To James Madison from George Davis, 10 December 1806
From George Davis
triplicate
Leghorn December 10th. 1806
Sir.
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 preparations against Algiers.
The letters from Doctor Ridgely state the loss of the Americain Ship Serpent in the harbour of Tripoli on the 27t: of October: the Captain and Mates had embarked on board an Imperial Brig for Leghorn, the crew were in the Americain house. We have experienced during the last month, two violent gales of wind; out of Seventeen Sail that were in the roads of Leghorn, fifteen were driven on shore,1 and one totally lost; (the Caroline of Boston) the United States Schooner Enterprise now under repair Suffered much.
I have the honor to enclose you a triplicate of the 15th. November, and a copy of my last to Comodore Campbell.2 With profound respect and consideration I have the honor to be Sir, Your most obedient servant
George Davis
RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Tripoli, vol. 3); letterbook copy and letterbook copy of enclosure (NHi: George Davis Letterbooks). RC in a clerk’s hand, signed by Davis. For enclosure, see n. 2.
1. The letterbook copy has “all much damaged” inserted here.
2. The enclosure is a copy of Davis to Hugh G. Campbell, 20 Nov. 1806 (2 pp.). Davis reminded Campbell that he had been notified of Davis’s arrival at Gibraltar on 6 September, when Davis had requested that a vessel of war be permitted to bring him and his family to Tripoli. To grant this request would confer respectability on Davis and thus support his “delicate and important” mission to exact “the faithful fulfillment” of the recently ratified U.S. treaty with Tripoli. He hoped to give “some evidence of Power to support the demand” and informed Campbell of applications for the command of enemy gunboats captured during fighting at the Battle of Tripoli on 3 August 1804.