Jenks's Portland Gazette

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS,

Accompanying the president's late Message.

[No. II.—Cont'd from the last Gazette.]

[CIRCULAR.]

Department of State—Washington, May 4, 1801.

SIR,

FOR a considerable time past suspicions have prevailed respecting the Bashaw of Tripoli. Of late, the alarms of a rupture with the United States was intended; the obligation of making immediately the most effectual provision as to impose on the President protection of our Mediterranean commerce, in case it should be attacked from that quarter. At the last session of Congress, six frigates were directed by law to be kept on peace establishment—Out of this force three frigates and also a sloop of war have been equipped under the command of Commodore Dale. Should war be commenced against our trade, this force will be employed in the most effectual manner for its safety as the necessity of such an application of the force be means which have been or may be employed to obviate it. Should those means be successful, the squadron after cruising a sufficient time in the Mediterranean, perhaps, if circumstances should not render it unadvisable, as far as the Levant, and towards Constantinople, will return to the United States. The expedition will by this means be not without its use whatever may be the state of things on its arrival. It will have the effect, from which so much advantage has been promised by our consuls and others, of exhibiting to the Barbary powers a respectable specimen of the naval force of the United States. It will exercise our mariners and instruct our officers in the line of their service, and in a sea which it may be particularly useful for them to understand. And as they form a part of the peace establishment the measure will add but inconsiderably to the expense otherwise to be incurred. The United States being now happily at peace and amity with all the European powers, the moment is the more favorable in that view of the subject. The President has thought proper that this early information and explanation should be given to you that being fully instructed of the object of the expedition you may guard in against any misconception or misrepresentation that may by possibility be attached to it; and moreover prepare the government where you are to bind to this squadron such hospitalities and accommodations in its ports or elsewhere, as opportunities may call for, and as it would be incumbent on the United States to reciprocate. The friendly disposition felt by the United States to justify them in their confidence that no convenient proof of a like disposition will be withheld, and of this friendly disposition you are authorized and instructed by the President, on all proper occasions, to give the most explicit and cordial assurances.

I have the honor to be, sir, with great consideration, your most obedient servant.

To Rufus King, London; David Humphreys, Madrid; William Smith, Lisbon; W. V. Murray, Hague.

[CIRCULAR]

Department of State.

Washington, May 21, 1801.

THE proofs, which have been received, of the hostile purposes of the Bashaw of Tripoli, having imposed on the President the obligation of providing immediately for the safety of our Mediterranean commerce, he has judged proper to send to the coast of Barbary a squadron of three frigates and a sloop of war under the command of Commodore Dale. The squadron will sail in a very few days from this date. Should war have been declared or hostilities commenced Commodore Dale is instructed to make the most effectual use of his force for the object to which it is destined. Should the means employed by our Consuls, and those which accompany this expedition, for obviating such an event be successful, the squadron then, after cruising some time in the Mediterranean, perhaps if circumstances should not forbid into the Levant, and towards Constantinople, will return to the United States. The expedition will, by this means be not without its use whatever may be the state of things on its arrival. It will have the effect from which so much advantage has been promised by our Consuls and others, of exhibiting to the Barbary powers a naval force from the United States. It will exercise our mariners and instruct our officers in the line of their service, and in a sea, where more than any other their services may be wanted; and as they form a part of the peace establishment fixed by law, the measure will add but inconsiderably to the expense that would otherwise be incurred. The United States being also happily at peace with all the powers of Europe, the moment is the more favorable in every view that can be taken of it. The President has thought proper that you should be furnished with the information here given in order first that you may be ready to afford every friendly and useful accommodation that occasions may admit, to the squadron or any part of it: secondly, that being possessed of the objects of the expedition, and the considerations which led to it, you may be able by proper explanations, to prevent its being misunderstood.

The United States persist last in their desire of living in peace and friendship with all nations who permit them, and on all occasions where assurances to that effect can be proper, you are authorized to make them in the most satisfactory manner. I am with great consideration Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

(Signed) JAMES MADISON.

Copies forwarded to each of the following named Consuls: Thomas Pucklely, Consul at Lisbon.

John Gavino, Gibraltar.

Anthony Terry, (acting) Cadiz.

James Simpson, Tangier.

William Willis, Barcelona.

