Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Bonaparte it seems has given us Peace, & I
among others am glad that it is attained all things considered,
[so creditably]; it is a Peace of necessity.

Prudence requires that we should be armed in a certain degree,
& the popular voice, as well as reason will look forward to the
preservation of a Naval superiority; that, and the militia, the
Paladium of our internal freedom, if vigorously brought back
to its first principles, will I presume, be our cheapest & chief
dependance against a European Enemy.

On these considerations, I confide to your perusal a manuscript
of my late Fathers, and if you see it convenient, I wish you to state
it summarily to the Noble [Earl]. you must bear in mind the [era] in
which it was composed, soon after Matthews and Le[erasure]k
had shewn in the Mediterranean a different scene from what
was really displayed off S^t Vincent.

I know not to which Profession I am most attached being the
son of one and belonging to the other, but it is clear to me, "tho'
it may happen in future wars, that no military man may be
in the Cabinet, & that Captains & Majors of the Armies
may dictate expeditions, yet, it is impossible that a Scotch
Attorney, or slight o tongue man can be at the head of the
Admiralty. Good sense which is the basis of Military
Ach Achievements, is of better Elements, and I should be glad
to see, great Battalions of Marine guards discipl ined to act
under those who have done so much with the unpremeditated
Activi ty that, I trust, will ever distinguish the British sailor.

Pray acknowledge the receipt of my Book and keep it till I can
get Bast[illegible] or some friend to call for it. I highly value it.
filial Piety is a most valuable sensation, and though I do
not recollect the person of my father, yet to his military
Labors, I owe all that I am, and more that I aimed to be, in
my own Profession.

I beg to offer you a letter I have
printed for some of my friends.

Private
To Cap^t Markham
Admiralty
with a Book

Copy