EXTRACT of the Minister’s Letter to Messrs. de la Rochalard and Duclos, stating that nègres may be sent to the Galleys in France

As to the question M. le Chevalier de la Rochalard has asked, whether enslaved people would be received in the Galleys, I will tell you that although such people are not a very good acquisition for the galley crews, because of their uncleanliness, they will nevertheless be received there when they have been sentenced to them, because it is necessary that justice be done, and because it is not fitting that crimes for which there is no proof such as would merit death should remain entirely unpunished.