When I had the pleasure ⟨o⟩f writing you from Leghorn Decemr. 20th. 1802 I expected Long since to have been in Sicily at my Post. However tho’ a variety of unforeseen occurrent circumstances in closing my business, especially in Leghorn, have caused my detention, yet as it has given me the opportunity of proceeding here from Marseilles and having interviews with ⟨o⟩ur Ministers Mr. Monroe & Mr. Levingston on objects of the United States, I flatter myself good will result from it.

Soon after the date of my Last, I proceeded to Naples, presented my Commission & got it acknowledged by the King of the two Sicilies; having in a previous interview with General Acton, who is prime Minister, (& in effect King) Suggested the necessity of Some Commercial arrangements between the U. S. and his Sicilian Majesty, in consequence, ⟨o⟩f the rapid increase and very advantageous Commerce of the U. S. to the Sicilian States, and the many inconveniences under which our Flag is for want of the Same, being Subject to be ⟨v⟩isited & in Some ports, if our Vessels put in for a Market, they are obliged to discharge, consequently at the expense of discharging & re-charging provided they do not Sell. Being persuaded of the Same he observed he Should communicate with his Majesty on the Subject; and in consequence, in his Letter acknowledging m⟨e⟩ as Consul of the U. S. in Sicily, (A copy of which is enclosed to Mr. Jefferson) he observes, that his Sicilian Majesty will with much pleasure receive any person whom the U. S. may appoint as Minister Plenipotentiary, or as bearing proper powers, to enter into a Treaty of commercial relations with the U. S. immediately.

From the knowledge I have of the commerce & the chief commercial men of the Sicilian States; from my interest with the first Bankers & principal officers of State, as Suggest’d in my Last, you will judge how far these advantages give me the Superiorty & would enable me to affect more than any one coming directly out unacquaint’d with the whole; exclusive of the high gratification it would afford me, were I authorized

While I congratulate Mr. Madison, and fellow Citizens, & felicitate myself, on the highly important event of the Acquisition of Louisiana, which the presumption is, will enable us to adhere to our great Political Maxim of Peace & friendship with the whole World, the Convention of which Mr. Jay, who will have the pleasur⟨e⟩ of presenting this, takes with him, for the Sake of humanity I regret the renewal of hostilities between Franc⟨e⟩ & England; which have commenced with an unparallel’d accrimony on both Sides. Therefore the consequences ar⟨e⟩ beyond the power of calculation. The English commenced by the Capture of two Vessels previous to a declaration of War! & the French, by having made Prisoners of War of all the English within their Territory! Sent an Army to take possession of Hanover,‡ Shut the Elbe & the Weser against the English. Another Army is order’d to Naples & Sicily. The latter however no question the English will prevent. In fine, the French will cause all the ports from Hamburg round to Trieste to be Shut against the English, & the presumption ⟨i⟩s the English will declare all those ports in a state of Blockade, which will be necessarily very detrimental toour Commercial ⟨i⟩nterest; however, I hope England will not attempt the Same Spoilations She Committd on our commerce the last War, but Should She, that very different measures will be persued from those at that period.

Boneparte being much exasperated against the English, & having no effective alternative other than an invasion of England, the presumption is he will make the attempt. This however time must demonstrate.

Under present circumstances, I Shall proceed in a few days by way of Leghorn, & Naples to take my post for the protection of the persons & property of my fellow Citizens in Sicily, personally; Lest the French may possibly arrive there.

Feeling as I do, I Should do injustice to myself were I not again to congratulate my fellow citizens generally on the happy events which have result’d from the influence of Mr. Jefferson Since his Presidency, having caused the repeal of the oppressive internal taxes, the Excis⟨e,⟩ The vexatious Seditious & Alien Bills, abridged the Courts, and the appropriations for the Last year one Million ⟨&⟩ a half, and nevertheless caused to be paid Nine Millions of the debt!! The presumption therefore is, the good Citizens of the U. S., who err but when deceived, will be So perfectly Sati⟨s⟩fied who are their real friends that thereafter there will be no Longer any opposition of any consequence, of course bu⟨t⟩ one party that of the People & the Public Weal, which, with the continued Success of the administration, of Mr. Jefferson, the prosperity of my Country & happiness of my Countrymen, are amongst my first wishes. Begging the indulgen⟨ce⟩ of Mr. Madison for the Length of this Letter, I have the honor to be with the highest consideration & respe⟨ct⟩ his obedt. Servt.