Patriot Pirates (2008)
“Here we are too near the sun, and the business is dangerous; with you it may be done more easily.
—William Carmichael to William Bingham, June 1777 I have by no means neglected what Mr. Carmichael so strongly recommends in regard to precipitating a war betwixt France and England. I have always been fully convinced of the policy of irritating the two nations, of affording them matter for present resentments, and of renewing in their minds the objects of their ancient animosity. The attempt has not been altogether unavailing.
—William Bingham to the Foreign Affairs Committee, October 1777 One of the excuses France offered Britain for its treaty violations was that its people were “turbulent spirits eager to run after adventures.” Since “adventure” meant both financial speculation and personal thrill-seeking, the characterization was dead on. Money above all drove Frenchmen and other Europeans to join, as crewmen or investors, still-illegal privateer expeditions. But the excitement of tw...eaking the British “lords of the ocean”MoreLess
—William Carmichael to William Bingham, June 1777 I have by no means neglected what Mr. Carmichael so strongly recommends in regard to precipitating a war betwixt France and England. I have always been fully convinced of the policy of irritating the two nations, of affording them matter for present resentments, and of renewing in their minds the objects of their ancient animosity. The attempt has not been altogether unavailing.
—William Bingham to the Foreign Affairs Committee, October 1777 One of the excuses France offered Britain for its treaty violations was that its people were “turbulent spirits eager to run after adventures.” Since “adventure” meant both financial speculation and personal thrill-seeking, the characterization was dead on. Money above all drove Frenchmen and other Europeans to join, as crewmen or investors, still-illegal privateer expeditions. But the excitement of tw...eaking the British “lords of the ocean”MoreLess
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