Captain Lockyer, of a British
naval vessel, anchored in the pass at Barrataria, and delivered to
Lafitte a packet of documents comprising a proclamation addressed to
the inhabitants of Louisiana by Colonel Edward Nichalls, commander of
the English forces on the coast of Florida, a letter from him to
Lafitte, and another from the Honorable W. H. Percy, captain of the
sloop-of-war _Hermes_. The upshot of all this was a proposal that
Lafitte enter the British naval service in command of a frigate, and if
he would take his men with him he should have thirty thousand dollars,
payable at Pensacola.

Lafitte refused the tempting bait, and two days later sent the
following letter to Governor Claiborne of the state of Louisiana:

BARRATARIA, Sept. 4th. 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 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 defense 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 offenses,
I shall 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 desires, I declare to you that I will instantly leave
the country, to avoid the imputation of having cooperated towards an
invasion of this point, which cannot fail to take place, and to rest
secure in the ac