaseth the troubles of a foreign Ambassador. I am in good hopes that as soon as your Country will be intirely Settled in the Regulation of its administration your Excellency will not forget, that when peace was made, a very Considerable number of American prisonners came from England to this port, that they were in the greatest destress, that they had neither Shoes, nor Stockings nay even great many had no breeches, that we had at that time a very Severe cold weather, that these poor Souls having no money could not have provided them selves neither with those articles, nay even with vittles. Hunger is a necessity which forces some time the most virtuous people to forget their duty, and in consequence will force a man to Extremes. I have experienced it during almost a fornight, that we had such great many American prisonners landed here coming from the English Prisons there unhappy man who had Sacrificed their liberty in working and fighting for their Country expected to find relief when they came back in a Country which they knew to have fought for their Cause when I shew’d to these unhappy fellows the Orders I had from Mr. Barclay to not let them have a farthing, because Congress had not provided for them I heard at once 4 and 500 Tongues threating me to pull down my house, I was obliged to assist every one of them in proportion of their distress, to give 6 Lvers to Some 9 Lvers to others and 12 Lvers to them who had neither Shoes, nor Shirts, nor Stockings, and had only a very poor pair of trowses. I mentionned it when I had the honor to injoy your Excellency at my house your Excellency was so obliging as to promise me to mentionn it to Congress in order that I should be if not reimbursed intirely, at least rewarded, Since that time I have performed the duty of the Agency for the United States of America, and I am happy enough to Say, that I have done it to the great Satisfaction both of the American masters and of the Sailors. I have procured them Redress, Justice and I can with pleasure say, that untill this day, not one single american master, nor one single American Sailor hath complained, that I have not done Justice where I have seen masters refusing to acknowledge my authority, and in consequence to comply with my advices. I have advanced money to the Sailors when the master (very often Scotch) wanted to impose upon them, to procure redress to these poor people.

Mr. Thomas Jefferson hath been informed with all my proceedins which have met with his approbation. An American Ship call’d Polly and Sally Capn. Thomas was under the Risks of being Seized three weeks ago for having taken a freight of Senegal for this place, altho the Master had got the permission from the Senegal Governor to undertake that Voyage. I applyd to Mr. Jefferson and claimed his protection in the behalf of that Captn, he found that the master having trangressed the law, it would not be possible considering his appointment for him to take the defense of that master. I have done it my self, and succeeded not only to get for the master leave to unload here, but procured him justice for his freight and due demeuraise. I should have never repeated these Circumstances, had I not observed that Congress having lately take in Consideration the Services of one Mr. Doorman, hath rewarded him for the Same. I must own that I never expected to be reimbursed for the money I had idstributed amonst the american prisonners, because I was not intitled to do it, on the Contrary Mr. Barclay had informed me that no funds were appointed by Congress for that purpose. I must own likewise that if I had not Seen these poor people so angry and in such passion formented by their extreme distress I should not have given them that assistance.

I shall not inlarge my self any further on that Subject. I shall be perfectly Satisfyd with what Congress will do in my behalf I   thank god a fortune which is not much lessenned by the above expences. If Congress will defray nothing about it, I must beg that I should be legally apointed agent, with power in the behalf of my Son Edward Limozin to act as such in my absence. I hope your Excellency will not refuse to make in my name the above petition to Congress to honor it with you recommendation. I have the honor to be with the higest Regard Your Excellency’s most obedient and very humble Servant