No one recognizes more readily nor does better justice to the depth of your wisdom and to the superiority of your intelligence than I. If not, I should be surprised at your refusal to enlist all who have the courage and the goodwill to take upon themselves the expense and the risks, who consider themselves ipso facto to be American, and who follow all the laws of your navy, even those concerning the division of the prizes made under your flag. True, vague promises are not enough, and precautions should be taken to ensure obedience to those laws. This would require official cooperation in the ports in which the ships outfit and to which most of them return. But the goal is worth the small effort required. The first attempt would doubtless bring considerable gain, and would oblige the British either to take extraordinary and costly precautions or to restrain greatly their lucrative trade with the Levant. In the meantime they would have suffered great losses and seen their own resources used against them. The chief promoter of the plan is a former associate of a certain marquis Roux de Corse, whose audacious declaration of war on England was much talked of at the beginning of the last war. The captain of the first xebec is determined, intrepid, and the best possible man to inspire a crew of brave men. I have the honor to be, with a respectful devotion, Messieurs, your very humble and obedient servant