Philadelphia, Octr. 13, 1775
[Extract]
Your obliging Favour of the fifth Inst. I this Moment received . . .
If We should invite "all the Maritime Powers of the World into our Ports," would any one of them come? At least, untill they should be convinced that We are able, and determined to fight it out with G.B. to the last? Are they yet convinced of this, or will they be very soon? Besides, if they should, Would it be Sound Policy in Us to admit them? Would it not be sounder to confine the Benefit and the Bargain to one or a few?
Is it not wiser to send our own Ships to all maritime Powers, and admit private adventurers from foreign Nations, if by any Means We can defend them against Cutters and Cruizers, or teach them to elude them. I have upon this Subject a System of my own but am not bigoted to it, nor to any other. You will oblige me vastly by your Sentiments at large.