Georgetown, Columbia, August the 19th 1800
Dear Sir,
I have just received your favor of the 12th Instant -
This morning I also received a letter from Mr Page the Deputy Collector of Alexandria informing me of the recaption of Capt. Merchant -
You will observe by that letter he states it to be the opinion of the attorney General that in case the Captain should make another attempt at being bailed that it would be proper [protocol?] [undecipherable] an affidavit of the circumstances in order to prevent him to this I have written him in reply that in case the Captain should make any attempt at it, thar I would immediately and without a moments delay go down for tht purpose - So that you see they are anxious to establish the accusation of piracy against him -
When I first received this letter I prepared myself immediattely to go down - but on reflecting full on your [sons?] si[-]tuation and interest I thought it would be prudent to endeavour to let every thing remain exactly in the Situation in which they now stand until I could personally converse with him, which I expect will be on Saturday - for I presume by that time he will be here -
It is a matter to me of extreme doubt whether the Captain has been guilty of Piracy or not - nor do I