To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 7 January 1808

I have the honour to inform [yo]u that this morning an American Vessel from the Streights came into this Roads, but did not anchor She was boarded from the British Guard Ship, the Officer of which reported [t]hat the Captain had informed him that the Emperor of Morroca had declared War against [t]he United States of America & that he had [to]uched at this Port merely to land a Letter for [t]he American Consul. The Officer informed him [t]hat he must previously obtain the Admirals [p]ermission, but if he would wait he would [im]mediately go on Shore & inform the Consul [so] he would make the necessary application [T]his the Captain refused to do & immediately [m]ade Sail leaving this verbal information [of] the event, which no doubt must be attributed [to] the weakness of our Squadron in the Mediterranean & you may depend Sir we should have been at War with Tunis long ’ere now had those Barbarians not been at War among themselves In anxi[ous] expectation to hear how our affairs termi[n]ates with Great Britain I have the hono[r] to continue very respectfully Sir Your Obt: Servan[t]