Joseph Stanbury appeared & said that he had two sons Captured by the Enemy in the Month of August 1780—& Confined in prison in the City of New York, That he had frequently applied to Mr Commissary Adam, with a view to Effect their Exchange, That after the Exchange of his Son Porter Stanbury, he Repeated his Applications in behalf of his other Son Jacob Stanbury & made several applications wihout Effect, That some time in the Month of November he saw Mr Adam at his own Door & Enquired Whether his son Jacob was like to Return or not, That Mr Adam Replied he believed not very soon, & turned from this Examinant and was leaving him, on which this Examinant said to the said Adam if you Can Get him home I will make you any satisfaction in my power. That Mr Adam Stopped & Replied he shall be home with the Next flagg, & That he the said Jacob Did Come home with the Next flagg, Which was six Days after the above Conversation passed. This Examinant also adds that at the time the above Conversation passed there was a British flagg at Elizabeth Town and further this Examinant saith not.

Be it hereby known that on the 23d Day of March last was brought before me sundry Goods & Merchandise for Tryal, Taken in the Possession of Mr John Adam Deputy Commissary of Prisoners on Which a Trial was the Next Day held, When by a Jury of Good & Lawfull Men the said Good & Merchandise & also a Waggon & two Horses, & a Chair & one horse Conveying the same, were Condemned agreably to a law of this State for coming out of the British lines—The Whole sales amounting to £301.2.4 Lawfull Mony of the State. On the tryal it appeared from Clear Evidence that the said goods & Merchandise had been landed out of a british flagg at Elizth Town Point under the Imediate Inspection & Direction of the said Mr Adam, who was in the Chair with a part of the Goods on his way from the Point aforesaid to the town when the [   ] was made. Given under my hand In the County of Essex, State of New Jersey this Seventh Day of April 1781

I am Sensibly grieved at the unavoidable Delays that have happened in Procuring the Inclosed vouchers Respecting the Conduct of Mr John Adam D. C. of Prisoners & in forwarding th[em] I should have sent them some time since but Expected to have procured More to accompany those, both Instances of his Partiallities, Briberies & Illicit Trade are Numerous; but Many of Witnesses are Extreemly Cautious in Declaring any thing unless Compelled, alledging they may suffer in Cases of future Captivity if he Remains in office; Conceiving the Inclosed with My Declaration will be sufficient To Convince Congress that his Conduct as a publick officer has not been strictly justifiable I Concluded it best to forward the Inclosures without further Delay, Submiting it to your better Judgment Either to lay the Matter before Congress in its present situation, or to give me further Instructions how to proceed in the Business.

As to my Own Knowledge; I Can Declare to several very Glaring Partialities in point of Exchanges, some of Which were not only In favour of Prisoners late Captured, but of those Who from the Circumstances of their Capture were by no Means Entitled to Exchange, an officer of Militia within the British lines has been given for a private Citizen, when officers of ours have been suffering in Captivity:

two Justices of the peace of this State both Captivated after me were Exchanged before me, all in direct Disobedience of the laws of this State Respecting Exchanges of prisoners; but since the Act for [Resting] the Powers of Exchanging Prisoners in the Hands of the Contl Comsys. There is no Power in the state Equal to the Calling offenders in this Point to a Proper account for their Conduct; & unless Congress will do it, not only Individuals, but the the Publick service must suffer, as many of the very Zealous & once active Citizens are Relaxing in their ardor & activity, alledging the probable consequences in Case of Captivity as an apology: for my own Part, should such a Misfortune again befall me, While Mr Adam Continues in office, I am not without apprehensions of what may be the Consequences.

Respecting the Certificate from David Miller Esqr. (Inclosed) it may not be amiss to observe that Mr Adam had Previously taken an oath Prescribed by an act of our Legislature, Purporting that he would not allow of any Illicit Trade or Intercourse with the enemy after Earnestly Requesting that the Necessary Measures may be speedily pursued, & assuring you that from the best Information, I verily [   ] on Trial, not less that twenty Instances of Bribery & Partiallity Can be proved if Necessary without going twenty Miles for a Witness; I Conclude & am Sir with Due Respect Your Most Humb. servt