The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-04


The .tol'osving is the copy of a lrrs-- from, W.T.,
LIAM EATON, Efq. to tbe Seerrtery of STATE of
toe United State, on this G.5ies7.
Z" SIR, " june 1901
On the night of the sth inf. fire broke
out IN the Bey's palace, which in its prosrefs
coniumed nifty thoufand ftands of arms. The
fecond day following I received meiTape to
wait on the Bey, but was at that moment con-
fined to my bed with bilious fever, 70 that il
WIS not till this morning have been able to go
IN my carriage to the palace. The Bey's obieef
IN calling on me was TO demand of the United
States, ten fbonfand RandJ Of arms. rcfufed
to Rate his demand. "I have proportioned NV
l"is," faid he, among my friends. and this
falls to you to furnifh. Tell your government
to fend them without delay" 1t is impofible-
faid !, to fate this claim 20 my government
We have no magazines of fmall arms the or.
ganiZation of our national ftrength is different
from that of any other nation on earth. Each
citizen carries his own arms always ready for
battle. When threatened with an invaion or
actually invaded, detachments from the whole
national body are ient by rotation to erve in the
held 10 that we have no need of ftanding ar
mics, nor depofitaries of arms. 1t would be an
aftront to my government, and an impoftion on
re Bey. to fate TO them this demand, or to
Hatter him with profpe9 of receiving il.
" Send for them to France or England faid the
m.nl'ter.---You are in much more eligible no.
ht'on TO make this commiflion TO Europe than
we are, fad I. elf the Bey Rad any I'M ention
OF Purchaiing the arms from Europe,'' f,id the
ninliter, q" he could do it without your agency.
ne d'a not fend for you to ak for your advice,
but order you to communicate his demands To
your government" And i came here. faid 7.
TO allure you that will make no fuch commu.
nication to NV government. ----ts The Bey will
write h,nfrf," faid he. IF 10, it will become
my duty 70 forward bis letter. but at the fame
hrnelt is equally obligatory upon me, 10 let tie
Bey be aftrehand apprized, thar he never will
receive Il Jingle muiket from the United States.
fhould fuppofe fenfe of decency, if not of
gratitude, would difIn,de the Bey from his new
extravagant claim. Has he not within eighteen
months received two large fhips cargoes in regal
liza have we not another fhip laden for him on
its paf1age and has he not within fixtv davs-
demanded cannon extraordinary, of the u. S. at
this rate when are our payments to have an end.
Never" faid the minifter " as to the films
you talk of, they are but the part payment of
rega"a you have long fnce owed us, as the con-
dltion of peace the other claims we make are
fuch as we receive from all friendly nations, once
every two or three years it is an etabi(bed
cuttom, and YOU, like others. will be Obliged to
conform to it," When we fhall have compIet.
ed the payment of our peace itipulations you
may never calculate on further donations. II
is by treaty conGdered as the conditions of A
perpetual peace, and any new claims on your
part, will he at lean infraction ofthe treaty.
and will lie 70 coniidered by US. You NAV there
fore at once forever abandon the idea of future
claims {; FOR again allure you, in the name Of
nv government and country, that the difcharge
OF our treaty obligations will put an end to our
contributions here. Your contributions. as
YOU think proper to call them, faid the minifter.
Will never have an end IF this be the language
yon think of holding at this court, you NAV pre-
pare vourielfto leave the country, and that very
foon." If change of ityIe, on my part. faid /,
be the condition of reidcnce here, will leave
the Bev's kingdom to morrow morning 4" We
will give YOU a month, " faid the miniaer-.-I an,
but fix hours, ] replied. GO But vou will
write "' Nc. &c But it is your duty to iwrite.'
fordefciency in duty this is not the place where
am to be quetioned. &c tell you again, con-
tnued he, your peace depends upon your ON
plance with this demand ofmy matter" If 70,
fa'd /, on me be the Responsibility of breaking
the peace. | with you a good morning. Leav-
ing the palace, heard the mininer fay to ore
of his colleagues: GO By God, that man is mad (:
but we fhall bring him to terms, nev:r fear;
don't know how this affair will end. Twill not
change my petition.
"I have the honor to be, Sir,
"With perfect refpe6t,
" Your mott obedient fervant
WJLLIAM EATON.
Hon. Secretary Of the United States.''