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an his favor and deliver the usurper into his hands. Accordingly, under a pretext of evading the Swede and American frigates, he prevailed on his attendants to touch at Malta. This plan being arranged, I ordered Capt. Bounds to Gibraltar, with dispatches to the government and Commodore, stating this position of affairs. He there fell in with the Constellation, Capt. Murray; who, after having previously read my communications, and consulted with Captains S. Barron and Bainbridge, discarded the project, and dismissed my ship with marks of pointed disapprobation. Mahamet Bashaw, faithful to his engagements, discharged his ship at Malta, under the same pretext which took him to that port; and has remained there ever since. But, though he has had an interview with Capt. M'Niell who counselled him to persevere in the project, he has received no succour, nor even countenance from the gentleman now in command (Capt. Murray.) The circumstance of his secure position, however, has excited such alarm in the apprehensions of the reigning Bashaw, that he has actually called to the defence of his city such of the Arabs of his kingdom as are attached to his interest, and, to insure their fidelity, confined their chiefs within his walls. This fact, together with the solicitude of the usurper to get possession of his brother's person, go to demonstrate the correctness of our calculations on this project, if suitable advantage had been taken of the position it offered. I hope the occasion is not lost.

To MR. MADISON.

Tunis, August 23d, 1802.

OUR operations of the last and present year produce nothing in effect but additional enemies and national contempt. If the same system of operations continue, so will the same consequences. The obstinate posture and affected indifference to menace, which have hitherto been my talismen in

lieu of solid argument here, no longer avail. The Minister puffs a whistle in my face, and says; “We find it is all a puff! We see how you carry on the war with Tripoli !"

I have never ceased to give the alarm in due season to suggest such measures as seemed to me indispensible to parry serious mischief; and to point out what I believed would be the consequence of neglecting that advice. I have now the melancholy reflection that my apprehensions have been but too well founded, and my predictions but too accurate.

My exile is become insupportable here. Abandoned by my countrymen in command; no advice from government to regulate my conduct; and my own exertions failing of effect; I am left subject, though not yet submissive, to the most intolerable abuse and personal vexation. Anxiety, perplexity and a climate unfavorable to my constitution, waste my health. The position I have taken and held with this Bey in regard to passports for his merchantmen for Tripoli, has excited a temper and disposition in this court to distress me in my personal concerns. I have frequently stated that my salary is an inadequate support. The check which Capt. Murray thought proper to put on my public measures has not less affected my public character. Thus situated, I am consuming life, property, and, perhaps, public reputation here, without the consoling prospect of having the merit of being useful to my country. Why should I remain at a post which is no longer tenable? Again, I repeat, my individual resources are insufficient barriers against the avarice of this Regency. From the first moment of my agency here it was apparent to me that submission to the demands of this Bey would only sharpen avidity. I stated this apprehension in my communications to government: it was thought too lively! My measures to chastise a perfidious enemy are now branded, by commanders, as speculative; the effusions of a disordered fancy! Is it not enough that I have sacri

ficed almost four years to the service of my country in a state of painful sequestration from all rational enjoyment? Will any body alledge that I have not discharged my duty with an upright zeal? And are such the rewards of my services? To be branded unheard in my own defence, and by a solitary Capt. of a frigate, with speculation, and insanity! This is too much! I have the native rights, and I trust the feelings of an American citizen. Let Murray leave to me my liberty and my honor: he may filch from me all the other appendages of life which can be useful to him. But blasted as is my honor here by the weight of his authority and the breath of his scandal, my very existence is insupportable. It were impossible to keep these things concealed here, even if they had been transacted with less publicity. The Bey says; "I always told the American Consul he was a mad man," (because I have not been his obsequious slave, as are half the Consuls near him,)

and it appears the commanders of his nation are of the same opinion!" Gentle commanders! Ye have hitherto exhibited no symptoms of madness to these Regencies! They are perfectly satisfied with your moderation! Equally so with the blast, in cool blood, you have stamped on the character of a fellow citizen and a fellow servant of your country.

I am constrained therefore, not less by a regard to the interest and honor of my country than to my own individual interest and honor, to request the President will permit me to resign the trust I have the honor to hold under the government of the United States; unless more active operations shall be resolved on against the enemy; in which case it would gratify me to remain on this coast till the issue be determined.

P. S. Aug. 28.

Yesterday I was called to the palace. The Minister formally demanded of me a frigate of 36 guns. It need not be thought strange to see me in America this winter. I can neither yield to nor get rid of the demand.

TO MR. MADISON.

Tunis, Sept. 12th, 1802.

IN former communications I have had the honor to suggest to the department of state, that when these Regencies prevail on a tributary national Agent to state a demand to his government, they raise an assumpsit on this compliance. I have consequently been uniform in refusing to state their demands. Steady to this resolution, I now refuse to write for a thirtysix gun frigate. The Bey has therefore condescended to write himself; but he conceived a project, entirely original, to finesse me into his views which was, that I should make a form of the letter, which he would send the President, under his signature. It would thus become my act; and of course, on their mode of reasoning, a promise. This I refused.

At the palace on the 29th ult. argument was drawn from treaty compact, and our late delivery of regaiia, to discourage this demand. I asked the Minister. if he was not ashamed to make the demand after having received such valuable presents from the United States, and so lately? He answered in substance. "The presents already received were mere peace stipulation, which ought to have been delivered years ago. We have forborne with you on account of assurance of the Agents of your government that they were always on the way. It is six It is six years since your peace negociation was begun. We expected full payment in a year. You came out with nothing. More than three years have elapsed since you finished the negociation. We allowed you six months to bring forward the regalia. We have waited more than thirty six. After so long delay we have received payment for your peace. But you have made us no consideration for this forbearance: nor have we hitherto received any evidence of the veritable friendship of the Prince of America; not

withstanding the repeated amicable intimations we have given him that such an expression of his sincerity would be agreeable to us. We shall expect a different answer to this request. His Excellency, my master, is a man of great forbearance; but he knows what steps to take with the nations who exhaust his patience with illusive expressions of friendship; as you have learnt from the Danes, Spaniards and others. Do not you see the Spanish king has changed his Consul at the demand of my master? You may experience the same disgrace. We shall expect therefore, that you will give us your influence to obtain us a frigate; though we have much reason to believe you rather discourage your Prince from listening to our solicitations. And, should a rupture happen, and he be made acquainted with your neglect of duty, he must impute the cause to you alone."

To which I answered. Let the Bey write the President. He can undoubtedly state his pretensions with more perspicuity than I can. I shall take care to give his letter conveyance.

On the 2d instant, my drogoman was at the palace. The demand that I should form the project of a letter was reiterated. I had directed him, in case this subject should be revived, to tell the Bey decidedly, I would not write, neither directly nor indirectly. He did so. The Minister said: "It is what all the tributary Consuls do. And the American is in an error if he thinks to break over established customs!" He directed the drogoman to tell me the Bey would see me at the palace on the 4th. Accordingly on the fourth I rendered myself there. The Bey referred me to the Minister. I waited on him in his private chamber. After some interlocution, he demanded, in an imperious tone, a form of a letter to the President. I asked again, on what pretext he founded his claim for a frigate; and why he so strenuously insisted on my forming the letter? "I have already explained the grounds of our claim," said he. "We must have this expression of friend