ty, and hoped it would influence my conduct. The minister -told him he feared for his life, and explained some traits in the bashaw's character, and reasons which made him so tenacious on this point; that his friendship for the exile was known, and had drawn upon him great and powerful enemies; that my persevering so warmly in the demand might induce the bashaw to believe that he (the minister) supported rather than opposed me. That he would make a considerable pecuniary sacrifice to obtain my wishes; and, that it might be successful, solicited me to ask the family as a favour rather than demand it as a right. The divan had been called, and I would be received by them at the castle. That he would be the interpreter opposing me warmly in Lingua Franca, but would take a very different part in Arabick; and concluded with some warm ejaculations for the happy termination of the affair.

I thanked the minister for his friendship, and assured him of my compliance with his wishes; that his confidence in me induced me to add that the expectations of my government were not restricted to the delivery of the family; that I was instructed to demand an establishment for them. He said, if the first was granted, there would be no great difficulty in the second to a moderate degree.

At half past nine, P. M. I was sent for to the castle, where we found the divan assembled, when my orders were again made known; and each in his turn offered his comments on the secret article; and after considerable discussion the bashaw addressed himself to me, and requested my opinion. on the line of conduct he ought to pursue; that he had strong reasons for wishing to retain the family, and that he had justice on his side. I told his excellency that I could foresee no possible ill which could result to him from their immediate delivery; but that his retention of them would do us considerable injury; that our treaty was known to all the world, and our publick faith pledged in their behalf; that his brother had co-operated with us; and to deceive him in such a tender point was to disgrace us as a nation.

He asked if I would certify that the treaty had been ratified; to which I consented, provided he would execute the third article. He replied that the acts of no individual should again involve him with us, and that the wishes of our government should be complied with.

I thanked him, and informed him that the wife of the bey and the other married sister were permitted to remain, at which the divan expressed much satisfaction.

On the 13th I waited on the minister to learn when they

would be ready to embark; and requested that their slaves, effects, &c. would not be withheld; to which he consented. I told him that I had now a favour to solicit, which was that some establishment should be made for the children. He assured me that he had made a considerable pecuniary sacrifice to release them; that the bey was much disposed to do something for the mother and brothers of his wife; and in order that no discontent might remain on our part, he would engage that they should be provided for, and that he would give something handsome towards it himself. I told him that he should not lose by his liberality,and that the expenses he had incurred would be remunerated him by the United States. The exact amount of his sacrifices will be ascertained, and I shall trust to his excellency the President to make good my assurances.

Captain Dent's orders being to sail in the evening, and it requiring some time to prepare and clothe the family, I could not avail myself of this opportunity of sending them to Syracuse. The same reason prevented my writing by the Hornet. I have the honour to enclose you copies of my letters to commodore Campbell and his excellency Ahmet bashaw.

The minister Dghies holds his publick situation from policy, perhaps necessity. He is wealthy, and the greatest sufferer in all serious difficulties. He possesses considerable talents, and which I am sure will never be used to foment a war with any power. The concessions we have obtained here are unprecedented; and every circumstance tends to impress me with the belief that we are not placed beneath England or France. With profound respect, &c.

GEORGE DAVIS.

WHEREAS his excellency the bashaw of Tripoli has well grounded reasons to believe, if the wife and children of his brother should be delivered up to him immediately on his leaving his (the bashaw's) dominions, as expressed in the third article of the treaty of peace and amity concluded between the United States of America and the bashaw of Tripoli, on the 4th day of the present month, that he the said brother would engage in new operations of hostility against him to the disturbance of the internal tranquillity of his dominions: and the said United States, being willing to evince their good disposition to preserve the said treaty with sincerity, and that tranquillity should be secured in the dominions of the said bashaw, do hereby agree to a modification of the said article of the treaty aforesaid, so that the term of four years from the conclusion of said treaty shall be fixed for the exe

cution of the engagement of the bashaw to deliver to his brother his wife and children; during which time the said brother is to give evident proofs of his peaceful disposition towards the bashaw, and of his determination not to disturb the internal tranquillity of his dominions.

