1823 Feb. 11 Tripoli. H. to Q.A. ?.7. U.S. Inducements

and naval accidents. This convenience has long been among the universally known

objects of your desires, and as yet fruitless endeavours. Very likely you have

been trying to obtain it from Spain: so at least I have heard from more than one

authentic source. Even from Tripoli, so long ago as the year 1804 or

thereabouts, you took measures, and those strong ones, for obtaining it. What

you then got was found not to answer the purpose, and you abandoned it. Neither

indeed, I have heard it said, would the port of Tripoli itself. But If not might

not some spot, that ”would• answer your purpose, be found on some other part of

the Coast? Is the negative sufficiently ascertained by any such surveys as you

have made? If so, might not the coast of Tunis, or that of Algiers? In these

cases it is true, after the regeneration of Tripoli, you would have to wait for

that of ”those• two States respectively.

As to Spain, Supposing you to succeed in any negociation with that State, there

would be, in the first place, the expence of purchase, in the next place, not

unprobably the expence of construction: I mean as applied to fortifications; and

docks: and this, over and above the expence of such a fleet as you might think

fit to send to take possession. In our case, the mere expence of such a fleet as

that might not improbably suffice. If so, then the expence of purchase would be,

the whole of it, saved: and in the article of construction, expence, to a

greater or less amount, might not improbably be saved, by such contribution as,

for the common benefit, it might be in