ces and those of other provinces of the Ottoman empire. He listened with attention and evident gratification. Varying a little the subject, I touched upon the affinity of principle between the Islam and A. merican religion. Both taught. the existence and supremacy of one GoD: (let not Triune Christians startle at the emphasis placed on this numerical adjective; it is not meant to imply that unity may not be composed of congregate numbers to suit any faith;) both enjoined the universal exercise of humanity and both forbade unnecessary bloodshed. He acknowledged these to be maxims of his relig ion. I declared that we sought in his province a legitimate sovereign of Tripoli; who had been treach erously driven from his government and country; in whose good faith we could place reliance, and whom we intended to restore to his throne; and, so doing, stamp conviction on the world that we do not unsheath the sword for conquest nor for spoil, but to vindicate our rights'; and that we were ready to seize any honorable mean to prevent the further effusions of blood; and more especially as we found that, in prosecuting the war against the faithless Joseph, the severity of our resentment fell rather upon the innocent deluded victims of his avarice and hypocricy than upon the aggressor himself.

He approved our resolution; said he knew Hamet Bashaw; had furnished him with supplies for temporary purposes of subsistence; but knew not where he was at this moment. He assured us however, that, if within his influence, he would by all means aid the accomplishment of a measure so manifestly humane; observing that his predecessor had promised auxiliaries to Hamet Bashaw, for this very purpose as soon as the tranquility of this country would admit. After a moment's reflection, he added, that, in case the Bashaw should have joined the Mamelukes, which was possible, it might change the dispositions he would otherwise make conceruing him.

I replied that an object of distress could not be an object of resentment to an exalted mind; and that it was more like God to pardon than to punish a repenting enemy. By an inclination of his head, he signified assent; and he promised to send couriers in search of Hamet Bashaw; which he has done. So have I and, through the intervention of my friend Doctor Mendrici, who has great influence at court, and of the Vice Roy's chief interpreter, whom we have gained, there is no doubt of obtaining his permission for the embarkation of the Bashaw and his suit. The only embarrassment now is, how he will be able to withdraw himself from the cause of the Mamelukes without exciting suspicions of treason which might prove fatal to him. If he can do this, we may think the most difficult part of our plan accomplished; for I have the fulest assurance and as full confidence that through his influence we may bring any number of men on the back of Tripoli which may be deemed requisite to its entire success. And, this done, with our naval force in front, all supplies will be effectually cut off from the enemy.

Dec. 17th. Last evening, at an audience with the Vice Roy, after reproaching Hamet Bashaw, for taking part with the Mamelukes, he was prevailed upon to grant him a letter of amnesty, and permission to him to pass the Turkish army and leave Egypt unmolested. It now remains to detach him from the rebel Bey's.

EXTRACTS TO HON. JOHN COTTON SMITH.

Grand Cairo, December 26th, 1804.

CAN you expect me to say any thing of Egypt after Volney, and Denon? They have drawn from life; and in nothing exagerated. Egypt's physical appearance is the same; and its political is only changed, in that British regulars have succeeded to French marauders, and Turkish brigands to both. The domination of the country is now dis

puted with these by the Mamelukes and the desart Arabs, like the ravens and vultures of our wilderuess, hanging on the rear of both armies, devour every thing which is left defenceless; the consequent wretchedness of the inhabitants is inconceivable : danger and despair stalk every where.

Egypt must really seek a deliverer in a foreign conqueror. Here is however a singular tradition among the people that this deliverance must be effected by Mamelukes, another name for slaves; because God hath ordained, that, since its salvation by Joseph, a Mameluke, the country must be saved by slaves! They admit that the English rendered them much service by expelling the French; and pray for their return to drive out the Turks but then, all must be ascribed to Joseph's spirit.

