William Eaton to Commodore Rodgers.

SYRACUSE, JUNE 30, 1805.

I HAVE been yesterday and to-day occupied with the proceedings and records of the court of inquiry on captain Bainbridge, which is the reason I did not wait on you on board yesterday morning.

Enclosed is a copy, by translation, of a letter Hamet Bashaw has written me, date 29th. This I think is enough to do away any insinuations concerning our intercourse with this prince, injurious to the honour of the United States. He tells me he shall write to the same effect to the President.

To-morrow morning I will do myself the honour to wait on you with a statement of the pay due the troops, who served with me through the desert of Derne.

To the people of the United States of America. IT is known to the whole world that the reigning Bashaw of Tripoli, Jussuf, obtained the throne by the murder of our father and elder brother, and by my exile,who came next in succession. Driven by his impious and cruel usurpation, I took refuge in Egypt, where I was kindly received by the Mameluke beys, who gave me a distinguished rank in the military service. Reposing in the security of peace, I had ceased to repine for the loss of my throne, and regretted only the lot of my unhappy subjects, doomed to the yoke of my cruel and tyrannical brother.

It was at this epoch, that the arrival of General Eaton gave me hopes of better fortune; and though I could not tell what were his powers, I trusted to the faith of a great people, of whom he was the ostensible representative, and threw myself into his arms. We concluded a treaty at Alexandria, a copy of which is among the papers of commodore Barron, in the custody of his secretary Mr. Robert Denison. This treaty not only stipulates the recovery of the throne for me, but also includes several advantageous

articles for the United States, for which Gen. Eaton will be my voucher. Ought I then to suppose that the engagements of an American agent would be disputed by his constituent government? I cannot suppose that a gentleman has pledged towards me the honour of his country on purpose to deceive me.

General Eaton and myself, with our joint followers, had already advanced six hundred miles into the kingdom of Tripoli, and a general defection had seized my brother's army, and all things prepared the protected of America to be hailed sovereign of his usurped throne. At this juncture a peace is concluded, in which a throne, acquired by rapine and murder, is guaranteed to its usurper, and I, the rightful sovereign, the friend and ally of America, am left unprovided for. No article in my favour, no provision for me and my family, and no remuneration for the advantages I had forgone in trusting to American honour. I am left in Syracuse with thirty dependents, on the pittance of two hundred dollars per month, and no prospect of future establishment. What with the expenses of my retinue, &c. &c. I, a sovereign prince, am now reduced to the pension of 150 cents per day.

I must here observe, that Mr. Eaton, whose generosity I cannot sufficiently praise, has assisted me from his own finances, else hard indeed had been my lot.

When the prevalence of ages has accustomed men to the government of one, the right of a throne enters into the system of human thoughts, and that usage must have its rights like others.

In this situation, I appeal to the virtue, generosity, and candour of the people and government of America. I trust that a brave and free nation will interest itself in behalf of a fallen prince, who has trusted to its national honour and good faith. I trust the government will take my case into consideration, and at least send me back to Egypt, indemnified for those comforts lost by uniting my fortune to theirs and I am confident the American people will feel * VOL. I

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for the misfortunes of one, who has fought in the united cause of their interest, and his own right.

HAMET BASHAW,

Son of Ali Bashaw Caramulli, of Tripoli.

(Signed)

Syracuse, Sept. 1, 1805.

[L. s.]

[COPY.] Mr. Eaton to the Secretary of the Navy. WASHINGTON CITY, DEC. 5, 1805.

