It is a Long time Since I had the honor of Making my respects to our Worthy President—In date of july 7th 1805— I did myself the honor of writing Mr Jefferson fully from Livorno, purporting, as Subjoined (No. 1) And, in Decemr. following as Subjoined (No. 2) that consequently I waited a final Answer.

Consequent on having observed in the Washington Gazette, recd. in jany. Last, that others were named for Sicily, tho’ their Patents have not even yet arrived, I am here simply en passant to adjust my affairs—While, in regard to myself, I feel proud in not having lessened myself, I regret extremely and even blush for my Country!!

For Adverting, to the exertions I have constantly made Since in Europe to Promote the respect, honor & interest of the United States, and particularly the Principles of Mr. Jefferson, and Measures of the Present Administration, And cultivate the friendly disposition of the Govt. of His Majesty King of the two Sicilies; To having obtained and communicated in the Spring of 1803; to the President of the U.S. Liberal Overtures from the Govt. of the said Majesty towards a System of Commercial Arrangements Mutually advantageous; To having Made many excuses that tho’ the Multiplicity of Domestic Arrangements consequent on the Acquisition of Louisiana &c &c &c had Prevented, I assured Sd. Govt. of the favorable disposition of the United States, and that no question a person of Competent Abilities & qualifications would be Sent to reside near His Sd. Majesty for the purpose in question; To His E. General Acton, prime Minister of H.S.M. having observed to me, in an interview with him, “I Suppose you are not aware of the very friendly disposition of the Govt. of His Said Majesty, tho’ the United States have never been made known to His Sd. Majesty’s Govt. neither directly by a plenipotentiary, nor indirectly thro’ the Medium of the Ambassador of any other Nation at the Court of which the U.S. have a Minister; yet considering the U.S. a young Govt. and desirous of cultivating a friendly & commercial intercourse with them, H. M. Govt. had waived every Etiquette and indulged the American Commerce in a Special Manner, that H. Sd. M. is ever ready cheerfully to receive any person who may present himself properly Authorized from the U.S. to enter into a Treaty of Amity & Commercial relations.”

&, To my having represented to His Excellency General Acton, fully the reasons of my not having taken possession personally in due form of my Consulate of the U.S. for the Island of Sicily, as will hereafter be demonstrated, and that I had written to the President of the U.S. that, from the reasons given him, it was Entirely derogatory to the Dignity of a Consul to Officiate in a mere titulary Office, while foreigners, all of whom, except my friend Mr Gibbs, known to be disreputable Characters, held the places of Pecuniary trust for the U.S. Squadron within his Consulate, that I could not doubt, as I solicited only what the Consuls of all other Nations held of right, the Agency of the Navy of their respective Govts. being the Agency of the U.S. Squadron would be attached to my Consulate.

I am Sensible Mr. Jefferson will intuitively perceive, what Must naturally be the Sentiment & Opinion of H. E. G. Acton, who is in effect King, Of my Govt. & myself? Consequent on having witness’d, that after all my professions & exertions, instead of attaching the Agency of the U.S. Squadron to my Consulate for the Island of Sicily, H. E. the President of the U.S. had withdrawn the Commission of Consul from a respectable Native Citizen of the U.S. and Attached, to Whom? to foreigners!! who were mere nominal Non-Commission’d Agents for the U.S. Squadron!!!—And, What will be the consequence? those who, had I permitted (tho’ most of them I should not) would have Acted with equal Cheerfulness under my Comptrol, being thus made independent of each other without Check, or Motive but their own interest, may & unquestionably will fleece the U.S. at their pleasure!! and Laugh in their Sleeves at them—It being well known that in those Countries vouchers may be had to corroborate any Acct., and receipts by those disposed for double the Sum paid!!— Knowing well the Principles & disposition of Mr. Jefferson has ever been to prefer Citizens of the U.S. to all Offices in foreign Countries (indeed they ought to be Natives) as the only Sure Means of Carrying into effect the Great objects of the Govt., with every deference, I am perfectly persuaded it must have been the effect of Cross-Circumstances, which time & my Testimonies will demonstrate, contrary to his Natural inclination, his having Superseded, in preference to Complying with my reasonable request!!— of What all other Consuls in these Countries consider their right, & is essential to the Dignity of the Consul, & to enable him to fulfil the duties of his Office, and Command respect to his Govt.—

Thus, from Some cause yet a Mistery, the Affairs of the U.S. Particularly in the two Sicilies & Malta, as well of the Consulates as of the Squadron, being most unfortunately thrown entirely into the hands of foreigners, who, tho’ each independent of the other, yet understanding to play a Sure game to each others hand, will not of course Spare the U.S. Treasury; being the only thing they have to expect, and knowing that Gold commands respect, especially in the European World, without consideration of the means by which it may have been obtained,—And, considering that even Englishmen, having Accustomed themselves to think it no Crime when placed in the Commissary department or Agency abroad, to make their fortunes at the Public expense of their own Country, there is consequently not a Shadow of reason to expect they will Act more Virtuously in regard to the U.S.—but the contrary—

