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be great - but to wrest it from the Turk by force is out of the question

the only way that offers itself for eventually annexing it (if not to British dominion at least to British controul) is to establish in it as Resident or Consul or agent an intelligent Zealous active man who would neglect no means which local knowledge put in his power, of attaching the natives to the British cause or at least of frustrating the plans & views of other Powers.

from this Island an Argus observation may be kept up on the adjacent Isles & coast & much valuable information may from time to time be transmitted to our Resident at Palermo