April 1st. The following is an extract from the answer of the Secretary, dated April 1st.

"Sidi Joseph says that your treaty has been already ratified in the manner of all other nations who are our friends. Since you altered and retrenched some of the articles, and the treaty is changed, he requires of you his usance, and that of the Secretary, as all other nations have given. Sidi Joseph says he is much surprized at the import of your letter of 29th ult. "That you could not regulate your conduct by the example of the Spanish nation; and if it were convenient to the situation of the United States you probably would regulate yourself by the usages of the Danish and Swedish nations." While this was received, the Bey had ridden out. Sidi Joseph immediately mounted, went to our Lord the Bey, and told him what you had written. The Bey told him to write to you that he would have his present ac. cording to the note which you, gentlemen, copied in the presence of Sidi Joseph and more, that his Excellency would have it a little better than what was contained in the note you, gentlemen, took, His Excellency the Bey likewise said, if you were not contented with the proposals he made to you to communicate to your court, you might arrest the brig, call at the palace and speak with his Excellency the Bey, and he will give you more precise terms to, communicate to your government.

(Signed.) STINCA." I returned the following note to the Sapitapa. I have received your letter of this morning. Tomorrow at ten in the morning I will have the pleasure to wait on his Excellency the Bey.'

This morning, Mr. Cathcart embarked for Tripoli, in the Sophia.

Tuesday, 2d, Six, A. M. The brig sailed with a fair wind.

At ten I waited on the Bey with additional presents; among them six pieces of cloth of different colors, which were divided between him and the Sapitapa. To these he affected perfect indifference.

Asked in an air of importance why the brig had sailed, contrary to the order contained in his note of yesterday. I told him the affairs of my nation required it. He showed disgust at the import of my note of the 29th ult. I told him our engagements must be dictated by our abilities to fulfil them: hoped he would consider that America is distressed by war that the articles he demanded, were to be procured from the countries only, with whom the war forbade an intercourse; and it was therefore impossible to accede to his demand. He said he would have the present demanded. I told him our government must be consulted. "If you will not agree to it," said he, " you may go home and consider void all which has hitherto been done." I answered, if there was no other alternative, I would go. " Very well," said he, "I give you ten days to consider on the subject; and, if you continue in this present resolution, you may embark in the brig, on her return from Tripoli, and go home." Very well! He arose from his Sofa in a rage; and left the chamber without ceremony. The Sapitapa remained. "Are not these articles manufactured in America ?" No, we have neither the materials nor the manufacturers in America.' He appeared surprised. "Is not America an old country? No; it is not yet two hundred years since the first effectual settlements were made in the United States.' "But the Bey must have his present: it is indispensable." "If the Bey be sincere in his pacific expressions, he will not at this period insist on a present which it is impossible to procure, and leave no alternative but war.' I hoped he would use his friendly influence to direct the Bey from his partinacity. He made no answer. I left him without ceremony: but ordered my interpreter to leave with him a douceur which I had provided for the purpose. On leaving the court, a number of applications were made for money for petit officers and principal slaves of the palace, which were said to be usages of all other nations, on a new Consul's being received.

Among other questions of the Sapitapa irrelavant to this subject, one was, what faith the Americans held. I told him we believed in GoD, Almighty, the reward of justice, and the punishment of Fraud. "I thought," said he, " you were not very superstitious Christians!" The Tunissians have a contemptible opinion of Christians: and well they may for those of them with whom they have had most acquaintance, have lapsed from the dignity of Christianity, to unmeaning ceremony, and shameful effeminacy.

Wednesday, 3d. Waited on Mustapha Coggea, the Prime Minister, an old man who had been very influential, but had lost his teeth. Made him an additional present of two pieces of cloth. He expressed a sense of obligation, and very modestly told my interpreter that, if he were not ashamed to do it, he would give me back the present.

