Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-12-07
To 10 Gems .Siiqele.l

~
.4'gnsf s. The American squadron an
chored OFF rripoii. ] was oraetsd 10 dres.
the wound Of msmeluke WHO had hi.
hand shattered by ,5c bursting of blum
derbuss. ] aaputa,ed Ell lis fDgers bat
ioac with dub su;se, and dressed them
in bungling manner, in hopss of losing
= my credit as surgeon. in ,hIs part Of tina
eouatry. for | expected to have my hands
.ui! ofwounded Turks, in consequence of
the exploits OF my brave caunirymen.
.4ng9sf 9. ~ about 2 O'Clock, the a.
larm gunof Tripoli y as fred. The Tri-
ipolitsns all took their s,at:pns, and went
Through HE mahomstan pfSyer, by kneel4
ing aud kissing the geourd several times,
win their faces toward the east, all with
as rnrcI! Regularity 40 the exercise in a
well disciplined army. Their military
roan@uyreinE was q scene CT The utmost
confusion. got permission 10 go on the
top Of the castle, VII ere lad : mos, extern
s've view OF the sea aod land, and saw
the American squadron approaching The
town. a; about o'ciccl. the attack COM
I nenced, and the battle socn became vigo-
rous, With tremendous oannonadins on
both sides, I now behsii me nelarchol-
+ iy catastrophe OF The eSplo'ion os one OF
cur gun boats. saw The lnGRgied bodies
OF my coun.rymen Prec;piCa;edin the air.
For few moments, general silence took
place, when The firing te.cealmenced with
undated vigor. saw sheiis explode, s.
set fire to the town in msDy places; but
the houses beiag prime pallg built ofstone,
mud and mortar he FIRE did bur lille da-
mage: The SD. ls and shd, however,
tgoyed some of the houses. Thrliring ceas-
cd at about r. NJ. when The ship John a.
s'ams joined The squadron. The Bashaw
has bomb proofroom - is castle where
he said during the aGlinn. On hearing
81 he explosion of orr gun boat he ven
tured 10 take Fsep, wsth,ite precanuon
OF having a 4NargbesVt or priest, seai
smell piec- cf paper On he top OF his
bad, with a Turkish or Mahopetan
Scrawl, with assurances hal j, would en-
urely secure him from sil danger; bnt bc
soon reinrned 10 lls cell. J i,c Turks all
wear paper Ok this kiud, dup IN q
'i:t.e velvet bag, With assurances frcm The
A!ora6e7rf that II WI; Pre.eei them in the
.SFeaiest danger. The .lierco<Wf gets a
sum Of money fer these blessings. IT
Turk gets wounded or Killed, it's suppos,
ed the blessed paper Was 100 cid, or not
placed IN Il proper nlanuer. Ia the time
Of aciio'', tie fard6-7o's get upon some
/ secure place, and cry TO MaEciEet in the
most dismal ye|s 10 let them corqucc
their enemies; and beckon 20 the vessels
10 run on shore or be dusnoysd. Spch
Eot our crew as were able, were put TO
work, and drove about Ike horses or
mules.
| .4agass 10. Lewis Hc%iner, ,ebo lately
turned Turk, went by order Of the Ba.
I shaw, and told capt. cambridge the par
tic1lars of.he two lale aeiiouS. The ps-
shaw insormed me that the l,,e curnlnan-
der OF the schooner V,xen, lieut.. Smith,
was commodore oi the gun boats in The
late eelioD, and Was Killed by Inrsket
shot through his head. Our men ccn-
planned Of being drove and beat about at
an unTnsrciiul rate, in consequence OF
which they peii.iancd the D4shaw, ~ he
following terms:
"a diS EFccaeney IRE Grand Easlcz9 Of
TTihoi.
! The petition Of the woic &c the Ameri.
can prisoners most hulnbIy .heweth.
That your humble petitioners, VIXEN
doing, win al their power, as they are
commanded, are most cruelty bca;cn by
Our wa,dens, stoned, rseIled and spit up.
on by the soldiers aud Others; rtCnired
TO carry hurlhens iinpos IDLE ior as 10 sus.
tain and chased and bruised, unjd We
are or soon shall be, u1abe g. ia5tr az
al.
FCntn the many aas Of Justice, bird.
ness and genc:osity we have experienced
dom your eXcelIency, We cannot suppose
INA, such con lucl IS autsori.cl by ,ouc
comEaads 90 At VIC shoul6 b. puuish.
ed FOR what is out Of cur power 90 pei
lotm or for The action of tticrs, which
we have no agency in, and which we cam
not prevent.
Returning your eXceilency our sincere
and humble thanks Tor your Loun aud
privileges heretofore shewn, snd relying
on youf Sosdocss ios protection, y. c th.re.
core most hunibly pray, ,bat Your excel
lehcy would merpJse your roy atrUoii.
y, and grant Is . SPECIFY tehef. AYd
your pe'iJonc5s, as ~ du.y bourd, val
rcmalp your exCelency's MOS. humble,
"a Z. f..f i