
For the Literary Magazine.
william eaton.
THE war of Tripoli is one of the
most considerable political events
which has occurred, in relation to
the United States, for some years.
The following letter, which throws
considerable light upon that event,
and especially on the character of
―272―
one, who formed a very conspicuous
part in it, is highly worthy of pre-
servation.
A letter from Mr. Eaton to a friend
in Massachusetts.
Egypt; Province of Behera,
village of Dimanhour, Janu-
ary 25, 1805.
After touching at Malta, the Ar-
gus arrived at Alexandria (Egypt)
on the 26th November, 1804. We
received from the British resident
at Cairo, and consul at Alexandria,
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, the exiled prince of Tri-
poli, was not to be had without ap-
plication to Elfi Bey, to whom he
had attached himself; both of whom
were in Upper Egypt, acting with
the Mameluke beys against the Ot-
toman government, and to whom
access was barred by the Turkish
army. Under these discouraging
appearances, and contrary to the
advice of every body on the sea-
coast, on the 30th of November, I
left Alexandria for Grand Cairo,
with three officers, lieut. O'Ban-
nan, Messrs. Mann and Danielson;
and a few men from the brig; who,
with some others recruited 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 desert, and by
straggling Arnaut deserters from
the grand seignior's army: the for-
mer subsist by plunder; the latter rob
and murder indiscriminately every
defenceless being, whose appear-
ance denotes property. Both move
in bodies, and have rendered them-
selves terrible throughout Egypt.
On the 8th of December, 1804, we
arrived without accident at Grand
Cairo. Here I found the prime
minister, and one of the confidential
governors of Hamet Bashaw, who
confirmed the intimation 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 Ro-
setta; and now sent off a third and
fourth from the capital. But I had
not yet had audience of the viceroy,
and not knowing his accessible point,
the difficulty I apprehended of get-
ting the bashaw out of the country
exceeded that of access to him; for
I found it impossible to do it pri-
vately; and to attempt it might not
only defeat our main object, but en-
danger our own personal safety:
wherefore, at my first interview,
finding the viceroy a man of much
more frankness and liberality than
commonly fall to the character of a
Turk, I unreservedly opened to him
the object of my visit to his country,
and received the proffer of his
friendly offices. This cleared a lit-
tle my prospect, while it created
new embarrassments; for the inter-
ference, or even the amnesty of the
viceroy in behalf of Hamet Bashaw,
might excite the jealousy of the Ma-
meluke beys, and have the effect to
bar his departure. But a new diffi-
culty beset me, which I little ex-
pected, and less from the quarter it
came. The French consul at Alex-
andria (M. Drovitte), a Piedmon-
tese, had insinuated that we were
British spies in American masks;
and that our pretext of friendship
for Hamet Bashaw aimed at no-
thing but an 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 a
loss to account for this strange con-
duct of M. Drovitte, as I am equally
so at the indignity offered our flag,
being refused, by that of the French
throughout this country, those marks
of civility never refused to a foreign
flag, in ordinary cases, and which
we received from every other na-
tion represented here, except that,
informed of our object, and pursu-
ing the same line of conduct with his
colleague at Tripoli, he thought by
these means to defeat that object. I
found means, however (the means
―273―
that move every thing in this quar-
ter of the globe), to remove this
difficulty; and finally received the
viceroy's letter of amnesty and pass-
port of safe conduct to Hamet Ba-
shaw, which was dispatched to him
on the 15th, in quadruplicates, and
by different conveyances.
I now patiently waited the issue
of the measures thus far pursued.
Meantime I busied myself in finding
out the Tripolitan emigrants in the
country; their attachment to the
rival brothers; and their feelings
towards the Americans. Among
these, one appeared who was only
ninety days from Tripoli, an Ar-
naunt Turk, who had been in the
service of Jussuf Bashaw, the reign-
ing prince of Tripoli, during the
blockade of last summer; him I
had under particular examination.
Supposing himself conversing with
Englishmen, he was very unreser-
ved in his confessions; and being
decidedly in the interest of the ene-
my (he was enthusiastic in his cause,
though willing to dispense with his
honours) his story deserves the more
credit. He said Tripoli had lost
many men in the different attacks
of the Americans last summer; the
town was much damaged, and the
inhabitants under such a state of con-
sternation that nobody slept in the
city, and that no business was done
there. He confirmed the account
of the fire ship Infernal being blown
up by captain Summers, after being
boarded by two row gallies. Stating
this fact, the fellow wept! He ob-
served, that this was an unfortunate
war for the poor cruisers: they
had been led to believe that the
Americans were all merchantmen;
and that they should have nothing to
do but to go out and bring them in;
but they found them devils, from
whom nothing was to be gained in
war; and therefore he had quitted
the service of Jussuf Bashaw. The
bashaw was nevertheless determin-
ed not to make peace with these in-
fidels until he shall have humbled
them, and made them pay for the
damages they had done to his navy
and city. He acknowledged that
Hamet Bashaw had many friends in
Tripoli; but said, that Jussuf Ba-
shaw had taken care of him! It is
ascertained, that the latter had em-
ployed and paid assassins to poison
the former: these undoubtedly re-
ported that they had executed their
commission, and hence we account
for the report of Hamet Bashaw's
death.
