When I had Last the honor of making my respects to our worthy President of the U.S. Mr. Jefferson, in date of june 3rd Last, enclosing a Copy of the famous Decree of Napoleon La Grande, I Suggested, that I was then only waiting to know the effect of sd. Decree, and the result of the British Cabinet in answer—Before this result was known here, So much time had elapsed, that I could not have arrived in the U.S. previous to the recess of Congress,—on the consideration of which, and, that a Short time could make no difference; that the two Grand Armies were then Menacing each other; determined to Suspend Still further my departure for my Native Country, to Learn Some final result—And, a Crisis having arrived. So big with the fate of Europe & of Mankind, the two Grand Armies Opposing about 300,000 Men to each other, having been fighting from the 5th to the 7th june, the date of the Last advice we have recd., Naturally induce me to wait a Little Longer, as a very Short time must Necessarily decide the grand question.—

Unfortunately, instead of Acting generously towards all Neutrals, and treating with Contempt the Decree of Napoleon, which would have ensured the Approbation of the Commercial World, and thrown the Odium where it Aught to have been, the British Cabinet have, as usual, done that which tends directly to promote the views of Napoleon, having Decreed that Neutral Vessels Shall not proceed from one enemies Port to Another, nor to any Port Occupied by the French Troops; nor, infine, to any Port Where the British flag cannot go: Consequent on Which, Livorno being considered under the Latter a Number of American Vessels have been taken & Conducted to Malta, as the President will See from the enclosed List. All those bound from one enemies Port to another have been condemned Vessels & Cargoes— those to or from an enemies Port to a neutral, the Cargoes only Condemnd—Tis Said there are at Malta, Americans, Danes, & Imperial Vessels together near one hundred Sail detained!!! This affords a powerful pretext for Napoleon to Point the attention Especially of the Commercial World to the British Spoilations, and urge the necessity of their Uniting with him, as the only means to obtain the freedom of the Seas—And, as the British Govt. has been deficient in Some points with Russia, Should Napoleon obtain any Material advantages over the Russians in a general Battle, which is presumable, he will embrace the moment, while he Menace’d them with advancing to their Capital & Spoiling their Country, he will Offer them generous terms of peace, provided they united with him offensively & defensively against England; which the presumption is will be the result, & a Short time determined.

Should that be the Case, ’tis equally presumable, that after uniting Sweden & Danemark to favor his views against England by Sea, he will Send an Army of 100. or 150,000 Men to the East Indies, to unite with the Malcontents & if possible expel the British from that Country, as the only Sure means of finally Ruining England, as he cannot arrive at the Island.—

In regard to the representations of the United States South of this, these Spoilations are Lamentable demonstrations of what I have Long and ardently represented, Viz the evils resulting from foreigners especially Englishmen, filling the Consulates &c of the United States, that instead of protecting the property of our Citizens, the presumption is, they are interested in the Corsairs, Which take our Vessels & consequently in their Condemnation, while they make the farsical appearance to our citizens of friendly exertions in favor—In fact What else could we expect from Englishmen, who generally feel a Secret pleasure in our Misfortunes, but to promote them—I feel a peculiar pleasure however in reflecting, that under the administration of Mr. Jefferson, if the British Govt. does not immediately admit the essential points wished in the pending Treaty, that prompt measures will be adopted to CounterAct & Compensate the Citizens of the U.S. for all Losses Sustained; by Shutting our Ports, & Sequestering all British debts ’till they Shall have come to a Clear & Satisfactory understanding with the United States; the more effectually to effect this, the U.S. would do well previous to Shutting the ports to Send orders to all the Consuls, V.C. &c of the U.S. to detain all American Vessels in their respective Ports, to pay the demurrage of all, to Content & Compensate our Citizens ’till the grand object be effected.

Infine, we have only to Shut our ports & remain firm—The People of England would do the rest—for British Manufactures being precluded from the Continent of Europe almost entirely, their Chief resource is the U.S. consequently about 150,000 Manufacturers being thrown out of Bread would rise in Mass and Compel the Minister to open our Ports at any price, or they would Massacre him—The disposition of the People of England I well know, having been about four years in that Island—Indeed Philosophers who reason from Cause to effect, Consequently Calculate effects from Causes, are persuaded that the British ere Long will be compelled to Acknowledge the desideratum that Neutral Vessels Should make Neutral Property, excepting only Contraband goods.

While I Look with pleasing hope for this great object, I Should Lament to see England fall—as it has now become the only barrier between any portion of rational Liberty and Universal Slavery—for was England Subjugated, we Should Soon find Missionaries every Where exciting our Nigros to Insurrection, to cut our throats, and disappointed desperado’s Like that infamous Burr Supported by foreign power & influence and consequently our Common—Common peace if not our Common Liberty destroy’d—Which Heavens forbid—The Last of this Month or early in Augt. I purpose to depart for the U.S. and hope to arrive in time to attend that Election for President &c of the U.S. (and will flatter myself notwithstanding it has been Stated in the papers that Mr. Jefferson would decline the Election, that under the present unsettled State of things with England &c and that Mr. Jefferson will wave every Consideration of a private nature and Accept for the Public good) Shall then verbally make those explanations & representations which I am persuaded will be perfectly Satisfactory Respecting the great Evils resulting from foreigners filling the Consulates of the U.S. and holding the places of pecuniary trust for the U.S. Squadron, South of this place, and the most effectual means of removing the Same.

Wishing Mr. Jefferson may Long enjoy a perfect State of health to Establish by his exertions & influence, those principles which may perpetuate the happiness of a free rising People—and repeating my assurance that the Summit of my wishes has constantly been the approbation of our worthy Presdt. Mr. Jefferson—and my greatest happiness to be instrumental in promoting his views for the felicity of our Common Country—I have the honor to be

with the highest Consideration & respect Mr. Jefferson’s Obedt. Servt. at Command