I Peter Boillat, Represents to your excellency the Circumstances in which I find myself with four Other Americans. I was Captured and have served with honour during the War, in the Service of Congress where I have been Severely Wounded. I have Served ever with Zeal my Country, And took the Command of the privateer Called the Lawrens of Twelve Guns, I was taken by a King’s Sloop of War Called the Germaine, on Our Coast of America, and was plundered intirely, plundered of all my Effects and put in prison on board the Old Jersey, from whence I made my escape on board a french Transport which brought me to St Malos about Three Months and a half ago, without money or Cloathing, here I found a poor Irish man married in the Country who Gave me Boarding and lodging. To this day, without finding a passage to return home, with four American Seamen which are here in the same Situation with me, One of which was Severely Wounded by a musket Ball in his Right Legg. I hope that your Excellency would be so kind as Allow us Forty Guineas to pay our Debts and for Cloathing.

We pray your Excellency also, would send us an Order to be received on board the Ship Pacifique, which is bound to Boston, to put in at Cades. [Cadis?.] We will ever Owe to Your Excellency the most Sensible Acknowledgements, for having deliver’d us from the Distress which the fortune of War has brough us to