To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 21 August 1804
From James Madison
Aug. 21. 84. [i.e. 1804]
Dear Sir
I have duly recd. yours of the 18th. with the papers to which it refers. It was neither sealed, nor inclosed in the larger packet.
The accounts from the Mediterranean, as you will find are on the whole favorable. The explanations of Lear, & the reinforcement under Baron, will probably overcome the repugnance of the Bey of Tunis to transact business with the Consul General, on account of his Consulship at Algiers. For I take it to be that circumstance and not any personal preference for Davis that made the difficulty. I am glad to find nothing repeated as to the present of a frigate, or the exaction of a tribute similar to that stipulated to Algiers.
An exemplification of the ratifying Act of Tennessee had arrived at the Office of State. But unfortunately none has yet been forwarded by Georgia; unless it should be among your papers which is not probable. I have written to Govr Milledge reminding him of the Omission; and lest he should not be at or near Savanna, have sent a duplicate to be forwarded from Washington, where his residence may probably be ascertained.
respectfully and truly yours
James Madison
RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received from the State Department at Orange on 21 Aug. and “Mediterrn.—ratifn Georgia” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures were probably: (1) George Davis to Madison, Tunis, 8 Apr.; Davis met with Edward Preble on board the Constitution on the evening of 4 Apr. to discuss the state of U.S. relations with Tunis; two days later, Davis met with Hammuda, the bey, who wants restitution for “Tunisian property, captured and sold, by Commodore Morris” (see TJ to Madison, 23 Aug.); Davis explained that Preble has no authority to resolve that issue, but the “proper character,” Consul General Tobias Lear, will arrive soon and settle matters to the bey’s satisfaction; although angry with “so unjust a procrastination,” Hammuda nevertheless allowed a delay of six weeks; he refuses, however, to recognize the authority of Lear, the “Consul at Algiers,” to transact public affairs with him (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser., 7:20-2). (2) Stephen Cathalan, Jr., to Madison, Marseilles, 24 May, enclosing recent communications received from Bonaventure Beaussier, William Bainbridge, Robert R. Livingston, and James Leander Cathcart regarding the Philadelphia prisoners and the war against Tripoli; Cathcart has obtained the loan of four “Bombardes” and four gunboats from Naples to assist Preble against Tripoli; the French government will intervene with the bey of Tripoli, Yusuf Qaramanli, on behalf of the United States; a gale has delayed Preble’s commencement of negotiations; Yusuf has reduced his demanded ransom for the American prisoners to $500,000 (same, 248-50).