quency of my communications than from want of suitable respect to them. I pray Heaven for the speedy arrival of the Ship expected from New York. Mean time I am at loss for projects to amuse the Regency. Sidi Joseph, Sapitapa, now prime, as he has long been principal, minister (Sidi Mustapha Coggea the old minister having died the 10th ultimo, aged 83) has a large Danish prise ship spoiling at Porto Farina, which he has been a long time by his commercial agent, teasing me to buy. I am resolved to enter on a negociation to this effect. And if I can obtain a credit three or four months for the amount of its value, which cannot exceed four or five thousand dollars, it may divert his attention from greater objects. And if I should make a sacrifice in the speculation it is presumed the important object it aims to secure will induce the government of the United States to indemnify me. TO THE SECRETARY OF State. Tunis, December 8th, 1800. ON the 25th ult. it was intimated to me that there was an American ship in the road of Porto Farina. Instantly I sent off an express to enquire for facts. On the 27th, received a note from Captain Coffin of the Anna Maria, informing me that he had been ten days in the road without being able to communicate with the shore, by reason of the weath On er, which was extremely bad. On the 28th, I asked a boat of the Bey to board her, which he said should be ready on the 30th, accordingly on the 30th, I embarked at Tunis in an open boat, and arrived on board, ten leagues, at eight in the evening of the same day. the morning following, 1st December, had the honor of receiving your letter of 30th August, covering an invoice and bill of the ship's lading. Yesterday I returned to Tunis. Such part of the cargo as was between decks was chiefly discharged before I left the ship. The quality of the articles are acknowledged to be good; but it is objected that the plank and the oars are too short; and the government affects to be dissatisfied that the keels, guns, and powder are not come forward. I believe the facts to be, the government are dissatisfied that any thing has come forward. If this opinion require evidence, I consider it sufficient to state that the United States are the only nation which have, at this moment, a rich unguarded commerce in the Mediterranean; and that the Barbary Regencies are Pirates. I take to myself the merit of having once more at least suspended an expedition which was prepared for us. But we are yet deficient; and I am not without apprehension that this deficiency will be resorted to as a pretext for surprising our merchantmen. In which case they might do us incalculable mischief. These are considerations which, it is supposed, should compel exertions to fulfil our obligations with this Regency. I have very little prospect of reducing the Bey's claim for the jewels, although he is not yet informed that I have commissioned for them. The immence concessions he has received the summer past from Spain, Denmark, Sicily, and Sweden have so diminished the condition of our peace in his eye that he says it is a trifle for so great a commercial nation in consideration for the advantages of a free trade in this sea. This government affect great personal respect and even friendship for me; it is the assassins decoy. In return however, I make their civilities reciprocal. But, again I repeat, unless our government change their mode of intercourse with these Regencies, especially with this so far as to be punctual, I have no means of maintaining the peace; and it would be criminal in me to amuse the government with such a confidence. The Anna Maria will probably be discharged within her lay days. SIR, O'BRIEN TO EATON. Algiers, October 19th, 1800. I WROTE you, and forwarded your letters, announcing the arrival of the Washington the 17th September. On the 9th instant said ship was ready for sea, and would sail on the 10th, for the United States; but the Dey, in a great fury, deelared to me, that if said ship did not proceed with his ambassador and regalia for Constantinople, he no longer held to his friendship with the United States. We had no alternative but to acquiesce, or war would be the result, and, I am convinced, detention of the ship and crew, besides every other loss from a sudden surprise. It is a forced business. The ship is under sail and is to return, God knows when; but, sir, if any accident happens, depend, on the first news, said Potent Dey will send out his corsaires and take all Americans in order to repay himself. The ship is the peace of the United States - with Algiers I have had a severe squall. On the 14th instant arrived the ship Brutus, Captain Brown. The Dey will insist that said ship will proceed to Rhodes to bring him a cargo of Turks. Observe said ship has 1056 cases oil and soap on board. The Dey told me if said ship did not go he would oblige her per force. No pay.-No consideration for the cargo. Nothing to be consid ered but the Dey's own despotic will. Crew of the Washington, 131, Ambassador and Suit, 100, 331. 4 horses; 150 sheep; 25 horned cattle ; 4 lyons; 4 tygers; 4 antilopes; 12 parrots; funds and regalia amount to nearly one million of dollars. &c. &c. We want six frigates in this sea to wait *I do not believe it. Note by EATON. the event of the Washington making the voyage safe or not. NOTES of EATON. Genius of my country! How art thou prostrate! Hast thou not yet one son whose soul revolts ; whose nerves convulse, bloodvessels burst, and heart indignant swells, at thought of such debasement; Shade of Washington! Behold thy orphaned sword hung on a slave, a voluntary slave, and serve a pirate! I never thought to find a corner of this slanderous world where baseness and American were wedded. But here we are the byeword of derision; quoted as precedents of baseness, even by Danes! Shall Tunis also lift his thievish arm, smite our scarred cheek, then bid us kiss the rod! This is the price of peace! But if we will have peace at such a price, recal me, and send a slave, accustomed to abasement, to represent the nation. And furnish ships of war, and funds, and slaves to his support, and our immortal shame. History shall tell that theUnited States first volunteered a ship of war, equipt, a carrier for a pirate. It is written. Nothing but blood can blot the impression out. I frankly own, I would have lost the peace, and been myself empaled rather than yielded this concession. Will nothing rouse my country? To Mr. SMITH. Tunis, March 9th, 1801. THE present position I hold with Tunis seems to promise tranquility, at least until the issue of my adventure in the Anna Maria be known: but perhaps this prospect should not induce a relaxation in the measures of government relative to fulfilling our treaty stipulations. No longer ago than yesterday, the Bey's Prime Minister asked me when I expected the Jewels the Bey had demanded? I told him, never, according to the list he had ordered: but, that our Minister in England had received the President's instructions to procure a present in London, as a testimony of the respectful and friendly sentiments he entertained for the talents and character of the Bashaw of Tunis, which would probably be out. next summer; but I had no authority to say it would correspond with the note forwarded; on the contrary was pretty certain it would be something short of it. The Minister replied with some agitation; "If the President does not send the whole, the Bey will receive none." Tell the President so, said I, and he will send none. He is a plain, upright man, who loves his friends, and is obliging; but very much in the habit of doing as he pleases and if you affront him you will find him as hard headed as an ENGLISHMAN.* Here the subject ended but I could not discern that the Minister felt himself affronted at this frankness. * * :: * : TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. * Tunis, April 10th, 1801. SIR, THE dispatches herewith inclosed from the Consul of the United States at Tripoli seem to me of so much consequence to the safety and interest of our maritime and commercial citizens, and, in the event, to the revenue of the government, that I not only feel myself justifiable, but constrained by duty, to use extraordinary means to communicate them to the department of state; I have therefore chartered a Ragusa brig, to proceed directly with them to the United States, on conditions expressed in a translated copy of the charter party herewith inclosed. I prefer this flag as least liable to be turned out of its course, and I dispatch the vessel in ballast to prevent all possible annoyance. The expense of this expedient bears so small a proportion to the interests it aims to secure, that I cannot doubt it will receive * A proverbial saying among the Turks. |