make him a tender, and proposed fifty thousand dollars in full of all demands. He said the maritime and military regalia were very rich; that they were peculiarly necessary at this period; and if I would offer two hundred and fifty thousand dollars the Bey would not accept it.

I recapitulated the expense already incurred in our negociation with this Regency; and shewed him Famin's general account and list of presents. He said it was a trifle; and again mentioned the jewels. I observed it was very unaccountable the Bey should persevere in his demand of articles which the war rendered it impossible to procoure. "Get them in

England," said he; "we like the English manufactures much better than the French and Spanish." I said it was still more extraordinary that the Bey should demand of the United States threefold the duties of all other nations; refuse the salute which he gave all other nations; compel an obligation on us to suffer our merchantmen to be pressed into his service; and yet demand of us the usages of the richest and most favored nation on earth. He repeated that the service very probably would never be required. Be this as it may, the Bey would have the presents. He now demanded for himself a double barrelled gun and a gold chain to a watch; said the American Agent had promised the gun, and he be lieved had sent for it. I told him plainly the United States would find it cheaper and better policy to send a force into these seas to defend their commerce, than to yield to these accumulated demands. "Very well;" said he.

He reported to the Bey. In a few minutes I was introduced to his apartment. A few words passed between us of the tenor of the foregoing. He got into a passion arose and left the hall: but turned, going out, and said, "consult your government. I give them six months to give me an answer, and to send the presents. If they come in that time, well ; if not, take down your flag and go home."

Thus, sir, I have given a faithful but a tedious de tail of our negociation. The United States sat out wrongly; and have proceeded so. Too many concessions have been made to Algiers. There is, but one language which can be held to these people 5 and this is terror. If my own feelings were to dic tate the answer to the demands submitted, it would be a solemn one. But whether good policy would dictate this is the question. We should get little, and might lose much. At all events we should have to buy a peace at last, and redeem our captives, unless we could effect the intire destruction of the Regency, or convince them of our ability to do it. Our affairs are critically circumstanced. Much mischief is meditated by our cidevant agent. I am assured he has this day formally protested to the Bey against the United States establishing another Consul here and taking the bread out of his own mouth and I should not be surprised to have an opportunity to hand my dispatches to the department of State.

I have not yet made great sacrifices, nor other than unavoidable; but I expect to be compelled to it, except something at present unforeseen, shall operate to prevent it. I will not however be bullied into the measure. When I find it necessary I will soften my tone with this government: but this will be my dernier. The language of independence has never been spoken by our agent. If he were received as the representative, as well as the agent of the Government of the United states, well may we be considered fit for slaves. I am persuaded he has never resisted any demand; and am of opinion he has shared the benefits of his own concessions. My inverted opinion of this Frenchman may seem unaccountable. His civilities to me were the upper dress of hypocrisy.

I believe it would have a good effect to show force in these seas, if it can be spared from our own coasts; if it be only to convince these pirates that we are not Italians. If the present of jewels be resisted,

as I devoutly pray it may, it will be absolutely necessary, or the other regalia will not be received. Denmark furnishes a recent example of this nature. Policy forbids the Tunissian's going to war with the United States at present. So long as this continues to be the case, we are not in much danger: but no sense of justice would prevent this event if occasion should suit. It is probable further forbearance may be obtained, and must, from the impossibility of returning the answer within the time; but it is hoped too much may not be presumed on this probability. The United States have no messenger whom I would greet with so much cordiality with the answer as Commodore Barry.

I have the honor to remain,

With perfect respect,

Sir, your most obedient

Honorable Secretary

*

very humble servant, WILLIAM EATON. April 15.

of the United States.

The instructions of the Secretary of state, Mr. Pickering, to Mr. EATON, were very ample, directing him not only with regard to the more immediate duties of a Consul, but requiring his attention to the military and naval force, manufactures, commerce, laws, policy, &c. of Tunis and the other Barbary powers. The following, omitting unimportant remarks, conveys much information on these subjects.

SIR,

Tunis, 15th June, 1799.

The commerce of Tunis is principally monopoliz ed by the Jews. The hides and wax of the whole kingdom, which are considerable articles of exportation, are farmed by a company of merchants, compos

ed principally of Jews, called Giornata; for which they pay the Bey, annually, sixty thousand piasters, equal to seventeen thousand one hundred and forty two dollars. The subjects are compelled to sell the hides to this company at eleven cents each, and wax at thirty two dollars per quintal. The Giornata have had a factory established at Leghorn, whither these raw materials were exported, till the operations of the French in Italy, since which this factory is moved to Messina. Two hundred and fifty thousand hides, and four hundred quintals of wax, are supposed to enter into the ordinary annual trade of this company. Revenue produced to the Bey.. dols. 17,142, 85.

The other and more considerable articles of exportation are oil, wheat and barley. Of these, the Bey receives tithes. One hundred and thirty thousand metars of oil, of six gallons each, are supposed to be annually exported to Europe and Asia. In addition to the tithes, the Bey receives sixty four cents per metar for a tiskery, (permission to export.) The oil is purchased, at about twenty eight, cents per gallon, the average price, which, with the tiskery, amounts to something less than thirty nine cents per gallon. According to this calculation, the annual revenue derived from this article is, dols. 78,520.

The exportation of wheat, exclusive of the tithe, is supposed to be three hundred and fifty thousand bushels annually. Suppose this to be nine tenths of the whole annual produce of the country, the value of the tithe in wheat will amount to thirty eight thousand eight hundred and eighty eight dollars. For a tiskery for each caffice of eleven bushels, the Bey receives six dollars, amounting to one hundred and ninety four thousand, four hundred and eighty nine dollars. Upwards of one hundred and twenty vessels, averaging ninety tons, annually load with this article. And the revenue produced, according to the above calculation, is dollars 223,377, 74.

I cannot ascertain the quantity of barley exported, and duties collected; but, supposing it to be half as much as the wheat, the revenue arising from this article would be about dollars, 70,000. The exportation of beans and vetches is supposed to produce about dollars, 17,000.

Some beeves and sheep are exported, but the quantity is inconsiderable on these articles however duties are collected by giving tiskeries.

This information is obtained from a principal Hebrew merchant in this city. And, although it may not be accurate, it may communicate some idea of the produce and internal revenue of this kingdom.

The principal manufactures of the kingdom, are red caps and sashes; a sample of the former, I sent by Capt. Geddes, of which great quantities are exported into all the Turkish dominions.

:

4

The manufactors of caps import annually from Spain three thousand quintals of fine wool and the sash manufactories receive annually from the Morea, six hundred quintals of raw silk. These. articles pay no duty. This is a peace calculation. The présent war has totally deranged the commerce of this kingdom. Ragusa is at present the carrier for Tunis; and what little commerce remains to them, centres principally at Smyrna and other ports of the Levant, along the coast of Dalmatia and the Morea.

Muslins, stuffs, fine cloths, iron, coffee, sugar, pepper and spices of all kinds, bleached wax candles, cochineal, dried fish and lumber, are articles of importation much wanted and which would command great prices in cash, at least three hundred per cent more than in America.

[Mr. EATON here gives a list of the marine force of Tunis; by which it appears that the Tunissians then possessed ninety four armed vessels, nine hundred and twenty eight guns, and eighty eight swivels; the whole manned by upwards of eight thou sand men.]