1823. Jan¼y 28 Trip. H. to Q.A. ?.7. Inducements to U.S

2. In the next place comes the having a port in the Mediterranean for refuge:

refuge against bad weather and naval accidents. This convenience has long been

among the universally known objects of your desires and as yet fruitless

endeavours Very lately 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 I have heard it said would the port of Tripoli itself. If

not, might not a spot that would 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.

Supposing you to succeed in any negotiation with Spain, there would be in the

first place the expence of purchase, in the next place the whole expence of

construction: 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 perhaps suffice. If so, then the expence of purchase would

be the whole of it saved 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 our power as well as inclination to afford.