1To Thomas Jefferson from William Eaton, 12 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday I received the letter of which the following is a translation — “Sir, Having lost the hope of the restitution of my family, a Mr. Davis, the American Consul at Tripoly assured me, and seing myself abandoned like a prisoner, more peculiarly now that there are no longer American ships of war in this Sea and the consul being about to depart hence without making provisions for the...
2To Thomas Jefferson from William Eaton, 26 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
By Geo. Dysson Esq. late Navy Agent of the UStates at Syracuse, I am assured that Tobias Lear did privately stipulate with Joseph Bashaw of Tripoli an article, which he signed, that the family of Hamet Bashaw should not be surrendered, as by public treaty engaged, until after the expiration of four years—It is impossible to suppose that information of this dishonorable duplicity and fraud...
3To James Madison from William Eaton, 1807 (Madison Papers)
I received at the post office in Washington, when passing through that city, a letter from Hamet Bashaw accompanying one addressed to the (rather intended for) Government of the United States, which he begs me to favor, and which I have the honor herewith to enclose. The translation I have made may be incorrect, as I had not the aid of a dictionary and as I have long been out of practice in...
4To James Madison from William Eaton, 26 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
“There seem to be some portentous meteors moving in latent orbits in our political hemisphere. On the 4th. instant passed this place Gen. Moreau, said to be on his way to Orleans. About 15 or 20 minutes before sun rise I was going to my store, when I observed a barge heave in sight by the point of the island which lies above the town. From their appearance I concluded they were standing for...
5To James Madison from William Eaton, 27 October 1806 (Madison Papers)
Danielson, named in the foregoing extract, is my son in law and ward; has lately returned from Marietta. Belknap, a native of this County, is merely a resident there. Blennahasset an expatriated Irish Gentleman, settled on an island in the vicinity of Marietta, of which he is proprietor. There is a man, by name, Ephraim Kibby, living in the neighbourhood of Cincinnati, late a Capn. of rangers...
6To James Madison from William Eaton, 2 June 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Eaton. 2 June 1806, Brimfield, Massachusetts. “Herewith I have the honor to pass, through the favor of your Department, to the proper address, two letters which came to hand this morning accompanied by one to me from Hamet Caramella, ex Bashaw of Tripoli. I ask leave also to pass through the same favor an answer to this last mentioned.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Tunis, vol. 2, pt....
7To James Madison from William Eaton, 27 February 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Eaton. 27 February 1806, Washington. “I am constrained to reiterate my solicitation of Nov. 27th. that some decision may be had on my accounts submitted for settlement; or, if a settlement should still be thought not within executive discretion, that I may have this decision under your authority in season to revive my claim before Congress the present session. I am extremely...
8To James Madison from William Eaton, 27 November 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Eaton. 27 November 1805, Washington City. “Permit me to request that my unsettled acounts, long since submitted for decision, may be reviewed; compared with facts; and admitted or rejected. In case I should again be obliged to apply to Congress, I believe it would now be no difficult matter to convince that body that, if my arrangements, out of which some of the most...
9To James Madison from William Eaton, 4 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose herewith a convention concluded by me on the part of the United States, with Hamet Bashaw. We have been detained here twelve days by reason of delinquency in our commissary Department. The camp moves tomorrow morning for Derne. I have the honor to be with perfect respect, Sir, your Mo Obedt servt. RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Tripoli, vol. 2, filed at end of...
10To James Madison from William Eaton, 18 September 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 September 1804, Malta. “I request you will be pleased to cause information to be forwarded me, from the office of the department of State, by which I may learn on what grounds, or whether any, the Chevalier Antonio Porcile, of Sardinia, founds a pretext of having been released by an act of the Government of the United States from a demand I have against him for payments made as his surety...
11To Thomas Jefferson from William Eaton, 24 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
E.— will go forward in the first frigate to the Mediterranean. After an interview with the Commodore , will proceed, in one of the small vessels, to Derne to aid the motions of the legitimate Bashaw of Tripoli in order to bring him in the rear of the enemy—Thence to Naples and negociate a convention as the President shall direct—Then be at the rendezvous, on the arrival of a re-enforcement, to...
12To James Madison from William Eaton, 14 March 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 March 1804, Washington. “‘The ship Fortune belonging to the Bacries at Algiers, after having been put under the American flag to carry our captives from Algiers to Marseilles, was afterward kept or placed a new under that flag for the purposes of the Bacries alone; and when laden on their account, and captured and condemned by the British the Bacries demanded and compelled Mr. Barlow to...
13To James Madison from William Eaton, 25 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 February 1804. “As I have it in contemplation to publish the statement and document submitted to the committee of claims, accompanying my petition, I request you will be pleased to give it your perusal and signify to me whether it contains any thing improper to be laid before the public. “The solicitude I feel to be relieved from the state of suspense and accumulation of expenses which I...
14To Thomas Jefferson from William Eaton, 2 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
At an early period of our rupture with Tripoli Mr. Cathcart suggested to me the plan of using Hamet Bashaw , the legitimate sovereign of that regency, then an exile at Tunis, as an instrument in favor of the United States to chastise the perfidy of our enemy, his brother, who had usurped the Government— I did not then enter decidedly into the measure, doubting whether any construction of my...
15To James Madison from William Eaton, 19 June 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 June 1803, Washington . Questions whether the case of the master of the imperial vessel captured off Malta “January last” and left at Gibraltar may not “involve questions which will affect the honor and the interest of the United States.” The master’s effects, and those of his mate, were brought to the U.S. in the Chesapeake , yet “it is acceded that Tripoli was not blockaded at the time of...
