Conscious of the American prisoners under my
direction, being in every respect taken as good care of as their
situation and ours will admit. You must not believe that Admiral Digby
will depart from the justice of this measure because you have it in
your power to make the British prisoners with you more miserable than
there is any necessity for. I am, Sir,
"yr hble servt
"David Sproat."
The prisoners on board the Jersey published in the _Royal
Gazette_ the following
ADDRESS TO THEIR COUNTRYMEN
"Prison Ship Jersey, June 11th 1782
"Friends and Fellow Citizens of America:
"You may bid a final adieu to all your friends and relatives who are
now on board the Jersey prison ships at New York, unless you rouse the
government to comply with the just and honorable proposals, which has
already been done on the part of Britons, but alas! it is with pain we
inform you, that our petition to his Excellency General Washington,
offering our services to the country during the present campaign, if
he would send soldiers in exchange for us, is frankly denied.
"What is to be done? Are we to lie here and share the fate of our
unhappy brothers who are dying daily? No, unless you relieve us
immediately, we shall be under the necessity of leaving our country,
in preservation of our lives.
"Signed in behalf of prisoners
"John Cooper
"John Sheffield
"William Chad
"Richard Eccleston
"George Wanton
"John Baas.
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