[dateline] Morlox Feby: 15th 1782
[salute] Sir
From a personal Knoledge of your Excellency’s Sencere Attachment to the true intrest
of your Country and those individuals who have Distinguish’d themselves theirin, leades
me to address you at this time, I was Capturd in May last, and haveing ben Honnourd
with the Command of the State Ship protector, was Transported from New York to these
Disagreable Mansons, and Commited to Mill prison 22d July last where I found Numbers
of my Country men and Towns Men in distress, but finding, the Brittish Ministry inclin’d
to Exchange us provided Notice Sufficant was taken, I im•
{ 238 } mideatly maid application to Mr John Joy
1 late Inhabitant of the Town of Boston, who, Interpos’d in my behalf and has finally
Effectd. my Immideate Exchange.
Inclos’d is a Letter from a Gentn: who I have Just left in Captivity, in Mill prison
at plymouth in England from which place I am Exchang’d together with several others,
to wit Capt John Manly and a Capt Talbot and several others the Former of which is
Exchang’d against an English Major, the Latter against an Officer of equel rank detained
for him in America, I am happy to Inform you that the Independance of our Country
is now so far allowed off in Britain that thay hold Rank of Officers in the Estermation,
tis in consequence of this that the Writer of the Enclosed, Capt N. Nazro
2 has addressed you on his behalf, and you will please permit me to Recommend him to
your perticular pateronage and protection, as a Gentleman of merit and distinction,
whose Services, entitle him to the notice and favor of his Country, he was late in
the Capacity of a Capt of Merines in a privat Arm’d Vessell of War of 20 Guns Belonging
to Boston, and is I believe the only Officer of the like rank in that line in the
same prison where he is confined, I am fully of opinion, that was their aney British
Officer in any Respect upon an equality with particularly a Captive to the American
flag and Confined for him either in Europe or America, that the same would immediately
effect his liberation, and in this manner also may many others Officers now in confinement
in the same prison be liberated, haveing done that Justice which is due to the Merits
of this my Fr[iend as] well as several others American Captains. I beg leave to subscribe
myself what I really wish to be Your Most humble and Most devoted obedient Servant
[signed] John Foster Williams
3