L. S. JOHN ADAMS,

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

OF

AMERICA.

TO the most Illustrious and most Magnifi cent Prince, the BEY, who commands the Odgiac of Tunis, the abode of happiness, and the most honored IBRAHIM DEY, and SOLIMAN, Aga of the Janisaries, and Chief of the Divan and all the Elders of the Odgiac.

ILLUSTRIOUS AND HONORED FRIENDS.

SOME difficulties occurring in the terms of the treaty of peace and friendship concluded between the United States and you, and being desirous of removing the same in the most proper manner, I have appointed and given full power to our respected citizens, RICHARD O'BRIEN, Esquire, WILLIAM EATON, Esquire, and JAMES LeANDER CATHCART, Esquire, to negotiate with you for the removal of those difficulties. I therefore request you to receive the said RICHARD O'BRIEN, WILLIAM EATON and JAMES LEANDER CATHCART, or such of them as shall be at Tunis and present you this letter, and to hear and believe the explanations of those difficulties which they are directed to lay before you; and whereupon

they have authority to arrange with you the terms of the treaty, in a manner compatible with the interest and honor of the two nations, by which peace may be continued, commerce established, and the greatest advantages enjoyed on both sides. And may the Infinite God direct our hearts to that which is right.

ILLUSTRIOUS AND HONORED FRIENDS.

I have appointed the said WILLIAN EATON, Esquire, to be Consul of the United States, for the city and kingdom of Tunis, to reside at Tunis, to watch over the interests of the United States and their citizens. Wherefore, I request you to receive him as their Consul, to cause him to be duly respected, and to give full credence to what he shall say to you, on behalf of the United States, more especially when he shall assure you of their friendship and good will.

Given under my hand and the great Seal of the United States of America, at Philadelphia, the twenty first day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight, and the Independence of the United States the twenty third.

JOHN ADAMS.

By the President, TIMOTHY PICKERING.

On the 9th of February, the Sophia arrived in the bay of Algiers, after a passage of thirty six days from the capes of Delaware. EATON and CATHCART waited on O'Brien, Consul General of the United States for the Barbary coast, and continued with him till the 2d of March. On the 18th of February the armed vessels stipulated to be given the Dey of Algiers, were delivered to the Regency. On the 22nd, EATON and CATHCART were introduced to the palace. The introduction is thus described by EA

TON.

"Feb. 22, Friday, 12 o'clock, M. admitted to an audience with the Dey.

Consuls O'Brien, Cathcart and myself, Captains Geddes, Smith, Penrose, Maley, proceeded from the American house to the court yard of the palace, uncovered our heads, entered the area of the hall, ascended a winding maze of five flights of stairs, to a narrow, dark entry, leading to a contracted apartment of about 12 by eight feet, the private audience room. Here we took off our shoes; and, entering the cave, (for so it seemed) with small apertures of light with iron grates, we were shown to a huge, shaggy beast, sitting on his rump, upon a low bench, covered with a cushion of embroidered velvet, with his hind legs gathered up like a taylor, or a bear. On our approach to him, he reached out his fore paw as if to receive something to eat. Our guide exclaimed, "Kiss the Dey's hand!" The consul general bowed very elegantly, and kissed it; and we followed his example in succession. The animal seemed at that moment to be in a harmless mode: he grinned several times; but made very little noise. Having performed this ceremony, and standing a few moments in silent agony, we had leave to take our shoes and other property, and leave the den, without any other injury than the humility of being obliged, in this involuntary manner, to violate the second commandment of God, and offend common decency,

Can any man believe that this elevated brute has seven kings of Europe, two republics, and a continent, tributary to him, when his whole naval force is not equal to two line of battle ships? It is so !"

Mr. EATON's reception at Tunis, and the progress made in adjusting the treaty, cannot better be explained than by himself, in his first communication from Tunis, to the Secretary of State. The extracts from this letter will also give the reader some idea of the mode of conducting diplomatic concerns on the coast of Barbary.

Tunis, 26th March, 1799.

SIR THE following extract from my journal, being compared and corresponding with Mr. Cath cart's, will receive his signature, and be forwarded by Capt. Geddes; and will detail our progress from the moment of leaving Algiers till the finishing of our negociation.

March 2d. Sailed from Algiers for Tunis.

8th. Forced by contrary winds into the bay of Byserte. Went on shore; and at 2 P. M. dispatched a courier by land, with the following letter to Signor Azulai, a Hebrew merchant at Tunis.

"The underwritten envoys, commissioned by the government of the United States of America, to negociate and fix on certain alterations in the Treaty of peace between the Bey of Tunis and said States, on board the American brigantine, Sophia, now riding at anchor in the bay of Biserte, avail themselves of an opportunity of a Courier by land to apprize Signor Solomon Azulai, that, by the first fair wind, they will proceed to Tunis, to enter upon the negociation, and to desire him to provide, with economy, a convenient house, with suitable furniture for their reception,

They have letters of importance from the house of Bocri and Busnah in Algiers for Signor Azulai: but till an opportunity presents of delivering them with

their own hand, they desire that the purport of this note may be kept a profound secret. Please to accept, &c.

W. EATON,

J. L. CATHCART.

This letter, translated into Italian, with its original, was forwarded by a Moor, whom we employed for the purpose.

A heavy wind blowing into the mole, and a strong current setting out, occasioned such a surf that we found it impossible to reembark; and we were very hospitably invited to take accommodation in a Christian house, Stephen Decoster, an Italian, who was acting vice consul for the Emperor, Holland and Ragusa. In this house was a Secretary of Mr. Famin, who suspected our character, and communicated his suspicions to him.

March 10th. By the assistance of the Captain of the port, with a launch, we got on board our brig. In this place we experienced much hospitality, but paid dear for it in cash.

11th. At night anchored off cape Carthagena.

12th. Half past two o'clock, afternoon, came to anchor in the Bay of Tunis. Proceeded with the Commandant in the boat to the Goulette : Exhibited to the Aga of the marine the ship's papers, and received his assurance that proper information should be sent to the Bey; and that tomorrow at eleven in the morning a flag would be hoisted as a signal for our proceeding to Tunis.

14th. Eight in the morning a renegade from the palace came on board with the Bey's permission to us to go on shore. We immediately proceeded in the barge to the city, where we arrived at half past two, P. M. No house being provided, we went to M. Famin's. He received us with marks of suitable respect, and offered us every service in his power.