ormation I am possessed of relative to the
present situation of Henry Laurens, and the prospect of his
enlargement or exchange. It appears from the letter of a gentleman in
London, who had access to him under certain restrictions, that though
the rigor of his confinement was in some degree abated, he still
labored under several interdictions and restraints, as unprecedented
as illiberal, and that the British Court still affected to consider
him as amenable to their municipal laws, and maintained the idea of a
future trial.

After I had finished the general business with which Congress had
charged me, I consulted the several Ministers at the Court of France
upon the proper measures to be taken, when such a flagrant violation
of the laws of nations had been offered in the person of a public
Minister, and solicited their intervention and assistance. They all
declared, that however anxious they were to restore to his country a
citizen, so valuable by his services, they had not the least hope,
that any benefit would be derived from their interference, the British
Court being as little disposed to gratify the Court of France, as they
were to gratify the United States; and the unanimous opinion of these
gentlemen further was, that nothing would determine the British to
pursue a reasonable conduct in the present case, but the most exact
retaliation on the part of Congress. For this purpose they advised,
that one or more British prisoners of sufficient note and importance
to cause a sensation by their own complaints, or those of their
friends, to their Court, should be held as security for the safety of
Mr Laurens, and that their mode of confinement and treatment should
invariably follow the rule of the conduct of the British government
towards him.

In addition to the report, which I had the honor to make the 2d
instant, I take the present opportunity of enclosing to Congress the
duplicate account of the frigate Alliance's disbursements, by Messrs
Gourlade and Moylan of L'Orient. The misfortune of Mr Palfrey left us
without other resource, than an application to a mercantile house.
The persons above mentioned offered their services, and were
recommended. The sum total appeared both to the Minister
Plenipotentiary and myself very considerable for the short stay of the
vessel in port, and the charge of advanced officers' pay
unprecedented; but Captain Barry had signed the original account, and
M. Moylan's house had advanced th