In Virtue of the Powers I am generally vested with by Congress, for the Exchange of Prisoners, and particularly for the Exchange of General Burgoyne, I do hereby authorize & appoint you to treat of those Exchanges, in Great Britain in my stead, according to the Instructions herewith given you. And I promise to ratify & execute as far as in me lies, what shall be by you stip-ulated, in pursuance of those Instructions. Given at Passy, this   Day of  178

You are on your Arrival in England, to wait on Edmd. Burke, Esq; (to whom I have sometime since written on the Subject of General Burgoyne's Exchange for the honble Mr. Laurens) and request to know whether he has done any thing in that Affair, what is its present Situation, and what Expectations there may be of its Success. If he is of Opinion that he can compleat it, and that your Appearance in it is not necessary you will follow his Advice. You will also take his Counsel, as to the Manner of your being announc'd to the Ministers, and of acquainting them with your Business & obtaining their Permission to reside in England till the Result of your Mission can be known.

You will also wait on Mr William Hodgson, Mercht in Coleman Street, Chairman of the Committee for the Relief of American Prisoners, to whom I sent some Weeks since a Proposition for the Exchange of all our People Prisoners, in England; viz. that on their Release I would give a Receipt, & engage that an equal Number of English should be discharg'd in America, &c. and request to know of him if that Proposal has been made by him to the Board of Sick & Hurt, or to the Admiralty, & what Answer, if any, has been received. If it is still under Consideration, you are to take his Advice as to your Proceedings in endeavouring to obtain a favourable Conclusion.

You are also to procure the best Acct you can of the present Situation of our People in the English Prisons. And if you find that they suffer for want of Necessaries, you will endeavour to obtain Leave for the Residence of a Commissary near each of those Prisons, for the purpose of taking proper Care of them.