On the 8th instant, I received
from the bashaw an answer to my
letter from Cairo, dated the 28th
of the month Ramadan, correspond-
ing with the 3d January, 1805, stat-
ing that he should that day depart
for this province, and take lodgings
at the house of an Arab chief, where
he should wait to meet me: but as
my letters to him, dated after the
viceroy's amnesty, all advised him
to repair to the English house at
Rosetta, under the guarantee of the
viceroy's passports, and believing
he might push his march thither, I
left Cairo, for that place, the 13th
instant, and arrived in three days.
Nothing additional appearing there,
I proceeded to Alexandria the 19th,
and on the 20th received the ba-
shaw's answer to my letter of the
28th November, of the same tenour
with that received from him at
Cairo. It appeared that, not con-
fiding in the viceroy's dispositions
concerning him, or perhaps not re-
ceiving his letter before leaving the
Mameluke bey's camp, the bashaw
had determined to expect an inter-
view at the place he first named, near
the lake Fiaume, on the border of
the desert, about one hundred and
ninety miles from the sea coast. No-
thing can be more incredulous than
a Turk of a Turk's honour; and
for a good reason, nothing can be
more equivocal than their plighted
faith; it is an article of barter and
sale. Though travelling in the in-
terior of the country had become
unusually hazardous, on account of
the jealousy of the Turkish chiefs;
of the reins given to licentiousness
by the barbarity of civil war; and
of the strong grounds the wild Arabs
hold, by reason of all restraint being
relaxed on the part of the Turks
―274―
and the Mamelukes, who are too se-
riously occupied with each other; I
determined to attempt a passage to
Fiaume. Accordingly, on the 22d
instant, I left Alexandria, with two
officers from the Argus, lieutenant
Blake, and Mr Mann, and an es-
cort of twenty-three men, indiffer-
ently mounted, and, on the evening
of the 23d, found myself arrested at
the Turkish lines, between seventy
and eighty miles on our route, by the
kirchief of Dimanhour, command-
ing a detachment of about five hun-
dred Ottoman troops, on the fron-
tier. No argument I could advance
could at all modify the severity of
his first resolution not to let me
pass his line; though in every thing
else he treated us with distinction
and great hospitality. However
mortifying the concession, I cannot
but applaud the correct military
conduct of this chief; for it was in
itself a suspicious circumstance, that
a body of armed, unknown foreign-
ers, should be found shaping a course
for his enemy's rendezvous, with no
other pretext than to search for a
refugee bashaw. But this suspicious
circumstance was strengthened and
aggravated by the insinuations gone
out from the French consul, that we
came into this country with secret
views hostile to the Turks.
Our situation here was somewhat
perplexing, and vastly unpleasant.
I do not recollect ever having found
myself on ground more critical: to
the natural suspicion of a Turk,
this general added a fierce and sa-
vage temper; of course proud and
arrogant. I soon found my point of
approach. I passed high compli-
ments on the correctness of his mili-
tary vigilance and conduct; said it
was what I apprehended, and what
I certainly would have done myself
in similar circumstances: but
knowing from his character the
magnanimity of his soul, I was deter-
mined to have an interview with
him, in full confidence that he would
aid a measure so purely humane,
and so manifestly to the Turkish
interest in Egypt, in case he would
not permit me to pursue my object
personally. At the same time re-
curring to the example of the vic-
eroy, whose letter I had shown to
him, and signified, that I had it in
charge to tender him a douceur, in
testimony of our exalted opinion of
his name and merit. He was mov-
ed; said my confidence should not
be disappointed; and called into his
tent a chief, of the Arab tribe: a
wandering host who have from time
to time been driven or emigrated
from the kingdom of Tripoli, since
the usurpation of Jussuf Bashaw.
The young chief, in an extacy, ex-
claimed, he knew every thing! I
requested him to declare himself:
for I had no secret with that ba-
shaw. His story is anticipated in
the statement I have given of the
bashaw's actual position. He ad-
ded that 20,000 Barbary Arabs were
ready to march with him from his
border to recover their native coun-
try and inheritance; repeated that
he knew our plan; and now he had
seen me, he would plight his head
to the Turkish general he would
bring me Hamet Bashaw in ten
days. The Turk accordingly dis-
patched him with a companion on
this message the next morning.
I could yet perceive some symp-
toms of suspicion and apprehension
on the brow of my newly acquired
military friend. Wherefore, with-
out seeming to have any particular
view, other than a solicitude to meet
the man I sought, but really with a
view of removing his apprehensions,
I proposed to him to return to his
head quarters, this village; send off
my escort to Alexandria, and to wait
myself with only the gentleman in
company, and our servants, until our
Arab chief should return from Fi-
aume with the bashaw. This propo-
sal had its desired effect. We left
him, and retired to a handsome
marquee prepared for the purpose;
took refreshments he had ordered
to be in readiness; and the next
morning returned with an additional
escort from his camp to this place,
where we found lodgings in Turk-
ish style prepared for us.
