Your favr of the 21st ulto reached me on the 28th—Should there be no Naval Officer of Capt. Willings Rank who has a prior right of exchange, I shall be very glad to see his effected, as he has been peculiarly severely treated by the enemy, but if Lt Colo. Rogers is a continental prisoner of War I cannot consistently permit him to be exchanged for Capt. Willing solely, without making a precedent of what the enemy want extremely to establish—that of rating our Captains of the Navy as Lt Colos. of the land forces—If it is Captain Willings turn and the Commy of prisoners can make an exchange by composition, I have not the least objection—Or, if Lt Colo. Rogers should be a state prisoner of Penna and the Executive would give him up for the release of Captain Willing, it might be negotiated as a matter not in common course and our Commy of prisoners might be instructed to signify to the British that it was not done upon the principle of allowing him to be of the Rank of a Lieut. Colonel. I have the honor &c.