The Chevalier del Pinto being at
London, I presume he has, or can inform you why it is delayed on their
part. I will thank you also for the information he shall give you.
There is here an order of priests called the Mathurins, the object
of whose institution is, the begging of alms for the redemption of
captives. About eighteen months ago, they redeemed three hundred,
which cost them about fifteen hundred livres a piece. They have agents
residing in the Barbary States, who are constantly employed in searching
and contracting for the captives of their nation, and they redeem at
a lower price than any other people can. It occurred to me, that
their agency might be engaged for our prisoners at Algiers. I have had
interviews with them, and the last night a long one with the General
of the order. They offer their services with all the benignity and
cordiality possible. The General told me, he could not expect to redeem
our prisoners as cheap as their own, but that he would use all the means
in his power to do it on the best terms possible, which will be the
better, as there shall be the less suspicion that he acts for our
public.
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