Prisoner exchange was the focus of correspondence between Hartley and Franklin during the summer of 1778, and a major goal of Franklin’s activity. He systematically collected names of British captives from American sea captains to meet the terms of the Admiralty, and negotiated with the French for an appropriate port and safe passage for the cartel ship. At the same time he tried to introduce a measure of flexibility into the Admiralty’s proposal—this, without success. Hartley, repelled by the Franco-American alliance, pictured his own role as part of a larger plan for reconciliation between the Americans and British, while Franklin sought to channel the hopes of his friend into the specifics of an exchange.