To Gov.  CLAIBORNE.

Barrataria, Sept. 4_th_, 1814.

Sir—­In the firm persuasion that the choice made of you to fill the office of first magistrate of this state, was dictated by the esteem of your fellow citizens, and was conferred on merit, I confidently address you on an affair on which may depend the safety of this country.  I offer to you to restore to this state several citizens, who perhaps in your eyes have lost that sacred title.  I offer you them, however, such as you could wish to find them, ready to exert their utmost efforts in defence of the country.  This point of Louisiana, which I occupy, is of great importance in the present crisis.  I tender my services to defend it; and the only reward I ask is that a stop be put to the proscription against me and my adherents, by an act of oblivion, for all that has been done hitherto.  I am the stray sheep wishing to return to the fold.  If you are thoroughly acquainted with the nature of my offences, I should appear to you much less guilty, and still worthy to discharge the duties of a good citizen.  I have never sailed under any flag but that of the republic of Carthagena, and my vessels are perfectly regular in that respect.  If I could have brought my lawful prizes into the ports of this state, I should not have employed the illicit means that have caused me to be proscribed.  I decline saying more on the subject, until I have the honor of your excellency’s answer, which I am persuaded can be dictated only by wisdom.  Should your answer not be favorable to my ardent desires, I declare to you that I will instantly leave the country, to avoid the imputation of having cooperated towards an invasion on this point, which cannot fail to take place, and to rest secure in the acquittal of my conscience.

I have the honor to be

your excellency’s, &c.

J. LAFITTE.

The contents of these letters do honor to Lafitte’s judgment, and evince his sincere attachment to the American cause.  On the receipt of this packet from Lafitte, Mr. Blanque immediately laid its contents before the governor, who convened the committee of defence lately formed of which he was president; and Mr. Rancher the bearer of Lafitte’s packet, was sent back with a verbal answer to desire Lafitte to take no steps until it should be determined what was expedient to be done; the message also contained an assurance that, in the meantime no steps should be taken against him for his past offences against the laws of the United States.

At the expiration of the time agreed on with Captain Lockyer, his ship appeared again on the coast with two others, and continued standing off and on before the pass for several days.  But he pretended not to perceive the return of the sloop of war, who tired of waiting to no purpose put out to sea and disappeared.