[Extract]
My Dear Sir—

. . . I find they [British] are making little incursions and attacking defenceless places in the neighborhood of Rhode Island, but these I take to be the last struggles of expiring tyranny—however, I could wish we had a sufficient body of soldiers there to prevent the ravages, which I doubt not would be the case, were it not for the infamous spirit of privateering that so generally pervades at this time. I understand that about one hundred and fifty men from this state have joined general Sullivan,² not one hundred from Massachusetts, none from Connecticut—on the whole, he has about five hundred men with him, a grand army for a major general's command.

Since I have mentioned privateering I must beg leave to observe something further on that subject. I wish some method could be adopted to abate the rage for that business, which appears to me the most baneful to society of any that ever a civilized people were engaged in. The officers that command these vessels are generally the most profligate fellows that are to be met with, and if by chance a man of a fair moral character engages in the business, he very soon degenerates and falls into all the vices of his associates.

The passion for this business daily increases; there is no less than six privateers now in this port belonging to Massachusetts, besides three or four fitting out here; three have at least sailed from here this spring that came from other places to fill up their complement of men, and I have heard of great numbers that have sailed from the neighboring ports, besides those that have called here: in short the sea is swarming with these—I had almost said freebooters—indeed they are but little better. I am very apprehensive that unless some measure can be adopted to check the voracity of these people, they will exceedingly disgrace the American flag, and how this is to be done I know not, unless a total stop is put to the business. This I think ought to be done immediately, for besides preventing the mischief that will certainly happen if you do not stop them, I know of no way else to get your public ships manned; for give what encouragement you will, those who are concerned in privateering will find means to prevent men from engaging in the public service. Your ships of war must lay by the walls, or perhaps some of them may get half manned—if they do not go to sea in that condition the officer is blamed, and if they do he is sure to be disgraced. Under these circumstances can it be expected that an officer of reputation would choose to serve the public? I heartily wish to see the American navy respectable, but I do not expect it until privateering is discouraged and the business of the navy put wholly into the hands of men whose private business does not militate with that of the public. . . .

Hon. Josiah Bartlett,
In Congress.