July the 18th 1805
To the Right Honorable William Pitt
Sir
I have waited till you were releeved from the fateague of attending Parliament before I would urge you on my particular business, on which I have written to Lord Barham twice without an answer, which with other circumstances have led me to believe that government do not intend to prosecute my system of attack Whatever may be their decision it is interesting for me to know it As I have other and previous engagements of much magnitude which call for my attention, and do not warrant my loosing time; hence I hope you will have the goodness to mention an hour when I may have the honor to wait on you that a plan of Acting may be arranged or the business as relates to me put into such a train as to be speedily and finally setteled
I have made the machines and exhibited to Sir Home Popham all that I know of them; the mode of using them and their effects, and if it is thought proper to use them; it can be done as well without my aid as with it As to the submarine Vessel my opinion ever has been that it would not be good policy in this government to introduce it into practice, consequently you will not want me to construct one, But I have all the drawings to Shew that everything which has been said of it is practicable and which drawings according to contract, are to be delivered to such persons as you may think proper to name
Under these circumstances I wish to sail for America about the first of September, I Shall therefore hope that you will have the goodness, to appoint an early hour when I may have the honor to wait on you
I have the honor to be your most
Obedient Robt Francis
Before the year was finished the tone of his letters became more bitter. He was no longer giving the government advice upon how they were to treat Bonaparte, but was deeply engaged in fighting for what he considered his own rights. The stilted style gave place to a more simple and direct form, in which he made no attempt to disguise his irritation as is shown by two letters written to Lord Castlereagh:
London