Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-11-29
(Csasinued.)

OF the two late actions. he BashaW In
formed me that the late commander OF the
schooner Vixen, lieut.. Smith, was commo.
dorr of the gun.boats In the late action,
and was killed by musket shot through
his mead. Our men complained of being
drove and 5ear about AT an unmercitul rate,
In consequence OF which they pctitioned
the Bashaw, in the following terms:
To his e.cellency the Grand BaShauv p
Tripod. The petillon of the whole of the
American prisoArrs most humbly shew.
eth.
That your humble petitioners, when do
ing, with all their power, as they are com.
.nandcd, are most cruelty beaten by our
wardens, stoned, insulted, and spit upon
by The soldiers and others; required to car
~ burlhen impossible for US to sustain,
and chased ane bruised un il We are or soon
shall be, unable to labour at ALL
From the many acts OF justice, blindness
and generosity which We have experienced
from your excellsncy, we cannot suppose
that such conduct is authorized by your
commands or that We should be pOnlshed
for what is out OF our power 10 perform
or for the actions of others, which we have
no agency in, and which we cannot pre-
vent,
Returning your excellency our sincere
and humble thanks for your bounty and
privileges heretofore shewn, and relying 90
your goodness for projection, we therefore,
most humbly pray, that youl excehency
would interpose your royal authority, and
grant us a speedy relief. Aud your petit.
,ioners, as in duty bound, will remain your
rxcellency's most humble, faithful and o.
bedieut servants.
On the petition being explained TO the
: Bashaw bv dexiner, Cor Hamet american,
his new nane) the Bashaw forbid the iurks
striking the prisoners. Is.
AUGUST II. The Bashaw sent tor me,
and, agreeabtv to his orders, took seat
by his side. He began conversation about
my country, and our squadron, which was
then in sight, and consisted OF eighteen
sail. He said that for two dollarshe could
repair all the damages that the lombard
1neEt did TO his town; that but one man
was hurt by the shells-that what he had
been offered for the American PRISONERS
was about fifty dollars per man; that he
would make them earn>that IN Two months,
He asked me what thoughrmy country
would give for me. told him did not
know. H. said he would not take wenty
seh asand dollars for ms 70 winch replied,
s.that | might expect 10 remain IN slavery
for life. He patted me On the shoulder,
and SAID, must then content myself to stay
with .hem.-I asked to go and see our
:. men but he refused saving the Moors and
Arabs wonld kill me ifthey could catch me-
.Auqust 49, Our squadrcn holsted a4hag
of truce, in brig and schooner, and
fred a gun. The Bashaw did not, swore
lie would not answer II; and said ne would
no, treat with commodore Preble. Auuce
however, was afterwards held. Consul
O'Brien wished 10 come on shore, but was
refused.
Aupust Is. Another truce was held,
when rhe B&shaw demanded one million OF
dollars for our ransom. One hundred and
twenty thousand dollars were offered, and
refused.
Augnst II. The Bashaw informed me
that 6tteen Americans were found drltted
ashore to- the westward OF the town, and
that one OF them was an officer With an G.
naulet on the right shoulder. We supposed
they were men who were destroyed by the
explosion Of the gun-boat IN the late en-.
g.cgment. / asked permission to go with
Two or three of sour men and bury them /:
and the .Bashaw told me might go the
next day. Oar squadron lay at ancnor off
the harbor. The inhabitants had chiefly
moved out of the town, through fear of a
mother bombardment; and the Bashaw ate,
drank and slept IN his bomb-proof room.
Several tribes of the back-country inhabi-
tants had lately come IN and offered their
services 70 the Bashaw-; In all, not more