Given under my hand and seal at Tripoli, in Barbary, this fifth day of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and five. TOBIAS LEAR,

[SEAL]

Commissioner of the United States of America for concluding a Peace with the Bashaw of Tripoli.

Extract of a Letter from Tobias Lear, Esq. Consul General of the United States at Algiers, to the Secretary of State. Sy racuse Harbour, July 5, 1805.

IN the forenoon of the 2d of June Mr. Nissen his Danish majesty's consul at Tripoli,came off to the Constitution, bringing a commission from the bashaw to negotiate with me on the articles of the treaty. As I had a sketch prepared, I communicated it to Mr. Nissen, who observed that there were some articles more favourable to the United States than were to be found in any treaty which the bashaw had with any other nation; yet he would take them on shore and submit them to the bashaw. He did so, and returned on board again about four P. M. saying that the bashaw had acceded to the articles; but was very desirous of having an article expressive of our determination to withdraw our forces, &c. from Derne, and that we should endeavour to persuade his brother to leave his dominions. To the first I could have no objection, as it would be a natural consequence of the peace; but I insisted that if his brother should leave his territory he should have his wife and family restored to him. Mr. Nissen thought this latter clause would meet objections. However he took it on shore. In the morning of the 3d of June Mr. Nissen came on board again and declared that the bashaw would not agree to deliver up the wife and children of his brother. I adhered to that part of the article; and after a little time he went on shore, saying that if the bashaw still persisted in refusing that part of the article the white flag would be hauled down on shore. When Mr. Nissen had left us I told commodore Rodgers, and captain Smith of the Vixen, who was on board, that if the bashaw should persist in his opposition to that article, I would not suffer the business to be broken off and leave our countrymen in slavery, but would at all hazards take a boat and go on shore, if the white flag should be hauled down.

At four P. M. Mr. Nissen came off again with the seal of the bashaw to the preliminary articles; but with a condition that time should be allowed for the delivery of the wife and family of his brother. I consented to it, and we went on board the Vixen to stand in to the harbour. When we were near the town we fired a gun, and hauled down the white flag. A salute of twenty-one guns was fired from the batteries, and answered by the Constitution. I went into the harbour in the Constitution's barge with the flag of the United States displayed; and was received at the landing place by the American officers who had been in captivity with a sensibility better to be conceived than described. An immense concourse of people crowed the shore and filled the streets; all signifying their pleasure on the conclusion of the peace.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONGRESS,

RELATIVE TO CHESAPEAKE AND LEOPARD. dec. 7, 1807.

HAVING recently received from our late minister plenipotentiary at the court of London a duplicate of despatches, the originals of which have been sent by the Revenge schoo ner not yet arrived, I hasten to lay them before both houses of Congress. They contain the whole of what has passed between the two governments on the subject of the outrage committed by the British ship Leopard on the frigate Chesa peake. Congress will learn from these papers the present state of the discussion on that transaction, and that it is to be transferred to this place by the mission of a special minister.

While this information will have its proper effect on their deliberations and proceedings respecting the relations between the two countries, they will be sensible that the negotiation being still pending, it is proper for me to request that the communications may be considered as confidential. TH: JEFFERSON.

[The documents transmitted in the foregoing message are to be found in that of same date, VOL. VI. page 86.]

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES RELATIVE TO ENGLAND AND FRANCE. MARCH 22, 1808.

[Message, &c. recalled, and copy not to be found.]

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES RELATIVE TO ENGLAND AND FRANCE. MARCH 30, 1808.

[Message, &c. recalled, and not to be found: Two of the papers, however, were afterwards made publick. See message, April 2, 1808, VOL. VI. page 473.]

MESSAGE

FROM THE president of the UNITED STATES RELATIVE TO ENGLAND AND FRANCE. NOV. 8, 1808. [Not to be published.]

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING report of SECRETARY OF STATE, AND DOCUMENTS, RELATIVE TO EAST FLORIDA. JAN. 14, 1813.

[Report not to be published. See Vol. 1x. p. 154.]

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES RELATIVE TO THE FLORIDAS. JAN. 26, 1813.

[Not published, as negotiations on the subject are still pending.]