privateers are secretly outfitted in American ports; purport to be merchant ships but once out of port arm themselves and sail as privateers; government officials are alert to the illegal outfitting of privateers but it is hard to detect
decline of American trade at St Salvador; poor condition of commerce in Brazil; critical of Brazilians; praises James Madison; hopes that JM is elected president
hopes that the United States remain free of the curses of tyranny and war that have ravaged Europe; people of France are trapped between the absolute power of the Bourbons and the threat of dominance by the European powers; riots in England were bad…
two crew members of privateer Romp have been acquitted of charges of piracy; both Wirt and John Marshall believed them guilty but jury felt that the government did nothing to prevent the ship from sailing and thereby endorsed its mission; charges…
advantages of treaty with southern Indians; still does not trust Federalists; appointing Federalists to office will strengthen their party and undermine Republican policies; appointment of Simon Bernard as chief of army engineers