3042. FLORIDA, Reprisal and.—[further continued].
Should England make
up with us, while Bonaparte continues at war
with Spain, a moment may occur when we May
without danger of commitment with either
France or England seize to our own limits of
Louisiana as of right, and the residue of the
Floridas as reprisal for spoliations. It is our
duty to have an eye to this in rendezvousing
and stationing our new recruits and our armed
vessels, so as to be ready, if Congress authorizes
it, to strike in a moment.—
To Henry Dearborn. Washington ed. v, 338.
(M.
Aug. 1808)
