Sidney SMITH (1764-1840) English admiral. L.S. as "capitaine de haut bord au service d'Angleterre prisonnier de guerre", at Tour du Temple September 15, 1796, to La Revellière-Lépeaux, Directeur; 1 1/2 pages in-fol. Letter from the Prison du Temple. [Smith had been taken prisoner on March 17, 1796, while sailing up the Seine to capture a French privateer]. He submits a brief "in the hope that you will see the injustice of treating prisoners of war for longer periods with a vigor that jurisprudence does not admit even for malefactors. Solitary imprisonment is surely the most severe punishment that can be inflicted, moreover, I see myself confused with prisoners accused of crimes without even enjoying the same degree of indulgence, namely that of society, I am well aware that the epithets of monster and incendiary have been attached to my name [....] my honor may be indifferent to you, but the honor of the French must be dear to you, and you must feel that it would be to tarnish their military glory to continue this harsh treatment of prisoners of war who have no other fault than to have done their duty"... [He eventually escaped thanks to royalist complicity]. Attached are copies of letters addressed to Directeur Barthélemy, and to the Minister of Foreign Relations [Talleyrand], 1797 (defects).