Robert Montgomery, Alicante.

John Mathicu, Naples.

Frederick H. Wollaston, Genoa.

Thomas Appleton, Leghorn.

John Lambson, Trieste.

Lictienne Cathalan, Agent, Marseilles.

Extract of a letter from James Leander Cathcart to the Secretary of State dated

At Tripoli, April 18, 1801.

I HAD the honor of receiving yours of the 15th of January on the 7th inst. and am happy my conduct has been approved by the President. Yours to Mr. Donoghue were delivered to the Bashaw's Consul to forward to him or to keep until his arrival have duly informed you that he departed from hence with Commodore Carpenter last January, in order to solicit the gun or something from the consulate of this regency, he having the Commodore's promise of recommendations.

In consequence of the decease of our political father, I sent my drogoman to inform the Bashaw that the next day I should hoist the banners of the United States half mast: the only token of respect which I had in my power to pay to the manes of our much beloved patriot, intending to wait a proper opportunity to communicate to him your intimation. The Bashaw sent me a very polite message expressing his concern for our loss, and requesting to know if the President had received his letter, which was forwarded by the Sophia. I answered in the affirmative, and ordered the drogoman to inform his Excellency that I would wait on him when he was at leisure.

In the evening he sent Farfara to inform me, that he was indisposed, or would have been glad to see me, and requested if I had anything to impart, to communicate it to Farfara. I accordingly requested him to express to the Bashaw his Excellency the President's satisfaction with the arrangements that took place last year, and to assure him that he had never considered him as dependent upon either of the regencies; that he had always treated him as an independent Prince, and the government of the United States would always consider him with as much respect, and treat him with the same friendship, that they did the heads of the other regencies. Farfara returned with the following answer—"His Excellency the Bashaw has desired me to request you to acquaint the President of the United States, that he is exceedingly pleased with his professions of friendship; that the respect which he has shown to his communication is really flattering; that had his protestations been accompanied with a frigate or sloop of war, such as we had given the Algerines he would be still more inclined to believe them genuine; that compliments, although acceptable, were of very little value, and that the heads of the Barbary states knew their friends by the value of the presents that they received from them."

It being too late for any answer that evening I made such comments on the Bashaw's message as might serve to eradicate from the mind of the Jew the most distant expectation that the President would ever make so great a sacrifice which I informed him was entirely incompatible with the interests of the United States.

Considering it highly improper to delay giving a direct, explicit and categorical answer to the Bashaw's insinuation, I sent my drogeman to the castle to request an audience; I having previously formed a resolution never to employ a third person whenever the honor or the interest of my country was concerned. The drogoman informed me that his excellency had sent Farfara, and if I had any further communication to make, to employ him, as he was very much indisposed. Thus was I disappointed.

Farfara waited upon me in the afternoon, when I requested him to inform the Bashaw that if he supposed that the cruisers which were sent by our government to Algiers were given gratuitously he had been ill informed; that during our negotiation last year I had acquainted him that the frigate was given to that regency in lieu of cash for the ransom of our citizens, which had been redeemed in credit more than a year before her arrival; that the cruisers were built on commission, and paid for in cash out of the public treasury and were not the property of the Dey as he supposed: that I had copies of the accounts by me which he should peruse if he thought proper, whereby he should be informed of the magnitude of his expectation and the improbability of the United States having given them gratuitously; that I was sensible how disagreeable it would be to disappoint expectations when once formed: I therefore found it my duty to prevent any taking place, in order to avoid the chagrin attending a positive refusal, which, from the nature of the request, must naturally be expected from the President of the United States.

The Bashaw returned an answer, that he had concluded peace with the United States for much less than he had received from other nations, and that he knew his friends by what he received from them.

I shall by no means broach this subject to the Bashaw again, as I have hindered him from having any ground for expectation, and shall continue to act in the same manner should he ever make it a topic of conversation, as he can have no pretext to make a demand, and only insinuates that he expects some mark of the President's friendship, more substantial than compliments. I imagine it will be best to take no further notice of it. The appearance of our frigates in the Mediterranean will, I hope eradicate any expectation that he may have flattered himself with, if any really exists, and until that period, believe me, sir, our commerce will never be on a respectable footing in these seas.

[TO BE CONTINUED]