31To James Madison from William Eaton, 12 September 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 September 1802, Tunis. Has suggested in former communications that “when these regencies prevail on a tributary national Agent to state a demand to his Gov. they raise an assumpsit on this compliance. I have consequently been uniform in refusing to state their demands. Steady to this resolution I now refuse to write for a thirtysix gun frigate.” The bey decided to write demanding the ship...
32To James Madison from William Eaton, 9 October 1802 (Madison Papers)
The original letter of which the cipher, enclosure A. is a translated copy I forwarded by Captain Bounds on the 14th. ult. Its stile is indicative of a resolution in the author not to receive a negative. Other communications went forward by the same occasion too voluminous to be reduced to cipher. A recapitulation of some of the facts may be trusted to a precarious conveyance, together with...
33To James Madison from William Eaton, 13 October 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 October 1802, Tunis. Since closing his 9 Oct. dispatches, he has been informed by Admiral de Winter that the pasha has rejected the Swedish offer of $150,000 “prompt payment” and $10,000 annually. Desiring peace with the U.S., the pasha liberated Morris and crew and sent them to Algiers with an official messenger in an imperial vessel to assist the peace negotiations there. This was...
34To James Madison from William Eaton, 22 October 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 October 1802, Tunis. Repeats the “most interesting articles of information” from his dispatches of 12 Sept. and 9 Oct. Encloses a copy of the dey’s letter carried by Captain Bounds, who left Tunis on 14 Sept. Gives advice about taking Porto Farina. The Danes have made peace with Tripoli; the French have reinstated their treaties with the Barbary powers with amendments to the French...
35To 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...
36To James Madison from William Eaton, 12 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 November 1802, Tunis. “The cause of the sudden change of treatment on the part of this Bey towards me … is just now discovered. About thirty days ago arrived here a chaux (messenger) from the Sublime Porte with a firman from the Grand Signor demanding immediate restitution of three Sardinian merchant vessels and cargoes, captured during the late war, by the Bey’s cruisers, while under the...
37To James Madison from William Eaton, 13 December 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 December 1802, Tunis. [The body of the dispatch is nearly identical to Eaton to JM, 13 Dec. 1801 . ] Adds in a postscript, “N. B. Inclosures A. B. & C. need no explanation.” RC and enclosures ( DNA : RG 59, Tunis, vol. 2, pt. 1). RC 8 pp. Docketed by Wagner. For enclosures, see n. 2. PJM-SS Robert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (4 vols. to...
38To James Madison from William Eaton, 20 December 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 December 1802, Tunis. Nothing material has occurred since his 14 Nov. letter. “But the changeable aspect of affairs in Europe forebode changes here, as elsewhere, not wholly indifferent to the United States. The treaty of Amiens, like a cancer in the breast, preys on the vital sources of Great Britain: if she collect fortitude to bear the torture it will only serve to heighten the horrors...
39To James Madison from William Eaton, 2 January 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 January 1803, Tunis. “On the 28. Sep. Com. Morris’s squadron left Cagliari after having lain there ten days—did not write me. On the 16. Oct. I signified to the Commodore that I had important communications to make to him. Mr. Cathcart delivered him the letter 2d. Nov. It has received no answer. He arrived at Malta 20th. Nov. and Mr. Cathcart writes me on the 25. that he will sail for Tunis...
40To 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...
41To 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....
42To 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...
43To 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...
44To 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...
45To 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...
46To 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...
47To 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...
48To 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...
49To 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...
50To 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...
51To 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...
52To 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...
53To 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...
54To 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...
55To 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....
56To 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...
57To 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...
58To James Madison from William Eaton, 18 April 1801 (Madison Papers)
Contrary winds having detained the brig until this evening gives me an occasion to add for the information of Government, an extract of a letter which this moment passes through my hands from Mr. OBrien to Mr. Cathcart dated Algiers 5. inst., wherein the former acknowledges the receipt of the following communications from the latter— Viz— His letter circular dated January 3d. 1801 Ditto to...
59To James Madison from William Eaton, 28 April 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor and the satisfaction to inform you that the Ann Maria , Captain George G. Coffin, arrived at Marseilles the 5th. instant. In consequence of which I have ventured to propose and am actually discussing the project of a commercial convention with the Bey of Tunis, which promises the annihilation of the exceptionable articles of the treaty of peace, and other advantages. This...
60To James Madison from William Eaton, 15 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
After the 28th. ult. on copy to be filed: “ Copy of Letter A ” . nothing Occurred until the 3rd. inst. when I presented my self at the Palace to demand Satisfaction for an Insult offered our Nation in the person of their Agent on his Passage from Tripoli to Leghorn by a Corsaire of this regency. The Bey not only refused the Satisfaction I demanded but Said he would never consent that Mr....