University of Virginia Library

6991. PRIVATEERS, Commerce destroyers.—

I hope we shall confine ourselves
to the conquest of their possessions, and defence
of our harbors, leaving the war on the
ocean to our privateers. These will immediately
swarm in every sea, and do more injury to British
commerce than the regular fleets of all
Europe would do.—
To General Kosciusko. Washington ed. vi, 68. Ford ed., ix, 362.
(M. June. 1812)