Thus far I have sketched an ab-
―275―
stract from my journal. Do you ex-
pect something of Egypt, its anti-
quities, its curiosities, its wonders?
You must be disappointed. I am
too much occupied with modern af-
fairs to ransack catacombs, or climb
pyramids; for the same reason I
have not time to gratify curiosity;
and as to wonders, can only notice
what I cannot help being impressed
with, the wonderful ignorance,
wonderful stupidity, wonderful ty-
ranny, and wonderful wretchedness,
which so strongly mark the features
of a country once the wonder of the
world for science, wisdom, whole-
some police, and national happiness.
Here is matter for a volume; I can
only devote six lines to the subject.
Not a man reads here; yet none
but thinks himself divinely taught.
The kerchief, of whom I have just
spoken, in a little excursion to
gather contributions, has cut off
between fifty and sixty peasants'
heads, for no other crime than po-
verty; and just without the eastern
gate of this village, a gallows is now
erecting to hang a child of twelve
years, the only son of a chief of the
village Rahamania, because his fa-
ther cannot pay the contributions
levied on him!! God! I thank thee
that my children are Americans.
January 31, 1805.
Since I began this letter, circum-
stances have accumulated to render
our situation more awkward, and, I
may well say, ridiculous. The next
day after our entering the house
where we quarter, a marquee was
pitched upon the terrace of an ad-
joining house, and a Turkish guard
mounted there, under pretence of
fresh air; armed Turks were sent
into the house for the purpose of ac-
companying us as a life guard in
our walks; and a centinel was plac-
ed at our door, in the lower court,
to prevent intrusions. Though
these arrangements were vastly po-
lite, I should have been very willing
to have dispensed with them; yet,
by appearing frank and easy with
the Turkish general, his suspicions
seemed to have subsided. I recei-
ved all these marks of vigilance as
marks of attention; thanked him
for his civilities; and assured him I
should be careful to make suitable
mention of them to the presi-
dent, my master. By this kind of
adulation, yesterday, I so much
drew him from his guard, that he
opened his heart, and unequivocally
confessed, that “In the present con-
vulsed state of Egypt, the Turks
ought to suspect every body, especi-
ally the English; but they had pe-
culiar reasons for suspecting us, as
the French consul had declared us
British spies!” What does not that
savage merit for this wanton and
base manner of exposing our lives to
the infamy of a gibbet! I hope not
to meet him at Alexandria.
Alexandria, Feb. 16.
We arrived with the bashaw and
suit, at the English cut, between
Aboukir Bay and the lake of Merio-
tis, a week ago last Wednesday.
Here we had new difficulties to en-
counter: the French consul had
been beforehand of me, in gaining
the admiral of this port, and gover-
nnor of the city, and they consequent-
ly came to a resolution not to per-
mit the bashaw to enter the city,
nor to embark at this port. Argu-
ment was useless, for we were too
late in our application of it; but we
felt no other inconvenience than de-
lay: for the bashaw had before
come to a resolution to march by land
to Derne and Bengasia. And he
now moved round the lake to form
his camp at Arab's tower, about
thirty miles west of the old port of
Alexandria. In the mean time I
stated to the viceroy the contempt
his letter of amnesty suffered from
his subalterns in this place; in con-
sequence of which he addressed a
fir man, by a chaux, to the gover-
nor, commanding immediate com-
pliance with the intention of his let-
ter of amnesty; and imposing a fine
on him of twenty-five thousand pi-
astres. This gives us a final tri-
umph in Egypt; though, I confess,
―276―
I could have wished the viceroy's
resentment had not fallen so heavily
upon his disobedient governor.
I did not think it proper to advise
the bashaw to enter the city, lest
vengeance should retaliate on him
the chastisement he has brought
upon his Turkish brother of this
place. We shall, therefore, take up
our line of march through the de-
sert of Lybia, towards Derne, next
Wednesday.
Our party consists of five hundred
men, one hundred of whom are
christians recruited on the spot, and
employed in our service. We shall
make a stand at Bomba, and wait
the return of captain Hull, with sup-
plies and reinforcements, to seize
the provinces of Derne and Benga-
sia; for which purpose he sails for
the rendezvous the day after to-
morrow.
Here is a ketch in port from Tri-
poli, sent by the enemy to prevent
Hamet Bashaw being permitted to
leave Egypt; but not having with
him the only argument which car-
ries all causes here, the poor devil
must go back, in season only to give
Jussuf Bashaw information of the
fate which awaits him.
If our measures are supported,
he must fly his kingdom or die. How
glorious would be the exhibition to
see our fellow citizens, in capativity
in Tripoli, march in triumph from
a dungeon to their tyrant's palace,
and display there the flag of the
United States.