I had the honour of addressing you under the 25th March by the way of London enclosing you dispatches from Mr. Leander Cathcart at Tripoli in Barbary concerning the eminent interruption of the American Commerce by the Bey of that place, and I have also forwarded you dispatches by the way of Messina by a Ragusee vessel bound to Boston, and in the same time I have not failed to give the [. . .] to all the American Consuls resident in the different Ports of the Mediterranean in order to stop the vessels that might be there that they might not fall into the hands of the Tripoleen Cruisers, so Sir from this you will be able to learn that I have done all that layed in my power for the benefit of the American commerce. I also informed you that I was commissioned by the late Government of this Island to act as American Consul in virtue of an order dated the 17th December 1796, but that it was not in my power to transmit you a copy of it on account that after the Possession of this Island by the French the Papers in the Chancery were all burnt, but that if in case you should think proper to send me the Congresses Approbation I should be exceeding glad to be able to serve them so far as lied in my power. And I have the honour of being most respectfully Sir Your most obedient humble Servant