In a heaven-favored country like this, where the supreme power of ruling owes a large measure of its origin to those who toil in the humblest vales of life—where temperate Liberty, rational Equality, and the natural Rights of Mankind constitute the basis of Government, and are the priviledged blessings of all orders of society—where personal Merit is the avowed criterion of Distinction, and equipoise of the elevated rank and dignified office of its Chief Magistrate;—although that office may exhalt him to a Station superior to all the tyrannical potentates of the earth, it does not demand that servile awe, that cringing obsequiesness, and those fulsome apologies in addressing him, which proceed from sycophantic meanness and inspire contempt;—His highest honor is, that he presides over a free people;—his greatest reward that he deserves and shares their grateful benedictions.—

But, Sir, though a natural free-born citizen of the happy land, yet, have I felt the torturing scourge of Tyranny, and have tasted the nauseous cup of Slavery;—for I was among those unfortunate Americans who were long immured in the loathsome walls of Tripoli.—To gratify, therefore, a number of friends,—to serve the public, and perhaps to gain a little recompence towards the support of an indigent family, I am preparing for publication, a Volume, to be printed by Subscription, containing an account of our sufferings, the remarks and poetical pieces which I wrote during our captivity.—And as I am anxious to make it as useful and interesting to the public as possible, I have ventured to solicit your patronizing indulgence, that I might be furnished with such duplicates, or public papers, as contain the most important, correct, and authentic information, relative to our operations of war, or negociations of peace with that power; provided a compliance with this request does not clash with official duty.—

The work will be printed by Mr. John Barber of Albany, to whom all communications for me will be sent.—

That you may long live the ornament of those republican principles of which you have proved the father and defence; and that you may forever participate in the happy and sure rewards of exhalted virtue, is, amongst thousands of others, the sincere prayer of, Sir,

Your most obedient Humble Servant