James Madison Papers

To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 25 April 1802

From James Leander Cathcart, 25 April 1802

Leghorn April 25th. 1802

Sir

The enclosed extracts from my correspondence & Mr. Eatons dispatches will inform you of our actual position, every thing seems to be in a train to promise apparently a satisfactory conclusion to this war which I assure you envolves serious consequences ’tho visibly it is of little moment. I have before observed that Tunis and Algiers have their eyes fix’d on Tripoli to know how far their depredations will be tollerated, & you may depend Sir the manner we conclude with that Regency will be the criterion from which the other Regencys will take precedent & example⟨.⟩ Impatient for instructions I remain with the greatest respect Sir Yr. very Obnt Servt—

James Lear. Cathcart

Should any of Mr. Nissens communications be published it will be necessary to avoid mentioning his name lest they might be convey’d to Tripoli & be the means of doing him an injury—

Cathcart

De Souza the present Spanish Consul is the same person whom Ingraham so strongly recommends & calls his father in consequence of his having placed his seal of Office to said Ingrahams false accounts during his residence at Tripoli. His character like McDonoghs is notorious for being a creature of the Bashaws. he is an old man & has went to Tripoli to lay his bones in peace with his ancestors the moors. I cant say I should like to rise at the sound of the great trump encircled by Turks moors Arabs Renegades Jews & base perfidious christians who had sacrificed the honor & interest of their Nation to their own ease and emolument lest I might be over look’d in the crowd & risque being condemn’d to keep their company to all eternity which would be a hell indeed⟨.⟩

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