I conclude from your note of the 5th instant, that the Commissioners of the North American Congress have informed you, that there are many Americans in England, and other parts of Europe, who, desirous of returning to their country, have requested permission to transport their effects through France, without being subjected to the payment of duties.
Such an exemption would be contrary to all rule, and could only be granted by means of passports, which would indemnify the public chest; you will doubtless see that such is not the case here.
This favor, however, can be shown them. The transit regularly gives occasion for a duty on the importation, and a second on the exportation; only one of these shall be imposed; it shall be paid at the office of entry; the effects shall be estimated at a very moderate rate if they are not new; they shall then be transported with free permits, and under seal, to secure them from new examinations on the route, until they leave the kingdom. I think you will agree, that it would not be possible to grant them more favorable terms. I beg you to request the Commissioners to make known to us those Americans, for whom this favor is requested, that I may give the necessary orders, and prevent all abuses in this respect.
I have the honor to be, &c.
NECKER.
TO THE AMERICAN PRISONERS IN PLYMOUTH, OR ELSEWHERE IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Passy, September 20th, 1778.
Gentlemen,
Although we have not written to you directly for some time, you may be assured we have not been unmindful of your interests, your comfort, or your liberty. We have been engaged a long time in negotiating a cartel of exchange. This work we found attended with many difficulties, but at last have obtained assurances from England, that an exchange shall take place. We have also obtained from the government of this kingdom, a passport for a vessel to come from England to Nantes, or L'Orient, with American prisoners, there to take in British prisoners in exchange. We now sincerely hope that you will obtain your liberty. We cannot certainly say, however, that all will be immediately exchanged, because we fear we have not an equal number to be sent to England. Those that remain, if any, will be those who have been the latest in captivity, and consequently have suffered the least.
While the British government refused to make any agreement of exchange, the Commissioners here never discouraged their countrymen from escaping from the prisons in England, but on the contrary have lent several sums of money, sufficient with great economy to bear their expenses to some seaport, to such as have made their way hither. But, if the British government should honorably keep their agreement to make a regular exchange, we shall not think it consistent with the honor of the United States to encourage such escapes, or to give any assistance to such as shall escape. Such escapes, hereafter would have a tendency to excite the British administration to depart from the cartel, to treat the prisoners remaining with more rigor, and to punish those that escape, if retaken, with more severity.