I did myself the honor to address your Excellency the 9th. of Novembr. as per the inclosed copy, whose original was forwarded by the way of Bordeaux, for want of direct opportunities.

No further news respecting the measures of the Dey of Algiers have Since transpired in this part of the World, excepted a Communication from Mr. Lear Consul General at Algiers confirming the Hostile Dispositions of the Algerine Governmt. against the Flag of the United States.

An American Brig called the Fitz William of Boston, has been captured in the month of June last, by one of the Gun Boats ⟨o⟩f H. M. the King of Naples on her Passage from Leghorn to ⟨t⟩his Port, and having been cleared out for Messina in order ⟨to⟩ avoid the British Cruizers, the Captors thought proper to ⟨t⟩ake advantage of this Circumstance, carried her in to that Place, and after a long and partial Trial Succeeded to have V⟨essel⟩ and Cargo condemned. The Goods on board were buonafide Property of Neapolitan & Tuscan Subjects who had Shipped th⟨em⟩ on Freight, but So great was the Influence of their Adversari⟨es⟩ that with all the best proofs in their hands they had the mortification to have the Sentence pronounced against the⟨m.⟩

The Brig’s Register and Sea Letter now in my possession are in perfect order; Some insignificant mistake took Pla⟨ce⟩ upon the Roll of Equipage when endorsed by the Consul at Legh⟨orn⟩ but every thing was a crime in the opinion of the Judges w⟨ho⟩ were decided to declare the Brig Fitz William a good Prize. All my endeavors in favor of Capn. Samuel Goldsbury (who re⟨placed⟩ the original master Benjn. Payson left Sick at Leghorn) prov⟨ed⟩ useless, and with the assistance of the two most Emine⟨nt⟩ Lawyers of this Country we could not prevail upon the Court to pronounce Justice.

Upon my official application to H. E. the Minister of Foreign ⟨a⟩ffairs, to order the Court that the last Treaty Stipulated between ⟨Fra⟩nce and the United States of America Should in this case ⟨be⟩ taken into consideration and Serve as the only rule in the ⟨tri⟩al, I had the following answer.

Acknowledging your official note, I have the honor to inform you, that His majesty, to whom I have made Known its contents, will have no difficulty to give orders in cases of disputes arising betwixt Neapolitan & American Vessels to observe the principles established in the Treaty of Navigation existing betwixt France & the United States, provided the American Governmt. does declare the Same reciprocity will be observed on their Side.

For want of direct opportunities, I shall in the meanwhile ⟨K⟩eep in Deposit, the Brig Fitz William’s Register issued the 4th. September 1806 at Boston under the No. 223. The Consular ⟨C⟩ertificate given to the Captain will I presume release the Owners from their Bonds.

Amongst the great number of American Vessels lately condemned at Malta there are Several that had loaded in the Ports of this Kingdom. In Some of their Sentences, ⟨I⟩ was Sorry to See my name made use of by the Judge wh⟨o⟩ found fault with my Certificates as acting against ⟨the⟩ Decree of the English prohibiting to Trade from Enemies’ ⟨   ⟩ Enemies Ports. I can only Say that I on all occasion⟨s⟩ acted for the best of the Citizens of the U. S. and allwa⟨ys⟩ according to the Laws established betwixt the two Nations

I have the honor to transmit to Your Excellency a Li⟨st⟩ of the few American Vessels which have entered this Port from July last to this day, and I remain with the hig⟨hest⟩ respect Sir Your obedt & humb. ⟨Servt⟩