AFPENDl-X. 



copv of a letter from captain porter to the 

 secretary of the navy, 



Sir, 



I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of 

 your letter of the 1 3th instant. 



You have no doubt before this received the passport 

 given by Captain Hillyar, as well as further particulars 

 from Captain Downes, in relation to the conduct of the 

 captain of the Saturn, Captain Downes and the rest of 

 the officers are fully of opinion that my escape alone was 

 the cause of the liberation of the Essex Junior, I was a 

 prisoner on parole, the conditions on which that parole 

 was accepted were not respected ; I was consequently no 

 longer bound ; I had the right of absolving myself from 

 parole ; I did so, and tendered myself a prisoner, offering 

 to return my sword — the acceptance of which was refused. 

 I could obtain no satisfactory information as to their inten- 

 tions, and made my escape. Under such circumstances, I 

 hope my country will never subject me to the humiliation 

 of an exchange. It would be the cause of more triumph to 

 the British naval officers than even the capture of the 

 Essex. I am willing to take upon myself the risk of all 

 consequences which may result from my being again taken 

 prisoner. 



I have the honour to be, &;c, 

 (Signed) D. Porter* 



To the honouralU Secretary of the JVavy. 



Office of Commissary General of Prisoners, August 10, 1814. 



Sir, 



I BEG leave to transmit you, herewith, copies of 

 three letters, of the 3d, 4th, and 9th instant, which have 

 passed between Col. Thomas Barclay, the British Agent 

 for prisoners of war, and myself, in relation to an exchange, 

 proposed by me, of Captain Porter and the officers and 

 crew of the United States' late frigate Essex. 



You will remark. Sir, that the British Agent, although 

 he considers, under the practice of his government, that 

 their paroles "are null, and the officers and men at liberty 

 to serve in like manner as if they had not been made pri* 

 soners," declines to exchange them against British officers 

 and erews similarly situated : for these and other reasons. 