Tis to me an inexplicable Paradox, that foreigners Should have been prefered to all the Post of honor & pecuniary trust of the U.S. in the South of Italy, Sicily, & Malta!!—in Malta & Sicily, Englishmen—in Naples a Prussian!! While so many respectable Citizens of the United States would have been happy to be Accepted, & your humble Servant to have Continued under the Circumstances in which those foreigners are placed, (having the Agency of the Squadron attached to their Consulates respectively) Particularly in Naples, a Point so important for Political and Commercial information, And, from not having a resident Minister from the U.S., nor even any Commercial arrangements as yet with H. M. The King of the two Sicilies, so essential to have at least an intelligent Citizen of the U.S. resident as Consul [. . . .] who could command respect, promote the honor and interest of his Country, & cultivate the friendly disposition of the Govt. That a thickheaded Prussian Should have been preferred who never having been in America, consequently knowing nothing of the Country, having no common feeling with the Citizens of the U.S., cannot represent them, nor command respect from the Govt.—On the contrary, to be candid, ’tis not considered that mark of respect by the Govt. to which their friendly conduct towards the Americans Entitle them— which must be confessed too true.

Since ’tis So, the question Simply, is, the most Effectual Remedy for the Evil—And, I flatter myself Mr Jefferson will perceive, as Long Since Suggested by me, that the only effectual Means Left, consistent with the honor of the U.S., will be, the Appointment of a Commissioner, on Part of the United States, with powers to Comptrol and Audit the Accounts of all the Consuls, & Agents for the United States Squadron within the two Sicilies & Malta; with the requisite credit for them all to draw on him; to be as it were the focal point & Sole Medium of intelligence with the United States; with Some Diplomatic qualifications to adjust, at Least, a well regulated System of Commercial relations; & cultivate the friendly dispositions of the Govt. of H. S. M.—And watch over the interest of the U.S.—An Apropo instance, is, that of Baron Shubert, who with the moderate Salary of one, Supersedes the Necessity of Several Ministers, by Acting as Minister Plenipotentiary, and Consul General of His Danish Majesty for all Italy— residing part of the year at Naples, Part in Livorno, &c— the most Economical Plan Possible, and worthy an Example for the United States.

And. I also flatter myself, that in deliberating on this object, my knowledge & experience of the principle Characters, ways & means, in consequence of the time I have been in those Countries; & having Supplied the British Govt. at Malta from this Island during the Last War, & having Establish personally the most respectable Correspondents in all the Chief Commercial & Capital Cities in Europe, in order to have the benefit of the best exchanges on all Occasions; will receive due consideration, & have their due preponderance—Especially when I Shall have Satisfied Mr Jefferson of my constant efforts Since in Europe to promote the respect & interest of my Govt.—particularly the principles & measures of, him whom I consider has not a Superior, Mr Jefferson, that I deserve better of my Country; And, demonstrated by unquestionable Testimony the infamous fallacy of the dark Malicious insinuations which have been made during my absence with design to supplant me; by a man, born & educated an Englishman, In principle a Frenchman jacobin, would be an American, Apparently a Quaker, in fine no character at all—Broadhat—& by him communicated thro’ Such a respectable Medium# to the Department of State of the U.S. as may have given them the color of truth, which I Shall do without Loss of time: I have therefore only to beg Mr Jefferson will indulge me So far as to Suspend any Opinion ‘till I Shall have the honor & happiness of Presenting myself with the Demonstrative Testimony to the Satisfaction of our worthy President, of the Base Stratagems of Sd. Bt.—consequently erase even any Shadow of impression which may have been made especially from the Mind of Mr Jefferson, and re-establish the desideratum, the Confidence of our worthy President in me.—

Impressed as I have ever been, that happiness is the primary object of every individual, that experience will ever demonstrate, that man is happy only in a ratio as he Shall have contributed to the interest & happiness of others; my maxim thro’ Life has constantly been to do the Least ill, and the most good possible, and in all circles to render myself as pleasant as possible, & on all Occasions to promote as far as circumstances will admit, the interest & happiness of my fellow beings, as the only means of insuring my own—having been ever rigid in my morals, zealous & firm in my Political Sentiments, particularly in favor of the principles and Superior Merit of Mr Jefferson^; and my views Steadily been to Promote as far as in my power, the respect, honor & interest of our Common Country and fellow Citizens; ’tis truly vexatious to be under the disagreeable Necessity of defending my Character against the poignards & Shafts of the envious Malevolent.—’Tis however Some consolation to reflect, that it is generally a mark of distinguish’d merit in the Party against whom directed; merit only being an object of Envy.

While I Solicit a thousand pardons for having incroach’d So much on the invaluable time of Mr Jefferson, by the prolixity of this Letter, & the Testimonies which follow, I feel a confidence from his benignity, he will excuse the trouble on the consideration of the motives, that honor ought to be held more Sacred than Life. Assuring Mr Jefferson, that the Summit of my wishes has constantly been his approbation, and my greatest felicity in being instrument in promoting his views for the happiness of our Common Country, I have the honor to be

With the highest consideration & respect, his Obedt Sert