Address:
M^rs Flinders
Partney
near Spilsby
Lincolnshire

            Soho Square
              April 29 1805

Madam

        I wish it was in my power to give
you more satisfactory accounts of the Situation of my
worthy friend Capt Flinders but such as I have Madam
you may be aƒsurd [sic] I shall always be happy to
Communicate
        as the Government of England & France
owing to the extreme ill temper & savage disposition
of the Latter, have not since the Last war broke out
held any kind of communication with Each other, it
was impossible for our Government to Complain
with any effect of their Abominable Breech of the Law of
Nations in confining Capt Flinders
        under the Circumstances, I applied
for Permiƒsion to write to my Literary friends in his
favor which as I had already procurd [sic] the Enlargement
of 4 or 5 English prisoners by these means our Government

readily consented to
        Early in the month of august this Letter
was Sent, it Enterd [sic] fully into Capt Flinders case and
no argument I could make use of to induce the
Tyranical [sic] government of France to consent to his
Liberation was omitted
          this Letter was intrusted with
others to the care of a Prince Pignatelli a Spaniard of
high Rank who undertook to deliver them at Paris
without delay indeed this was the only mode of
Conveyance that was at the time to be obtaind [sic]
        it was not until the 18 of April
an answer to this Letter was Receivd [sic] the Prince as
it appeard [sic] Left his baggage & the Letters he was
intrusted with at Rotterdam in Holland & Livery
accidents prevented their arrival at Paris till the
month of February
        So long a delay made me almost
inclind [sic] to give up all hopes of any effect from my
Letter & I felt much anxiety on account of my
unfortunate friend whose destiny I concluded was

decided by the Abominable Bonaparte & who of
Course I could not expect to be Liberated unless at
some distant period peace and aƒsurd [sic] understanding
might again take place between the two Countrys
        I was however much Satisfied in
Receiving ^learning by this Letter of the date of march 5^th that
the delay of the Princes Baggage was the real reason
why no answer had come to my hands &
that the National Institution of Paris had unanimously
recommended to the minister of marine to
promote Capt Flinders's liberation in Many &
Pointed terms.
        My hopes therefore are once more
alive on the subject & as I flatter myself {that}
all has been done that can be done I feel a
Satisfaction in hoping that it will not be Long
before Bonaparte's determination on the subject
is Sent to me & that it will be favorable in
which case Madam you may depend on an
Early Communication
        I beg madam that you will believe
        me your Obedient Hble Servant
            Js: Banks