Extract of a Letter from Mr.

to Mr. Cathcart. Tri

poli, May 10, 1802.

"On the evening of the 1st inst. the consuls were summoned to the castle, when the bashaw in the presence of the two Swedish officers stated the treatment he had received from Sweden since the conclusion of Tornquist's treaty, and compared his treatment to them since that period, and ended his observations, by asking if he had not sufficient reason to declare war against that nation, and then solemnly declared that he never intended to enter into another treaty with Sweden. War was to be declared the next day, nevertheless it was postponed to the 5th inst. in hopes that by continuing the negotiation an accommodation would take place, but the admiral would not listen to any terms but those he proposed which was as follows: 'The Swedish prisoners to be liberated without ransom; peace to be established without paying any consideration whatever for it as presents or otherwise, upon the same terms as it was before the declaration of war in 1800.' The admiral alleged, the bashaw, having captured Swedish property to a considerable amount, could not possibly have any claim against Sweden."

"I know the bashaw of Tripoli has made an effort to conclude a treaty with the United States of America through the medium of Algiers, and I am very much mistaken, if there are not at this moment other plans under consideration, as several of the bashaw's adherents endeavour to gain his confidence by suggesting them."

"On the night of the 19th inst. departed two galliots (quarter galleys) to cruise along shore; it is said they are in quest of some American vessels that are at Susa.”

Extract of a Letter from James Leander Cathcart, Esq. Consul of the United States of America at Algiers, to the Secretary of State. Leghorn, July 4, 1802.

"You will please to observe that the cruisers of Tripoli have been frequently at sea since the war commenced, and thence conceive the danger our merchant ships have been exposed to. From the returns of our consuls you will be informed of the extent of our commerce in this sea, which

never was so valuable, as it was at the period and since the bashaw of Tripoli commenced hostilities. I have seen twenty-four sail of American vessels in this port at once last year, two-thirds of whom were unarmed. Can the wisdom of government devise no means either to prevent the cruisers of Tripoli from putting to sea, or our merchant ships from passing up the Mediterranean unarmed and without convoy; is it not possible to prohibit them, (for their own sakes) from coming past Gibraltar unless armed sufficiently to defend themselves when three or four are together, or under convoy of some of our ships of war."

"The bashaw of Tripoli seems disposed to enter into a treaty with us, but upon what terms he has not yet declared. Mr. Eaton informs me, that a proposition of peace on the part of the bashaw of Tripoli came through the bey of Tunis, when it was proposed that the latter should be mediator and guarantee. Mr. Eaton answered that we prefer peace to war, when we can obtain it upon honourable terms, but not otherwise."

From No. 9. Leghorn, July 15, 1802.

"On the 10th instant, Mr. Appleton and myself endeavoured to dissuade the masters of vessels, now in port, from sailing until some of our frigates, or those of Sweden arrive to take them under convoy, but without effect. They seem at present, as they ever have seemed, intent upon gain only, without properly appreciating the risk.”

CIRCULAR.

Algiers, June 26, 1802.

"THIS morning arrived a Tripoline corsair, and with her a prize, the Philadelphia brig Franklin, captain Morris, who sailed from Marseilles the 8th instant, and was captured the 15th instant adjacent to Carthagena, and another American brig, which was in company got off.

"On the morning of the 21st instant I saw three leagues east of Algiers another Tripoline cruiser with a brig in her possession standing to the eastward, which I take to be an

American vessel-I am trying on what terms I can obtain the ransom of captain Morris and crew, in all nine, and if possible afterwards shall see on what conditions I can get the brig and cargo.

"It is a fact that there is at sea at present six sail of Tripoline cruisers; and it is asserted, that the frigates of the United States and those of Sweden are blockading Tripoli." Sir, I am, &c.

RICHARD O'BRIEN.

"By comparing this with Mr. Nordeling's letter it would appear, that more cruisers than the two galleys are out; but I can hardly believe it possible, that they could evade the diligence of two squadrons, or that they have enter prize to attempt it without any thing but row-boats such as the galleys.

"Mr. Cathcart, it is reported, heard (but not authenticated by official authority) that lieutenant Sterrett, in the Enterprize, has re-captured a Swede. God send it may be true."

