1To James Madison from George Davis, 2 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
I arrived at this place on the 7th. ultimo, and on the 10th. communicated to the Minister of Foreign affairs, Sidi Dghies, my orders relative to the Execution of the 3d. article of the treaty. He expressed some surprise at the demand and instantly handed me the secret article (of which I have the honor to enclose you a copy) and promised to take an early opportunity of acquainting the Bashaw....
2To 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...
3To James Madison from George Davis, 14 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 January 1805, Tunis. No. 23. “The last which I had the honor to address to You, was under date of the 9th. December, informing You of the visit of Capt. Campbell, and its object; as also of the result of my remonstrance against the Rais, who plundered Capt. Egery—under the same date, and by return of frigate, I stated to the Consul Genl., and Commodore Barron, the Bey’s expectations...
4To James Madison from George Davis (Abstract), 9 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
9 May 1805, Tunis . “I have the honor to enclose for your information a Copy of a letter which I this day forward by an express to Col Lear; and by which you will learn, the situation of affairs with the Regency of Tripoli—no doubt should be entertained of his Excellency the Bey’s being fully empowered to conclude the peace—but I very much doubt that this will ever be effected, without some...
5To 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...
6To James Madison from George Davis, 8 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 April 1804, Tunis. “On the evening of the 3d. Inst. anchored in the road of the Gouletta, the U. States Frigate Constitution Commodore Preble, in company with the U. S. Brig Syren; in the morning, while at the Gouletta, I recd. a note from the Commodore, informing, that it was not his intention to make any delay at Tunis; the sole object of his visit, being to learn how our affairs stood...
7To James Madison from George Davis, 20 August 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 August 1804, Tunis. “I have the honor to inform You that a Courier has this moment arrived from Sphax [Sfax], which gives me the pleasing intelligence of our Squadron’s having made a Powerful and successful attack on the Town and Harbour of Tripoli; and profit of this early occasion for Malta to forward you a Copy of the Dispatch received from Commodore Preble. The affair has not yet been...
8To James Madison from George Davis, 13 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
Under other circumstances than those in which I actually find myself, the unaccountable delay in the return of the Hornet (as promised by Capt. Campbell) would prove to me a source of much uneasiness. The Bashaw has been pleased to honor me with a considerable portion of his confidence, and I feel no doubt of being able to maintain the respectable and friendly footing on which I am placed....
9To 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...
10To James Madison from George Davis, 27 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
The letter with which I was charged, for Mr: Nissen H: D: M: late Consul at Tripoli, was yesterday delivered in person; his being in quarantine prevented an unrestrained communication. Mr: Nissen informs me that there exists a Secret Article Singned by the Commissioner stating, "that we shall not have the right to demand the fulfillment ( on his part ) of the 3d. Article of the treaty untill...
11To James Madison from George Davis, 28 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
My unpleasant communication of the 17th. ultimo, (which was forwarded via Marseilles, Leghorn, and Malaga) announcing the loss of the U. States Frigate Philadelphia—I trust has been recd. This unfortunate event, has given not only the Bashaw; but all Barbary, an influence over us, which no other possible circumstance could have produced; the little National consequence, we possessed with this...
12To James Madison from George Davis, 15 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
I left Gibraltar two days after I had the honor of addressing you from that place. We had twenty eight days passage, and have been quarantined thirty. I made choice of Leghorn as the most likely place to find a Speedy, and cheap conveyance to Tripoli: there is however no probability of succeeding ’till Spring, unless a Vessel should be chartered at an enormous price, at least 2500$. My...
13To James Madison from George Davis, 21 January 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George Davis. 21 January 1806, Washington. “By a letter from Consul Lear dated Algiers August 22d. 1804, (enclosing an extract from a communication of the Honb: The Secty. of State of the 6th. June 1804) I was directed to enquire into certain items of Mr. Eatons Accounts for which the regular vouchers could not be obtained. The result of my enquiries on this subject were communicated...
14To James Madison from George Davis, 30 May 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George Davis. 30 May 1806, Tunis. “On the 30th. Mr. Devoize, the French consul, concluded the contract, for the liberation of the slaves of St. Pierre’s, 100,000 Spanish dollars. “It thus far concerns the government that the claim of William Eaton, esquire, for 17,000 piasters of Tunis, paid for the ransom of one of His Sardinian majesty’s subjects, will be brought to an issue. In the...
15To 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...
16To James Madison from George Davis, 8 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
In Consequence of the departure of Mr. Eaton from this Regency by Order of the Bey, the particulars of which will be made known to you, Commodore Morris has been pleased to honor me with the appointment as Chargé d’Affaires for the United States until the pleasure of the Government shall be known. While I am sensible of the consequence of such an appointment, particularly at such a period, I...
