The Virginia Gazette

TUNIS. May 31.

On the 26th instant the Atalanta, a French man of war, and two French zebecks, under the command of the Chevalier d'Aupede, cast anchor off this port. The French Consul and his family immediately went on board the Atalanta. On the 28th the Chevalier d'Aupede sent a letter to the Bey, containing the pretensions of the King his master, which were that the Bey should set at liberty all the Corsicans who were made slaves, either before or since his Most Christian Majesty became master of that island; that he should make satisfaction for the insults which his corsairs had offered to the French flag; and that he should pay all the damages done to the coral fishery, which the Bey had taken upon him to prohibit, contrary to all the treaties subsisting relative thereto; and concluding with the demand of an immediate answer to all the above articles, in default of which the Chevalier had orders to declare war against him in the name of the King his master. All the French merchants who went on board returned to shore, and the Bey promised them a free exercise of their trade, and to secure them from being molested. The senior merchant was immediately appointed Consul for the present, and the Chevalier used his utmost endeavours to prevail with the Bey to give satisfaction; but he declared that he would never consent to the above mentioned demands, except to the articles which related to the slaves, whom he would endeavour to have set at liberty, declaring, at the same time, that he is not disposed for war, and therefore will not commence hostilities, but that he will defend himself as long as he is able. More French men of war, and two bomb vessels, are expected soon, and then we shall see how the Bey will behave. In the meantime the French merchants, whose capital is estimated at a million of piastres, are under the greatest uneasiness on this account.