1297. CITIZENS, Relief of imprisoned.
—There are in the prison of St. Pol de Leon
six or seven citizens of the United States of
America, charged with having attempted a
contraband of tobacco, but, as they say themselves,
forced into that port by stress of
weather. I believe that they are innocent.
Their situation is described to me as deplorable
as should be that of men found guilty of
the worst of crimes. They are in close jail,
allowed three sous a day only, and unable to
speak a word of the language of the country.
I hope their distress, which it is my duty to
relieve, * * * will apologize for the liberty
I take of asking you to advise them what to
do for their defence, to engage some good
lawyer for them, and to pass them the pecuniary
reliefs necessary. I write to Mr. Lister
Asquith, the owner of the vessel, that he
may draw bills on me from time to time, for
a livre a day for every person of them, and
what may be necessary to engage a lawyer
for him.—
To M. Desbordes. Washington ed. i, 402.
(P.
1785)