17To James Madison from George Davis, 17 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
On the evening of the 13th. instant, a Courier arrived from Tripoly, who reported that an American Frigate, had run on Shore at that place; and was captured by the Gunboats of the Regency—most of the Consuls, had letters, but no mention was made of the circumstance. On the following morning, I was at Bardo, with Mr. Nyssen, who informed me, that no doubt could be entertained of the fact, in as...
18To James Madison from George Davis, 13 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George Davis. 13 July 1806, Norfolk. No. 1. “By Mr. Payne who arrived at this place on the 10th. Inst: I had the honor to receive your letter of the 24th. June, with enclosures. “In closing my Accounts with the Department of State, as Acting Consul for the Regency of Tunis, I made a charge of the outfit usually allowed to Consuls on the Barbary Coast, and certainly without having a...
19To James Madison from George Davis, 24 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
24 April 1804, Tunis. “In my original of the 8th. Inst. of which I have now the honor to forward You a Triplicate, mention is made, of having enclosed You a Copy of Commodore Preble’s letter, to his Excellency the Bey, which together with some documents relative to a prize , were to have been sent me. A Gale of wind obliged the Commodore, to get underway on the evening of the 7th. without...
20To 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...
21To 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...
22To James Madison from George Davis, 13 September 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 September 1803, Tunis . “I closed my last, at the moment of the arrival of the Spanish Courrier, having been apprized of the nature of the Dispatches recd. by His Ck. Majesty’s Consul. The Bey as was conjectured immediately increased his demands; but as these were of so extravagant a nature, the Consul had not even the power to enter into an accomodation. The Port was closed, the rudder &...
23To James Madison from George Davis, 5 November 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George Davis. 5 November 1805, “Hampton Roads on Board U. S. Frigate Congress.” “I have the honor to inform you that I arrived at this place yesterday, on board the U.S. Frigate Congress, forty days from Tangiers, in company with Sidi Solyman Meli Meli (late Bashaw Ambi of the Turks) Ambassador from the Court of Tunis to the Govt. of the U.States. I presume we shall Sail the first fair...
24To 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,...
25To James Madison from George Davis, 10 September 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George Davis. 10 September 1806, Gibraltar. No. 3. “I have the honor to inform you of my arrival at this place on the 6th. instant in thirty thre⟨e⟩ days from Norfolk. We were boarded previous to our entering the Straits by the Iris frigate and Termagant Sloop of War, and treated very politely. “Lord St. Vincent with ten sail of the line and four thousand troops has arrived in the...
26To James Madison from George Davis, 14 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
A circular letter from Commodore Campbell dated Gibraltar December 20th. was received here on the 19. ultimo, intimating the possibility of a rupture between the United States, and the Bey of Tunis, and recommending to the Captains of American merchantmen to remain in port until further information was received; the general anxiety is not yet quelled as we have heard nothing from Tunis since...
27To James Madison from George Davis, 10 July 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 July 1804, Tunis. “The affair of the Tunisien Sandals captured by the U. States Brig Syren, as stated in the last I had the honor to address You, has not since been made the subject of farther discussion; but am well convinced, that this trifling occurrence will be hereafter the basis of an extravagant demand: a similar circumstance happen’d to the Swedes, who took a Sandal of the Island of...
28To James Madison from George Davis, 10 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
By a greek Vessel which arrived a few days since advices have been received from Tunis to the 16th: of November, and from Tripoli to the 31st. of October, which gives us the melancholy news of the death of Doctor James Dodge (on the 16th: Oct.) our late Chargé Des Affaires at Tunis. It is said that the affairs between France and Algiers are amicably arranged; and that Tunis is making great...
29To James Madison from George Davis (Abstract), 20 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
20 March 1805, Tunis . No. 25. “I have the honor to enclose for your information No. 1. a Copy of a letter addressed to Commodore Barron; and No. 2. a Copy of his answer to His Excellency the Bey’s late communication — no conversation has ever taken place, on the subject of this letter; but which must be attributed to an anticipation of our refusal, and the consequent arangements made at...
30To James Madison from George Davis, 23 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
The Original or Duplicate of my letter of the 11th. ultimo, of which I have now the honor to enclose You a Triplicate, I trust has been received, by which You are informed of the precise expectations of the Bey of Tunis from the U. States—taking as a criterion for the amount of the Cash-payment, the value of our Biennial Regalia at Algiers, as he has ever insisted on this point—that the same...