[Extract]

. . . Congress has ref erred the matter of remittance for discharge of the obligation which you and Mr [Richard] Harrison have entered into, to the State of Maryland, from whence you will no doubt receive remittance as soon as the British Ships of War now in Chesapeake Bay will permit. It is a singular misfortune to us, and very injurious to the Commerce of France, that we have not two or three line of Battle Ships, which, with our Frigates and armed Vessels would keep open our navigation in despite of Great Britain, — but at the present one heavy ship affords protection to two or three frigates, that would otherwise be easily removed, and they place themselves so as to shut up the entrance into our principal trading States.