16To James Madison from William Eaton, 19 June 1803 (Madison Papers)
The master of the imperial vessel, caputred off Ma lta by order of Commodore Morris in January last, was by his order brought to Gibraltar and there left. Such of said master’s effects found onboard the prize, as were not left in sequestration with his vessel at Malta, are brought forward to the United States in the Chesapeak as also the personal effects of his mate; viz. their chests and...
17To James Madison from William Eaton, 6 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
I embarked at Tunis in the schooner Enterprize on the 10th. March, touched at Algiers the 20th.—and arrived at Gibraltar the 23d.: the squadron had arrived the morning of the same day. It was my intention thence to have taken passage to the United States in the frigate chesapeak. But, hearing on the 30th. of the arrival of a ship from Leghorn bound directly to Boston, I asked the Commodore’s...
18To James Madison from William Eaton, 22 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 March 1803 , “ At Sea .” Notes that the enclosed reflection was not intended to be communicated, being only the ideas noted in a memorandum on the passage from Tunis to Algiers. “On Mr. OBrien’s coming on board he seemed somewhat surprised at seeing me. I stated to him, as correctly as possible in a few words, the cause and manner of my leaving Tunis.” O’Brien said the Sahib-at-Taba had...
19To James Madison from William Eaton, 22 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
The reflection herewith enclosed was not intended to be communicated: it being but an occurrence of ideas which occupied my mind on the passage from Tunis to Algiers, and which I noted by way of memorandum. On Mr. OBrien’s coming on board, he seemed somewhat surprised at seeing me. I stated to him, as correctly as possible in a few words, the cause and manner of my leaving Tunis. He said it...
20To James Madison from William Eaton, 5 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 March 1803, Tunis. “Continuation of letter of 4. March. ” Commodore Morris left the American house “yesterday morning about nine oclock” to board the Chesapeake . Because of “some altercations” between Morris and the bey’s commercial agent [Hajj Unis ben Unis], “who had three times come to and as often fallen from an agreement relative to the reclamations for the prize in question,” Morris...
21To James Madison from William Eaton, 5 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday morning about nine o clock Commodore Morris left the American house to go on board. Some altercations between him and the bey’s commercial agent, who had three times come to and as often fallen from an agreement relative to the reclamations for the prize in question with this regency, had determined him to depart without making a visit of congee to the bey. He was met at the marine...
22To James Madison from William Eaton, 4 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 March 1803, Tunis. Commodore Morris in the Chesapeake , with the John Adams and the New York , anchored in the road of La Goulette “on the 22d. ult. 8 oclock A.M. ” and Eaton sent for permission to go aboard. The dragoman returned at eleven with the bey’s refusal. The bey insisted Morris first report ashore. Eaton went to La Goulette and, using his permit to visit the Enterprize , passed the...
23To James Madison from William Eaton, 4 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
On the 22d. ult. 8 oclock a.m. Commodore Morris in the UStates frigate Chesapeak, with the frigates John Adams and New York, anchored in the road of the Goulette. On their appearance in the offing I sent my dragoman for the Bey’s permission to go on board. He returned at eleven with a refusal. The Bey required the commodore should previously report himself. I immediately started for the...
24To James Madison from William Eaton, 8 February 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 February 1803, Tunis. Evidence “from a variety of circumstances” having shown that the bey is resolved “to hunt our Commerce in the Atlantic,” and “all pacific means” that did not compromise U.S. rights having been ineffectual in averting this, “I have once more resorted to … refusing my Passports to his Cruisers—at the same time giving it in confidence to a courtier, who I knew would betray...
25To James Madison from William Eaton, 1 February 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 February 1803, Tunis. Encloses a duplicate copy of his 26 Jan. letter to Commodore Morris with a copy of the protest of the proprietor of the cargo in question. To ensure an interview with Morris and Cathcart and calm the impatience of the bey, he promised to pay the bey’s commercial agent [Hajj Unis ben Unis] two hundred Spanish dollars to permit a vessel the agent had chartered for Smyrna...
26To James Madison from William Eaton, 1 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have now the honor to annex to a duplicate copy of my letter to Commodore Morris of 26. ult. a copy of the protest of the proprietor of the cargo in question. In order to ensure an interview with the commodore and Mr. Cathcart, and at the same time to calm the impatience of the bey, I have engaged to pay his commercial agent two hundred Spanish dollars to permit a vessel by him chartered for...
27To James Madison from William Eaton, 26 January 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
26 January 1803, Tunis. “The enclosed copy of a letter to Commodore Morris conveys an unequivocal expression of the kind of respect this Bey entertains for the flag of the United States, as well as of his intentions.” Has been informed the project of a peace between Tunis and Portugal is “considerably advanced.” The negotiation is said to be conducted through the intervention of the French....
28To James Madison from William Eaton, 26 January 1803 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed copy of a letter to Commodore Morris conveys an unequivocal expression of the kind of respect this Bey entertains for the flag of the United States, as well as of his intentions. The project of a peace between this regency & Portugal, I am informed, is considerably advanced. The negociation is said to be carried on through the intervention of the french government. It is certain...
29To James Madison from William Eaton, 21 January 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 January 1803, Tunis. Received official information “a few days ago” that Simpson had granted his passport to the Tripolitan warship at Gibraltar under a pretext of its being imperial property. “Last evening” Batavian consul Anthony Nissen displayed an official note from an agent at Constantine mentioning the arrival there on 17 Jan. of a 230-ton imperial ship with a passport from the...
30To James Madison from William Eaton, 21 January 1803 (Madison Papers)
A few days ago I received official information tha t our Consul at Morocco had granted his pasport to the Tripolitan Ship of war blocked at Gibraltar, under a pretext of its being the enemy’s property. And last evening, the Batavian Consul shewed me an official note from an agent at Constantine mentioning the arrival there on the 17th. inst. of an imperial ship of 230 tons, having the passport...