Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-02

The commercial productions of Tunis
or exports, furnish under all flags suffici.
ent, annually, for about 500 sail; consist.
ing OF grain, hides, oil, wool, wax, bIan.
kcts, shawls, Moorish red caps, of which
tn the valCe of 10000 dollars annually,
are manufactured, partly from Spanish &
partly from Tunsian wool, Constantine. a
fertile internal province under the rule of
Algiers' sends it, productions to Tunis.
The Quantity of Oil shipt from Tunis is
greater than from all the other states OF
Barbary.
Though the territory of Tripoli is i'm.
mensely extensive, having 100 miles of
sea coas and 500 miles in depth, its COM
mercIal riches are Infinitely below those
OF Morocco or Tunis, or even of Aipiers
The articles are ofthe same kind as the
Others excepting provisions but fine Sc
ma, saffron and honey are among its va
liable articles of trade. This territory
raises hardly sufficient for its own subs,s-
tence their ignorance Of culture and
their incidence combined, therefore is The
cause OF frequent Searches, and on such
occasions, instead of profiiing by expert
ehce aud resortln:s to agriculture, they 60
10 sea and capture foes and friends indis
crimlnstely. Ii is obvious that such a
power 50 actnated, permanent secsrity is
not 10 be expected 10 be enfcrced by lrea.
ty.
This is general outline of the conditi
on and commerce of the Raibayy states
(for 1t must be remembered tina, FEY no
longer exists as an Independent, state. be.
lHg now part OF the empire Of Morocco
land II is easily TO be perceived from
their circumstances that any one of the
powerful nations of Europe, might have
totally suppressed their depredations at
any time, had Jley not been secretly uD-
held by some other.
The peace which Spain ignnnl;niously
concluded with these pirates, appears 10
have been submitted to with views ,hs,
nave met their merited Disappointing
1t was contemplated by the ministers of
spain TO exclude every other nation from
the commerce OF the coast of Africa, or
Barbary, and TO concentrate in Cadiz he
whoie OF The commerce from the pulph
OF Cyrene west of Alexandria 10 NIGGA
dore on the Atlantic. The treaty which
was to accomplish this gree, monopoly
was concluded by the count d 'Espil!y; by
winch 1t was agreed 10 pay millions of
collars, 10 alter the flag Of Spain, and TO
release all Algerine prisoners in Spain
without ransom. The negociator only
obeyed his instructions FROM court, for he
had sugacty enough TO discern and TO
say to an American gentleman there at The
time, that Spain, whilst intending to ex-
Guide the northern nations from ,ha, com
merce, was only encouraging rev depre
cations on herself and The whole world
And the observation was soon verified, for
Algiers Immediately made war on Swe
den and Obtained 200 cG0 dollars on We
nice on the Dutch ON Denmark; and
at length upon Spain herself; against
france war was also commenced, quoted
and renewed; France gave no quarter,
and the demolition of the city. which had
been before effected, was on the verge of
beng re.accompIIshed when A!giers sub.
United aud continued 10 respect the
french flag until the events ofthe reyoiu
ton exposed her flagto their rapaci;y once
more they took II SAL of !Anstro imoe-
rial ships, 20 Greeks, and 81 British pas
sing between Gibraltar, Mahon, Corsica
and Malta, but a squadron under admiral
Nelson soon restored the English flag in
those seas, though with the sacrifice of
the ships that had been cap. ured.
he dIsaPpoiniments Of Spain only in.
duced her tc-resort to The tributary poll.
cy, by which she has since maintained an
influence prejudcial 10 other powers, and
IT IS stated on very good authority tlfsl
she, at particular period; endeayored by
her interierences to prevent a settlement
with the United States, though without
success aud it has been limited that what
she failed To accomplish at Agiers she
exceeded in at Tripoli. These views
will afford some useful light ON the gene
raj commerce Of the Mediterranean and
The Bsrbary states particularly. But the
most important trade next To- that of the
Italian, Spanish and French coasts, is
that OF the interior Medi'eri aneau or / ,e.
want, which originally meaning the east.
or where The sun rises, is now understood
to mean all that part Of the Medlterrane.
an within the island OF Malta, comprehend
ing the coasts Of Syria, Egypt, Asiatic
and European Turkey, and the ancient
Greek Archipelago. Since the Porte be
came subject to the influence and fear of