Extract of a Letter from Andrew Morris, Captain of the Brig Franklin, to James Leander Cathcart, Esq. Consul of the United States, &c. &c. Tripoli, July 22, 1802.

I TAKE this early opportunity to inform you of my cap. ture. I sailed with the brig Franklin belonging to Messrs. Summerl and Brown of Philadelphia from Marseilles, with an assorted cargo for the West Indies, on the 8th ultimo, and on the night of the 17th following, then off Cape Palos, was boarded by one of three Tripoline corsairs mounting four carriage and four swivel guns, that sailed from this place on or about the 20th May.-I shall pass over the occurrences of that night, as you are well acquainted with the conduct of these barbarians towards the unfortunate that fall into their hands. They proceeded with the prize to Algiers, where we arrived the 26th, and as I conjecture by the representations of Mr. O'Brien, they were obliged to make a hasty retreat on the 27th following, but not without giving me an additional load of chains. What with calms and contrary winds, we did not reach Biserta in the neighbourhood of Tunis until the 7th inst. where,

after a tarry of five days, we departed, leaving the brig there in charge of their agent, and arrived here on the 19th inst. Through the interference of Mr. Nissen, his Danish majesty's consul here, I have the liberty of the town, and by a lucky event a Mr. Bn. M'Donough has claimed my two officers and one seaman, and has obtained their release as British subjects: two more that were foreigners which I reported as passengers has likewise been liberated; so that they have only myself and three seamen captives. You will readily agree with me that this will lessen the value of the capture to the bey.

The three galliots are now all in port, they are to sail immediately; it is said Murad raiz, alias Lisle, is to go in one of them, or in a small Italian polacre of 12 guns."

Extract of a Letter from William Eaton, Esq. Consul of the United States of America at Tunis, to the Secretary of State. Tunis, December 13, 1801.

"On the 28th arrived the Danish commodore Koefied and a consul Holch, five days from Leghorn. The evening of the 2d ult. they passed at the American house. As the commodore had lately been at Tripoli on a negotiation, it was very natural to inquire of him what seemed to him to be the general sentiment of the Tripolines respecting the American war. He said that it was very unpopu lar, and that the subjects of the bashaw, chiefly on this account, were ripe for a revolt: they waited for nothing but succour.

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They clamour against the madness and oppression of their chief, say he makes war on his friends to the destruction of their little commerce, takes all the plunder to himself, and in the issue reduces them to starvation and the loss of their friends, without allowing them the wretched consolation to mourn for those friends when slain; he forbade the surviving relations to mourn for Sterrett's dead. They almost unanimously desire the restoration of their rightful sovereign, who is a mild man of peaceable dispositions."

Extract of a Letter from Richard O'Brien, Esq. Consul of the United States of America at Algiers, to the Secretary of State. Algiers, Feb. 1, 1802.

THE Algerine ministry on the 20th January proposed to me, that now as the Tripoline ambassador was here, to settle or arrange with Tripoli; the same time alluded that a little money would be required-I answered I had no orders on this subject, and that I was convinced that the United States would never give any; that we had suf ficient of the bad faith of Tripoli. I considered this hint or proposition in order to feel my pulse, to know if I had orders or latitudes."

Extract of a Letter from William Eaton, Esq. Consul of the United States of America at Tunis, to the Secretary of State. Leghorn, Feb. 3, 1802.

"IT may not be improper to mention here, that Thursday, 17th December, lat. 39, 45, spoke snow Fox, of Boston, from Naples, bound to Messina, with very few men, and no guns. The Mediterranean is covered with this kind of adventurers. If individuals will neither have regard to their own safety, nor the general interests of the United States, should not the government interdict this loose manner of hazarding both by legal prohibitions to commerce here without convoy? One single merchantman's crew chained at Tripoli, would be of incalculable prejudice to the affairs of the United States in that regency.

Extract of a Letter from Richard O'Brien, Esq. Consul of the United States of America at Algiers, to the Secretary of State. Algiers, June 14, 1802.

"ON the evening of the 10th inst. arrived here two Tripoline corsairs, and this morning they sailed for the coast of Spain, in search of Americans and Swedes. These wo corsairs are two row galleys, with three lateen sails, each having four guns; one a crew of forty men, the other of thirty-five. They are well calculated for rowing and