91To James Madison from William Eaton, 15 July 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
15 July 1801, Tunis. Gives account of his audience with bey where he protested the insult American consul Cathcart received during his voyage from Algiers to Leghorn. Bey rejected the protest, insisting Cathcart was a troublemaker, but the next day bey became conciliatory. Encloses letter of protest to bey. All is tranquil for the moment. Believes he has new evidence that the Algerine...
92To James Madison from William Eaton, 4 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
Although the expedition of the squadron into this sea has not had all the success which its first position here seemed to promise it has nevertheless effected much good. It has intirely defeated the object of the Tripoline expedition, prevented any of our citizens falling into chains, and given the Tripolines a very flattering speciment of the harvest they may reap and the honor they may aspire...
93To James Madison from William Eaton, 5 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
The inclosures which I have the honor herewith to forward will inform Government, as accurately as I have the means, of our actual position and future prospects in regard to Tripoli one circumstance only omitted, which is a project in concert between the rightful Bashaw of Tripoli, now in exile in Tunis, and myself to attack the usurper by land while our operations are going on by sea. These...
94To James Madison from William Eaton, 23 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday 2. oclock p.m. a Danish frigate anchored off cape Carthage. I happened to be at the Goulette, and at half past six boarded him: He was 12 days from Tripoli. Finding on board Mr. DeWitt a gentleman of my particular acquaintance, who had been a principal Agent in negociating the Danish peace at Tunis in 1801, and who had now returned from Tripoli where he had been employed in similar...
95To James Madison from William Eaton, 18 March 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 March 1802, Tunis. Adds to what he wrote in the enclosed letter to Rufus King that on arriving in Tunis, he found Hamet Pasha “yielding to his brother’s instances and on the point of departing for Derne a Province of Tripoli, the Government of which is promised him.” Has refused Hamet’s request for a passport and “told him very candidly that if he departed we must consider him in the light...
96To James Madison from William Eaton, 4 April 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 April 1802, Tunis. Refers JM to enclosures marked A, B, C, D, and E giving information of his actions from 12 to 24 Mar. Gloria made safe journey to Malta, having left Tunis 26 Mar. and arrived back 3 Apr. Off Malta, the Gloria “happily fell in with Captain McNeill,” who gave its mission “his approbation and concurrence”; calls JM’s attention to McNeill’s letter to him and instructions to...
97To 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...
98To James Madison from William Eaton, 19 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
The Tunisians have broken their truce with Portugal and three days ago six corsaires mounting in all one hundred and twentysix guns carrying one thousand and six hundred men, sailed for that coast. This desperate measure adds proof to the statement often presented that these regencies are in dispair of game Algiers has not sent a cruiser to sea this season. Tripoli has made a crusade against...
99To 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...
100To James Madison from William Eaton, 6 March 1801 (Madison Papers)
The letter which I had the honor to address to the department of State Dec. 20. gave advice of the destination of the Ann Maria, a change in the position of this regency with France necessarily involved a change of her destination. It was the intention of this Bey, notwithstanding the orders of the grand Signor, to maintain the neutral posture he had taken: but, before his dispatches went off...
101To James Madison from William Eaton, 9 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 November 1802, Tunis. Notes that the accompanying letter dated 22 and 27 Oct. was sent on 27 Oct. by a British ship which returned to port after springing a leak. Received JM’s 10 May letter on 30 Oct. Was directed to forward his account with the returning squadron, “but it must be long since known to the Government that no ship of that squadron showed itself here for seven or eight months...