1298. CITIZENS, Relief of imprisoned. [continued].
I take the liberty of troubling your excellency on behalf of six
citizens of the United States who have been
for some time confined in the prison of St. Pol
de Leon, and of referring for particulars to the
enclosed state of their case. * * * I have thus
long avoided troubling your Excellency with
this case, in hopes it would receive its decision
in the ordinary course of law, and I relied
that that would indemnify the sufferers, if
they had been used unjustly; but though
they have been in close confinement, now near
three months, it has yet no appearance of approaching
to decision. In the meantime, the
cold of the winter is coming on, and, to men
in their situation, may produce events which
would render all indemnification too late.
I must, therefore, pray the assistance of your
Excellency, for the liberation of their persons,
if the established order of things may possibly
admit of it.—
To Count de Vergennes. Washington ed. i, 479.
(P.
1785)
