I believe it to be my duty to lay before you an extract
of the letter from Captain Pelletier, in command of the
freebooter, "Le Hussard", fitted out by our Bayonne
yards. Citizen Director, it will come to your notice,
that, far from finding allies and friends among the
Americans, our French vessels encounter nothing but
unprovoked hostility and enemy action.
I do not presume to submit to your judgment any
particular measures. Rest assured, under your
leadership, in such a situation, each Frenchman is duty
bound to ensure the honour of France is up-held.
