Ca. 8 July 1809. A petition submitted on behalf of ship captains and owners whose vessels brought refugees from Cuba to New Orleans. These French refugees and their slaves from Cuba have come to New Orleans, where their property has been seized or detained because the importation of slaves is prohibited by federal law. These hapless people were “exposed to the unrelenting fury of an incensed &...
2To James Madison from George Davis, 31 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
The friendly and intimate footing which I have maintained near the person of the Bashaw has enabled me to Keep constantly in his view the Situation of his brother; and, notwithstanding the versatile disposition of Sidi Ahmet, a combination of circumstances has at length placed within his grasp the means of securing all the pretensions to which he aspired but which I ever considered too great...
3To James Madison from George Davis, 25 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
Several communications from the Ex-Bashaw whose contents nearly correspond with the copy of his letter alluded to in No. 8, have reached me since the date of that dispatch; together with a letter from Mr. Barker enclosing a transcript of an official communication from the Navy Department directing the discontinuance of Sidi Ahmet’s pension as soon as he Should learn that provision had been...
4To James Madison from George Davis, 7 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
From the conviction that the interests of Sidi Ahmet, as well as those of my Government would be best promoted by continuing the same open and friendly mode of negociation with the Bashaw, which I had previously adopted and pursued, I communicated to His Excellency the arrival of his brother at Malta, immediately after the receipt of Consul Pulis’ letter announcing it; and, in conformity his...
5To James Madison from George Davis, 21 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to receive, on the 30. August, a letter from the Department of State dated the 25. May, acknowledging the receipt of several communications from this office up to the 15. October 1807. The letters addressed to me by the Ex-Bashaw of Tripoli, as well as those from Mr. Barker, describe in strong terms the destitute situation of His Excellency. Hence his refusal to comply with the...
6To James Madison from George Davis, 23 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
Every occurrence which has taken place since the date of my last dispatches being noted in the Journal, the enclosed extracts therefrom, together with copies of my letters to Sidi Ahmet and Consul Pulis will, it is presumed, render any comments unnecessary. His Excellency’s attention has been chiefly occupied for some months past in refitting and augmenting his marine, to which he has lately...
7To James Madison from George Davis, 13 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
On the 23d. ulto. I received letters from the Ex-Bashaw (via Tunis) under date of the 8. December, 11th. February, and 30th. March last, enclosing the two copies of the convention, which I had forwarded for his approbation, and a power to dispose of his landed property in Tripoli. His answer to my letter of the 26th. December is a scrutiny of the different articles of the Convention, to all of...
8To James Madison from George Davis, 23 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
At a private audience on the 19. Instant with H. E. the Bashaw, he informed me that the Ex-Minister of Ahmet Bashaw, had gone to Tunis with his family, and that the eldest Son of the Exile was at Malta on his way to that Regency: that the object of their mission was to engage Hamouda Bashaw to espouse their cause. Under these circumstances he demanded the return of the obligation he had given...
9To James Madison from George Davis, 4 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
In several interviews which I have recently had with H. E. the Bashaw, he has constantly urged the return of the captured Gun-boats, which he asserts to have been positively promised at the conclusion of the peace; and in our last conversation he expressed his intention of writing to the President of the United States upon the subject. I have endeavoured to evade, as much as possible, all...
10To James Madison from George Davis, 19 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you my last dispatch, no information has reached me, from any quarter, excepting such as His Excellency has communicated at the different interviews I have had with him. The silence of Sidi Ahmet is I presume to be wholly attributed to the want of a conveyance for his reply to my letter of the 28. December last. This circumstance is much to be regretted,...