He is very seriously ill. Nature seems struggling to decide
his disease into a gout. A swelled foot, at present gives us a hope-of
this issue. His loss would at all times have been great; but it would be
immense during the critical poise of European affairs, existing at
this moment. I enclose you a letter from one of the foreign officers,
complaining of the non-payment of their interest. It is only one out
of many I have received. This is accompanied by a second copy of the
Moorish declaration sent me by Mr. Barclay. He went to Alicant to settle
with Mr. Lambe; but on his arrival there, found he was gone to Minorca.
A copy of his letter will inform you of this circumstance, and of some
others relative to Algiers, with his opinion on them. Whatever the
States may enable Congress to do for obtaining the peace of that
country, it is a separate question whether they will redeem our
captives, how, and at what price. If they decide to redeem them, I will
beg leave to observe, that it is of great importance that the first
redemption be made at as low a price as possible, because it will form
the future tariff.
Pages:
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208