Whatever events may take place to regulate its government, and ameliorate the situation of its inhabitants, Egypt, like Carthage and Syracuse, will no more see its ancient splendor. It was the commerce of India and the borders of the red sea, flowing through these plains, more than inherent resources, which gave wealth and grandeur to ancient Egypt: these sources having found new channels, wealth and grandeur have flown with them. I can see nothing therefore on the celebrated Nile which the Ohio, Mississippi, Altamaha, Savannah, and Chesapeake, do not offer us: even her crocodiles and her cajal would have nothing to boast side and side by our allegators and catfish; they are precisely the same; and her half grown mice of geography can certainly be nothing more than abortions. But when I contrast the pure currents, healthful margins, and delightsome landscapes of our Susquehannah, Delaware, Hudson, and Connecticut, with the muddy waters, miry or parched banks and eternal desarts of this river; and the intelligence, freedom and felicity of the citizens there, with the stupid ignorance, rivited vassalage and hopeless misery of the peasants

here, I almost lose the sensibility of pity in the glad reflection that I am a citizens of the United States.

Ruined temples, pyramids, and catacombs, monu. ments of the superstition, pride and folly of their founders, disgust my sight; for with their magnificence I cannot but couple the idea of the slaves who must have groaned under the oppressive folly of their fabrication.

PRIVATE LETTER TO COMMODORE PREBLE.

Egypt, Province of Behera, village of Demanhour, January 25th, 1805.

AFTER touching at Malta, the Argus arrived at Alexandria on the 26th November. Your letter to Governor Ball produced letters of introduction from him to the British resident at Cairo and Consul at Alexandria; and those Gentlemen have consequently rendered us every assistance which the nature of our affairs and their duty could require and admit. At Alexandria it was intimated to me that Hamet Bashaw was not to be had without application to Elfi Bey, to whom he had attached himself, both of whom were in upper Egypt, acting with the Mameluke Bey's against the Ottoman Government, and to whom access was barred by the Turkish army.

Under these discouraging circumstances, and contrary to the advice of every body on the sea coast, on the 30th November I left Alexandria, for Grand Cairo with three officers, Liutenant O'Bannon, Mr. Mann, and Mr. Danielson, and a few men from the Brig; who, together with some others reeruited on the spot, and at Rosetta, made an escort of eighteen. This precaution was necessary on account of the banks of the Nile being infested by the wild Arabs of the desart and by straggling Arnaut deserters from the Grand Seignior's army: the former subsist by plunder; the latter rob and murder indiscriminately every defenceless being, whose ap

pearance denotes property: both move in bodies and have rendered themselves terrible throughout Egypt. On the 8th Dec. we arrived, without accident, at Grand Cairo. There I found the Prime Minister and one of the confidential Governors of Hamet Bashaw, who confirmed the intimations I received at Alexandria, that the Bashaw was actually with the Mameluke Beys and considered as an enemy to the government of this country. I had already dispatched to him secret couriers from Alexandria and Rosetta, and now sent off a third and a fourth from the capital. But I had not yet had audience with the Vice Roy, and not knowing his accessible point, the difficulty I apprehended of getting the Bashaw out of the country exceeded that of access to him; for I found it impossible to do it privately, and to attempt it might not only defeat our main object but endanger our own personal safety. Wherefore, at my first interview, finding the Vice Roy a man of much more frankness and liberality than generally falls to the character of a Turk, I unreservedly opened to him the object of my visit to his country, and received his proffer of friendly offices. This cleared a little my prospects while it created new embarrassments; for the interferance, or even the amnesty, of the Vice Roy, in behalf of Hamet Bashaw, might excite the jealousy of the Mameluke Beys, and have the effect to bar his departure. But a new difficulty beset me which I little expected, and less from the quarter it came. The French Consul, a Piedmontese, at Alexandria, Mr. Drouette, had insinuated that we were British spies in American masks; and that our pretext of friendship for Hamet Bashaw aimed at nothing but au intercourse with the Mamelukes, who are suspected of being in British subsidy; of course an insinuation as injurious as it was malignant. I am yet totally at loss to account for this strange conduct of Mr. Drouette, as I am equally so at the indignity of our flag being refused, by that of the French throughout this country, those marks of