article like this, in any existing treaty, with any nation on earth? Why should you wish to impose on us this humiliating discrimination? Have we been more hostile to your interests, or less faithful to our engagements? Have we not at great expense aimed at a friendly intercourse with you; and have you not, by accepting our presents, seduced us to believe you were candidly disposed to treat with us on friendly and honorable terms?

"As to existing treaties," said he," they were made by my predecessors, who were more allured by a gold watch or a diamond ring, than by maga¡zines of ammunition and arsenals. I am not so much enamored with toys. I am now making a treaty for myself. Ammunition I must have. You make powder, and can, without much inconvenience, make this small compliment to my necessities. Your good faith I do not doubt; but your presents have been trifling."

We answered, we make powder; but not enough for our own consumption. We import from Europe much more than we manufacture; and what we make, comes as dear to us as what we import, beeause we import the ingredients; saltpetre from the vast distance of the East Indies, and sulphur from Saxony.'

He remained inflexible. The article was agreed upon as follows.

"When a vessel of war of one of the parties shall enter a port of the other, and demand to be saluted, there shall be paid one barrel of powder for each gun demanded for the salute: but if the demand be not made by the Consul on the part of the United States, or by the Commandant of the vessel on the part of the kingdom of Tunis, no salute shall be given, nor payment demanded for the salute."

瑟

We again proposed to send forward a cruiser in lieu of the stores stipulated. He said one cruiser would not be enough. "I have a head," said he, 66 you cannot over reach me." We are well con

vinced of that. "But," continued he," if you act politically, you will make me a compliment of a cruiser in addition to the stipulated regalia." We told him we should think of being generous, after we found the ability of being just. We should honestly give him whatever we agreed to give. "I do not suppose," said he," you will study to cheat me; this is a characteristic of low life; but I find you closely attached to your interest: so we all are.'

1

We retired to the Sapitapa's apartment, where the alterations were inserted in the original.

The Sapitapa took this opportunity to demand a present for the Bey. Said, he himself, and all the great men had received the customary presents on raising the flag: but the Bey had received nothing: it was a custom of all other nations. We told him we perfectly recollected hearing the Bey himself say but a few days since, that he was not a pauper; but had money to spare. It was very remarkable that he should so soon become a beggar: but, if he found any thing in the treaty which imposed the obligation, we were ready to pay it. As to the custom of all other nations, we chose to be singular in this instance: we were sorry, however, the Bey had so soon forgotten he had but a short time since received fifty thousand dollars, a present from the United States. "Fifty thousand dollars," said he, " is nothing. The Spaniards gave one hundred thousand for the peace; and very valuable presents on hoisting the flag."

The Spaniards have mines of gold and silver : they dig them in mass from the bosom of the earth: we get our cash in half pence, by laboring on its surface.

"You are however," said he, "a strong and enterprizing people, in the neighborhood of the Spanish mines these will most probably shortly fall into your hands."

ent.

When this happens, we will make the Bey a pres

"But," continued he," it was not fear which induced the Spaniards to make these presents: they had fleets at sea, to protect their commerce: it was a manly expression of friendship." We told him, on the other hand, the Spaniards had an extensive coast exposed to the ravages of the Tunissian Corsairs; and were constantly under apprehensions of having their defenceless women and children taken into captivity, and enslaved this induced their manly expression of friendship. We had no fears of this kind. Our coast was not only far off, but defended by freemen. Every man had arms in his hands always prepared for defence; and if an assault should be made upon them, the assailants would find more bayonets than booty.

The Sapitapa appeared irritated: got up and went into the Bey's chamber: returned and insisted on the present. We refused: but said we would consult our government.

Monday was proposed to come for the treaty. We left him to recover his temper.

Monday, 25th, eleven, A. M. at the palace. Delivered the Consular presents. The Bey engaged with his Generals: desired to call tomorrow.

Tuesday, 26th March, eleven, A. M. at the palace. The treaty as amended, was delivered us by the Bey, in Turkish.

We retired into the Sapitapa's room. He renewed the demand of a present for the Bey repeated that it was the custom of all nations, and made frequent reference to the Spaniards.

We told him the Bey had not admitted us to the privileges of all other nations; he ought not therefore, to expect the same usages from us. He had refused us a salute, except on terms repugnant both to our honor and our interest. He had extorted from us the concession of suffering our merchantmen to be pressed into his service. And he has exacted threefold the duty in his ports, which he had received

from any other nation. He had therefore less pretexl to claim of us the same considerations. At any rate, we should make no stipulation of this kind. The nogociation was closed. This was entering upon new negociation which neither our instructions nor inclination led us to enter upon.

a

Mr. Famin said he had intimated the thing to Mr. Barlow, who had instructed him to make the necessary provision to meet this demand. Doubt

ed.

He said he had the letter. We told him he had mentioned this circumstance in the palace on Saturday, and promised to produce the document. Two days had elapsed but he had omitted it. We believed nothing of this was ever intimated to our government and we were well persuaded they would not yield to it. "Then," said the Sapitapa, you may write your government that you have a truce but not a peace with Tunis. We told him, if peace depended on admitting these claims, we were ready to make the communication he dictated. He blustered: threw down his papers in an affected rage: used menace: come again to the subject, and produced a note, containing an invoice of the articles given by Spain. We refused to see it. He urged it upon us. We said the Bey had no longer ago than yesterday, received a present. He said that was a consular present, and had no relation to the usages of raising the flag. Asked if we wanted a long peace. Said, if we did, it must be on liberal terms. We answered, that we expected the peace would continue as long as it would be found convenient: the same, whether we paid more or less. He blustered again, and again menaced us with war, in case the demand was not complied with. We took the note, told him we would forward it to our government, but assured him they would pay no attention to it.

In this affair, M. Famin has betrayed his real character. He is manifestly in the interest of the court, and prepared to countenance all their projects

of plunder: but this may arise as much from a spirit of dependence as selfishness.

Wednesday. 27th. Received the following note from the Secretary of State, dictated by the Sapitapa..

"I write to you in the name of Sidi Joseph, so far as relates to my subject. Sidi Joseph says it is the usance of this regency, when the articles are changed, to give the customary usances to the Secretary and to the Sapitapa: and also, if it is written out an hundred times, it is necessary to give the same usance as at the first time.

I have the honor, &c.

(Signed.) M. STINCA." Dated at the palace, 27th March.

Friday, 29th March. Wrote the Sapitapa as follows. Day before yesterday I received a note from the Secretary, Mr. Stinca, informing me that so often as a treaty is written out or altered, the customary presents are given to the keeper of the seal and the Secretary. It would be agreeable to me to be informed what these presents are. I hope it will be considered that the treaty, till now, could never be considered complete; and that the presents already given have been in anticipation of this event. This being the case, the demand for presents does not bear with it that appearance of propriety, as it would in case there had been a rupture between the parties, and the treaty renewed. I am, at present, unprepared to meet a demand of this nature but if I find the custom established and formed in equity, provision shall be made for it. Candor and duty, demand of me however, to declare, that I can in no case of this kind, resort to the Spanish nation for precedent to govern my conduct: If the United States should emerge from their present distressed situation, they may perhaps become enabled to adopt the usages of the Danish and Swedish nations. I am, &c.'