therefore presumed to apply to your Excellency for Permission to be exchanged for Some Citizen of this State now a Prisoner in Canada, and that I may be allowed to go under the Protection of the first public Flagg.--I will do myself the Honor to wait personally upon your Excellency at any Hour that may be convenient.--An Answer from your Excellency will much oblige *¢ Your most obedient '"& very humble servt '¢ Albany March 80th 1781 Joun Stuart."

The permission here prayed for was granted on the same day. The conditions on which it was obtained are explained by Mr Stuart in a letter to Mt White, dated, Schenectady, 17 April, 1781, of which the following is an extract :--

'' Being considered as a prisoner of war and having forfeited my real estate, I have given £400 security to return in exchange for myself one prisoner out of four nominated by the Governor, viz one Colonel, two Captains, and one Lieutenant, either of which will be accepted in my stead. Or if neither of the prisoners aforesaid can be obtained I am to return asa prisoner of war to Albany when required. My personal property Iam permitted to sell or carry with me aecording to my own convenience; and am to proceed under the protection of a public flag as soon as it will be safe and convenient for women and children to trayel that course. We are to proceed from hence to Fort Ann in waggons and from thence in Batteaus. Believe me, Dear Sir, I have had occasion to exert all my resolution before I gould venture on the difficulties that presented themselves as the probable concomitants of this journey ; But from a variety of circumstances, peculiar to my personal and local situation, I had no alternative; therefore, let the event be as it will, I shall not think myself accountable for consequences ; the more especially as Mrs.