The Sapitapa sent for me, and renewed, in his apartment, the subject of the Bey's present: but appeared in better temper than yesterday: the mediator, left with him, had, perhaps, softened his obduracy. He reminded me however, that, during the discussion of the articles of the treaty, I had intimated to him, that the Bey might expect something very handsome, in case he admitted the alteration; that, having obtained my object, it seemed I had forgotten the obligation, or was disposed to evade it. I an swered him I should evade no obligation fairly contracted thought the Bey had mistaken the real purport of my letter, or I had not communicated my meaning intelligibly. It went only to assure him that the United States will not adopt the example of the Spaniards; and for a very good reason; they had not the ability. Why should we promise rega lia which our country did not produce? It were better to deal thus plainly with him, than to flatter him to expect jewels which might never be in our power to procure. It was true, as I told him yesterday, we had neither gold nor diamonds in America, nor any

"What, are

body who knows how to work them. you," said he, "a parcel of countrymen, shepherds and rustics ?" Very much so.' "But you build ships ?" Yes.' "Of what timber ?" The best.? "And handsome ?" Yes.' "Well, suppose you agree to make the Bey a present of a small, handsome cruiser ?"The Bey has given me ten days to consider on his first proposal. In this time I will consider this proposal. Am glad however, you are disposed at length to modify the demand. When the brig returns, I will wait on the Bey with an answer." And I," said he, "mean time, will endeavor to facilitate the measure."

It is hard to negociate where the terms are wholly exparte. The Barbary courts are indulged in the habits of dictating their own terms of negociation. Even the English, as the Consul himself informed me, on his arrival and reception here, had furnished him a present in cash and other articles valued in England at seventeen thousand pounds sterling. But Tunis trembles at the voice of England. This then must be a political intrigue of England to embarrass the other mercantile Christian nations; and it has the effect. To the United States, they be lieve they can dictate terms. Why should they not? Or why should they believe it will ever be otherwise? They have seen nothing in America to controvert this opinion. And all our talk of resistance and reprisal, they view as the swaggering of a bragadocio. They are at present seriously concerned, through fear that the English and Americans are in offensive and defensive alliance. The report is current, and I have taken occasion to cherish it by being seen frequently with the British Consul, dining with him, and holding secret intercourse. But whatever stratagem may be used to aid our measures, it is certain, that there is no access to the permanent friendship of these states, without paving the way with gold or cannon balls; and the proper question is, which method is preferable. So long as they

hold their own terms, no estimate can be made of the expense of maintaining a peace. They are under no restraints of honor nor honesty. There is not a scoundrel among them, from the prince to the muleteer, who will not beg and steal. Yet, when I proposed to the Sapitapa to day to substitute money in lieu of the present, he said the Bey had too high a sense of honor to receive a bribe: he would receive a present; but it would affront him to offer him money.

Saturday, 6th. The prime minister, Mustapha Coggea, returned his present to me with a message that he was not accustomed to receiving presents inferior in value to the Sapitapa, who was inferior to him in rank, being second minister. He believed I had been misled by the advice of the Jews in the distribution I had made of my presents. If he could not have an equivalent to the Sapitapa, he would have nothing. The messenger said the prime minister was very angry; but intimated that the present, with some small additions, might go down and remove his bile. When I was with him on Wednesday, he did not discover any discontent. He probably did not then know what the Sapitapa had received.

Sunday, 7th. A demand came from the Admiral for a gold headed cane, a gold watch and chain, and twelve pieces of cloth: the usance on a new Consul's being received. Laid on the table.

A demand came from the Aga of the Goulette for his usance on the occasion of the first vessel of war coming to anchor in the bay. To this I answered that I would make him a present of a copy of the treaty.

Sunday, 14th, 8, A. M. at the Palace. The Sapitapa informed me that the Bey had rejected the proposal of a small cruiser in lieu of the present in jewels.

I told him, notwithstanding the Bey had refused to listen to a cash proposition, I would once more