1823 Feb. 4 Trip. H. to Q.A Introduction

Hassuna D'Ghies, Ambassador from the Sovereign of Tripoli, at the Court of

London, to The Honorable Quincey Adams Secretary of State to the Anglo©American

United States.

Sir, Warranted by the character, public and private of the person I am

addressing, in writing what you see I am placing my life in your hands. In some

parts, as you will see, it has my correction in my own hand©writing: and in

every other part my approbation. Though, in your language I could not have

worded it exactly as you see it, it contains not a word the import of which is

not understood by me /which has not my mind in company with it/.

Yes Sir, my life is in your hands. For, an acknowledgement I must begin with is

© that, though the personal welfare of my Sovereign and his family is among the

prime objects of my solicitude, and though I do not by any means despair even of

his concurrence in the plan you will see, it will be plain enough to you that it

could not with his knowledge have been written to you. As to the concealment

thus made, you will soon see whether it has not for its justification, a

necessity of the most imperious kind. I say ”justification•, for it wants no

”excuse•.

”Surprise• naturally enough, but in a situation such as yours, whatever be the

ultimate result, a something considerably different from dissatisfaction, will

(I can not but flatter myself) be at least the immediate sensation, produced in

a mind like yours, by an Address from such a quarter, with such an object as you

will see. From acceptance if given to the proposal which it serves to convey,

you will have to judge, whether amongst other benefits one which has been and I

see reason to believe still is amongst the objects of national desire, may not

result from it to your United States.

Now Sir as to the nature of the necessity: of the necessity in both its branches

© private as well as public.