[undecipherable] Sir 6 Philadelphia March 29^th 1796 After the peace with the Regency of Algiers as any of the other Barbary powers will be liable to be broken and our vessels, to the Mediterranean commerce, [undecipherable] as many [undecipherable] an object would [undecipherable] by the forces of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable: apparently] Bates, or of the [undecipherable] of the Dey of Algiers on their Country should be increased [as] a continuance of [their] [undecipherable] well probably [transpire] whenever they [find] the [hands] of the [American] and [Barbarian] ports [undecipherable] an object of importance to this Country a [mount] Force adequate [for] its Safety should be in readiness to protect it from any sudden [attacks] of the Barbary rovers, that sometimes appear themselves [on] the [numerous] and most frequented ports of the Mediterranean [for,] from [Cape de Gat] and [Simera] to Cape [St.] [Morays] to the entrance of the Adriatic [Gulf] and suddenly come out of the [undecipherable] Straits into [undecipherable] as far to the [undecipherable] as the Rock of [undecipherable] The Portuguese being now at war with all the Barbary States, as [undecipherable] of large [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] by that [undecipherable] at Gibraltar for the protection of other Vessels, but if at [undecipherable] there a peace be concluded between the Portuguese and Algiers, or those [undecipherable] shall again [assign] Gibraltar that Bay and there be no more for Ships of War the Algerian [undecipherable] under those Circumstances would again be at liberty to get out of the Mediterranean into the Western Ocean, and [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] [Commercial] Ships of all Nations that have not a Naval Force at [hand]. From a Consideration of these [undecipherable] the United States ought on my [opinion] to [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] Force at all times [or] near the entrance of the Mediterranean [undecipherable] proportionate to the [importance] of its [trade] to Portugal and Spaine, and if possible one Frigate of 44 or 36 [guns] to [lay] in [Gibraltar] Bay, but if not [practicable], to [undecipherable] there [undecipherable] at [Cadiz] or in [undecipherable] Bay, and be [assisted] by [undecipherable] this [Strait], or what is commonly called the [Gut] of Gibraltar, [undecipherable] the Straits is [extensively], or a few [undecipherable] from it. [Then] [Place] Would be [supposed] to keep all the forces within the Mediterranean as it is only with a [breeze] or Easterly Winds they [can] firmly get out, and as the first appearance of it the Rock of Gibraltar is [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] Clouds, the Weather [becoming] Stormy and [undecipherable] so that it is [sufficiently] to [see] the [undecipherable] [Capt from Gibraltar] [Bay]. One or Two Large Frigates assisted by one Small [Light] Ships of 18 or 20 Guns [directed] to be Stationed at Port [Mahone] the Island of [Minorca], to cruise occasionally and [undecipherable] the Trade from [undecipherable] Haven. Port [Mahon] is well Stationed for a place of Rendezvous being nearly [undecipherable] to Algiers and but a Short distance from it. It is also [undecipherable] [Conveniences] for [Keeping] there and a [post] [undecipherable] [night] [events] may be had. [Having] been above 19 Months in the Mediterranean [observing] [various] [undecipherable] forces [undecipherable] both on the European & [Affrican] [undecipherable]. I now [undecipherable] [enable] to form a [opinion] on the most efficacious [measures] to be pursued to protect the Trade of the Country from the [depredations] of the Cruisers belonging to the Barbary States [and] [from] [information] from various persons could have been [undecipherable] [years] tending to and from Grand Algiers, have induced me to offer the [above] Observations and am Sir With Respect your ob^t Ser^v Josiah Fox [undecipherable: French?] Secretary of War