FitzSimons, Thomas (1741-1811) to Samuel Sitgreaves
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09078 Author/Creator: FitzSimons, Thomas (1741-1811) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 April 1800 Pagination: 6 p. Order a Copy
"...We are here all Anxiety to know, what Effect the Mission to France will have on the British Court; if they shall take umbrage at it & Increase their depredations upon our Commerce, the inevitable Consequence must be a total loss of all Interest or influence in this Country. The Conduct of their Vice-Admiralty Courts is so repugnant...that it is difficult to restrain people from Breaking out into open resistance to the depredations of their cruisers - The Privateers of Tortola New Providence & Jamaica, let no American pass...& the charges are so Immense that appeals are not worth prosecuting...The Sons of the most Wealthy people in the U.S. are entering into the Navy...in Case of Naval War commerce for a time would be suspended to enable us to Equip a Navy...dreadful as the alternative is War at at any hazard is preferable to Insult & Pillage...The Democrats are Sanguine about Carrying Jefferson..." Sitgreaves was an American commissioner handling property claims under the Jay Treaty provisions.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
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