Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-04-17

para nent or cruise saaiines are of lu
mere use in a rnaa of war, than cayalra
! pieneersS and while the vessels ara
IN pert they are used only as badges n
rank and machines of ceremony, W. i
net send them where they could be u,.fnI
AZ least till o9sasive measures we're enter;
upon ? Gentlemen Of that corps am w.II
| assured actaated, like their brethren Isl
the navy, BY manly zeal TO Distinguish
themselves, were ready to volunteer In the
expedition. And il did NOE require n
greater latitude Of discretion to indul,.
them the permission TO fight at Derns, than
to fullsugh them on parties of pleasure al
Ca'unia ; and they might have been sub.
sis cd cheaper on the coast, than at anv
port in Italy. But We we're compelled n
sacrifice forty FIVE days at that post. fixed
within an hours march OF the main force
of tine enemy without the power OF attack.
ing them with any reasonable prospect Of
success; aud only for the want of two hun.
dred bayonets I! Would such de,s,cb.
mens have defeated the great operation,
carrying on by the squadron
When peace was finally resolved upoo
what were the provisions made for The
brave men who had fought our battles IN
the enemy's country, and who had contri.
buted in rendering this msmeat brobi!ioa
TO sucb an eveats Supple. indeed are
sent out for the Christians uudsr nv com.
mand ; but the alternative let, me to pc.
risb with the Mahometans under my com.
mahd, or desert them TO their solitary late
and abandon niy pos, ike coward!
This is the first instance ever heard of
religious test being required TO en,itle
soldier TO his rations; sad the only one Of
an ally being devoted TO destruction with
SO little necessity and in 50 much cold
blood. Is all this to be ascrlbsd to the
debiitated state Of the commsdore's sys.
tenn? am persuaded Ills. And for this
reason cannot bat feel that the persons
near him, who dictated his measures SO
we'll as his style (sc saws In his letter also
he cannot write hmseli) are deeply repre-.
hensIbe for adopting pacific measures SO
prema,urely, under CIRCUMSTANCES so IA.
vorable tn coercion, and on conditions so
dissonant to the gensral tone Of cur go.
vsrnment and ccusuy. They oughr as
least TO have suspended those measures
until sdvices. which would naturally be ex.
peetsd after the return and representations
Of commodore Preble, from the head of
the department. The season for naval
| operations had hardly opesed, and the de.
lay of two or three months coald work no
probable Disadvantages in our affairs, even
should no advice have come forward But,
as provisions were made a, home, had the
| subject been considered with due IDhu,
ence over measures. we might. with great
certsinsy have calculated ca taking posses
sion of Trpol', and of the enemys per.
son. Indeed, | do firmly believe We might
have done i, with the means We did ORR
eiually possess. had those means been pro.
perly directed into action; aud this with.
cut any considerable sacrifice on our part.
Some lives might, and probably woad
have been lost; bot when mar accepts
sword, and bear. en- his shoulders badges
of the confidence of his couniry, he ought
no longer to calculate on dying in leather
bed.
After our commissioners had arrived at
| Tripoli, and had opened communication
with |escph bashaw, the command OF the
squadron being transferred to captain nod
gers, some disagreement occurred WEIGH
broke off the intercourse. AT this cflSS'
captain Dent arrived off Tripoli beng
dispatched BY the late commodoFs' WIN
information 10 the acting commodore o'
the reinfo, Cement Of gun boats sod oOHo
! ketchss having arrived IN tbs MedterFa'
| mean from the u nied States, aud win my
letter of 15,h May, stating our success a.
gainst the enemy's army In the eastern pro,
vince. Captain Dent was also authorized
to assure the commodore OF my determl;
nation to hold cur position at Derae. uA''l
something definite should be decided IN our
n, ~ ka q TAR ON