[Extract]
... For Heaven's sake, if you mean to have any connection with this kingdom [France], be more assiduous in getting yqur letters here. I know not where the blame lies, but it must be heavy somewhere, when vessels are suffered to sail from Philadelphia and other ports quite down to the middle of August without a single line. This circumstance was urged against my assertions, and was near proving a mortal stab to my whole proceedings....
... The stores are collecting, and I hope will be embarked by the middle of this month; if later, I shall incline to send them to Martinique, on account of the season. It is consistent with a political letter to urge the remittance of the fourteen thousand hogsheads of tobacco wrote for formerly in part payment of those stores; if you make it twenty, the public will be the gainers as the article is rising fast; in Holland, seven stivers 10 lb. and must be in proportion here. You are desired by no means to forget Bermuda; if you should, Great Britain will seize it this winter, or France on the first rupture... As your navy is increasing, will you commission me to send you duck for twenty or thirty sail? I can procure it for you to the northward on very good terms, and you have on hand the produce wanted to pay for it with. Have you granted commissions against the Portuguese? All the friends to America in Europe call loudly for such a measure.
Would you have universal commerce, commission some person to visit every kingdom on the continent that can hold any commerce with America. Among them by no means forget Prussia. Grain will be in demand in this kingdom and in the south of Europe. Permit me again to urge an increase of the navy. Great Britain is calling in her Mediterranean passes, to expose us to the Algerines. I propose applying to this court on that subject....
P.S. ー An agent from Barbadoes is arrived in London to represent their distress; another from Bermuda, with a declaration to the ministry of the necessity of their being supplied with provisions from the Colonies, and saying that, if not permitted, they must ask the protection of the Congress.
I have to urge your sending to me either a general power for the purpose, or a number of blank commissions for vessels of war. It is an object of the last importance, for in this time of peace between the nations of Europe I can be acquainted with the time of every vessel's sailing either from England or Portugal, and by dispatching little vessels armed from hence, and to appearance property of the subjects of the United States of America, to seize them while unsuspicious on this coast, and to stand directly for America with them, great reprisals may be made; and persons of the first property have already solicited me on the occasion; indeed, they have such an opinion of my power that they have offered to engage in such an adventure if I would authorize them with my name; but this might as yet be rather dangerous. It is certainly, however, a very practicable and safe plan to arm a ship here as if for the coast of Africa or the West Indies, wait until some ship of value is sailing from England or Portugal, slip out at once and carry them on to America. When arrived, the armed vessel increases your navy and the prize supplies the country.
It is of importance, as I have mentioned in my former letters, to have some one deputed and empowered to treat with the King of Prussia. I am acquainted with his agent here, and have already through him received some queries and proposals respecting American commerce, to which I am preparing a reply. I have also an acquaintance with the agent of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, who proposes fixing a commerce between the United States and Leghorn, but has not as yet given me his particular thoughts. France and Spain are naturally our allies; the Italian States want our flour and some other articles; Prussia, ever pursuing her own interests, needs but be informed of some facts relative to America's increasing commerce to favor us; Holland will pursue its system, now fixed, of never quarreling with any one on any occasion whatever. In this view is seen at once the power we ought to apply to and gain a good acquaintance with. Let me again urge you on the subject of tobacco. Receive also from me one hint further. It is this: Should you apportion a certain tract of the western land, to be divided at the close of this war among the officers and soldiers serving in it and make a generous allotment, it would, I think, have a good effect in America, as the poorest soldiers would then be fighting literally for a freehold; and in Europe it would operate beyond any pecuniary offers. I have no time to enlarge on the thought, but may take it up hereafter; if I do not, it is an obvious one, and, if capable of execution, you can manage it to the best advantage.