SIR,

COMMODORE BARRON's instructions to captain Hull, of September 15, 1804, and my convention with Hamet Bashaw, of February 23, 180 5, comprise all the obligations entered into with Hamet. Copies of both, which are in the offices, as are also the correspondences resulting therefrom. By perusing the Bashaw's letters from Syracuse, and by reviewing the transactions to which they refer, I cannot find that any additional observations of mine can throw more light on our transactions. It is impossible for me to undertake to say that the Bashaw has not been deceived. Nor can I, by any shape in which the subject can be viewed, reconcile the manner of his being abandoned, with those principles of national justice and honour which have hitherto marked our character. The term co-operation, I always considered so nearly synonymous with alliance, that it would require the nicest distinction of diplomatic skill to discriminate the meaning; and hence supposed that an engagement to co-operate with Hamet Bashaw excluded the idea of using him as an instrument. This construction was the more readily admitted in this case, because until after we had proceeded far in the cooperation, I never heard a syllable of peace, neither from the President, nor from yourself, nor from the commander in chief, which did not look forward beyond an effort to chastise the enemy, and because I always felt a confidence, that such an effort, well conducted, would dethrone him. I really can offer no explanations on the subject, which are not to be found in my official communications, except a cir

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cumstance which I am aware modesty should conceal, but which was calculated at all events to save the honour and the interests of the United States harmless. On entering the ground of war with Hamet Bashaw, Mr. O'Bannon and myself united in a resolution to perish with him before the walls of Tripoli, or to triumph with him within those walls. In the former event we should have acquitted our duty; in the latter glorified our country. We were supported by similar resolutions on the part of commanders in the squadron, and to encourage Hamet Bashaw to perseverance, and in order to move understandingly with him, I induced the convention with him, which has been made the base of our treaty with his rival.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c.

(Signed)

WM. EATON.

Letter from Achmet Bashaw to the President of the United States.

EXCELLENCE.

For nearly cleven years, I have been labouring under the weight of misfortune; but, notwithstanding which, my distress was never equal to that which the actual combination of eircumstances has made it.

My residence was near Cairo, when there arrived in Alexandria, a brig, commanded by captain Hull, in company with general Eaton, who came recommended to Mr. Briggs, H. B. M. consul, and inquired of him where I could be found. My place of abode being made known, a courier was despatched for Cairo, by order of the general, and on his arrival at Razid a second oue, which came to Cairo, directed to the house of Tursuf Bashaw, an officer of the Ottoman Porte, who received a letter in which he was requested to suffer me to pass without interruption, in order that I might co-operate with the Americans to take Tripoli, These things being communicated to me, caused me to reflect seriously, whether they could be true or not. All doubts were dissipated by general Eaton meeting in Cairo, my secretary, named Mahumed Mezaluna, to whom he

consigned another paper, and in company with two Maltese, arrived at Said, my place of residence, and delivered to me a despatch, urging me to leave that place immediately, in order that we might have a meeting (as really happened) in the city of Damintur, where the general was made known to me, as one who had been sent thither by your excellency for the conquest of the kingdom of Tripoli. I engaged to go with him to Syracuse, and also to keep myself secret, from which circumstance, I was necessarily compelled to abandon all I possessed, and thus lose my horses, camels, &c. Previous to my leaving Damintur, general Eaton assured me the peace would never be made, unless I was placed in my own seat (throne) and often swore by himself, that he would never take me from where I was for the sole purpose of making the conquest.

I did not, however, fail to suggest to the general, that in case Jussuf Bashaw should actually remain conqueror, what part he would take in my favour, as I should not be able to remain any longer in the Turkish dominions. I was answered, if the combinations of war should prove favourable to Jussuf Bashaw, that a pension would be granted me, sufficient to maintain my family and suite; the people and money demanded by me, to effect this object (for such a movement) were ready; and that I had better expedite my secretary to captain Hull, to inform him, that the general had come to conduct me from Upper Egypt to Syracuse, but that I could not trust myself at sea, in the manner he had. My envoy having executed his commission, arrived first in Syracuse, and afterwards in Malta, in consequence of the absence of captain Hull from the first (place) and whom he afterwards found in the second place (Malta) and executed his embassy: he was answered by the same (Hull) that every thing I could possibly want was ready, and in fact, there was sent me a vessel, laden with supplies and provisions, accompanied by the brig commanded by captain Hull, which arrived at Bomba, delivering to the general and myself a despatch (to him directed) from the commodore, in which he renders Hull responsible