The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-03-21
NAVY DEPARTMENT.,
March 4, 1906.

NAVY DEPARTMENT.,
Marcbs, 1906.
SiR,--In obedience TO the Scfolut.Ss of the
bouI- of representatives off the 5th ut. requiring
the -fecretary of the navy to inform the houfe
.~os.the nature ard extent of the fcrvices rem
S3ced to the captive crew of the frgase Phila-
"dephia, by the Danifh Conful, at Trisoli,"
herewith eRclofe a.copy Of n letter from capt.
Bainbridge to me, which affords all the informa-
ton in my psiIefson upon the iubjea.
Respectfully fubmitted. ~ 81, Pr.
The honorable Speaker OF the houfe
OF representatives of the US
cory.
,tf N.sp- 71onAy FEB. Is,e sos.
SsR.-In compliance with NAur letter If the
9Th inf. which this day came to hand, / haften
TO detail the furvices rcndcretto the crew of the
u. late frigate Philadelphia, while in captivity
at Tripoli, by Nicholas c. NiGen, ef1uire, his
Daniih naieRy's coniul, reftHhg there.
In conf,quence of the mode Of imprisonment
twas impoiiible for the officers to procure the
neceffary articles of Liiaence, they were there
fore NEGOTIATED to receive their daily provlon,
&c. through another channel. Mr.. NifIen gen.
troully offered his fsrviccs to obtain our ncoef-
fairy fupplies, which be did, in the mot faithful
manner for l9 months and Days. the period of
our captivity, and at times when the funds piac-
ed at my command, in Tripoli, were expended,
means, until ours were renewed by the counmo-
dore Of the Mediterranean fquadron, or G gorge
Davis, efquire, charge of affairs at Tunis, to
whom we are greatly indebted.
Had it not been for the friendly aid Of conful
Nfen we fhould not have received our fublif.
ttnce in 10 regular manner as we did, and
fhould have been expofed, at great expenfc, to
the impofitions of the lowedt olafs of our enemy.
His attentions were not confined foley TO the
officers. but were equally extended to the fea-
n.rn and folders. =; :
Confil Niffen was the firf chriftiap we faw)
after landing on the i),ore of Asrica, and he met
usfhe very evening of our misfortune, with the
philanthropy Of man Of feeling, and immedi-
ately administered to our wants by Tending
proviiinn and bedding from his houfe, and sn,e-
Eoratsa, az much as pofiihle, our truly unplea-
faa! fituation. -.
dcaunot, in jufticc to his attention, omit men
ti.ming circumstance which fhcws the lively
interee he took in our ftnation, and the ha-
z7rd he ran to ferve us. When commodore
Prebie attacked Tripoli, MIR. NifFen's houfe
was As much expofed as any in the town, and
himielf in danger from the bombardment. I
S,|icited him frequently to leave his dangerous
fisnation, and retire to the gardens, where the
confnls were: he requeRed me not to inlpor-
rune MN more TO leave the Town, for he pre-
ferred running the rifk of the flot and ff,ells
from orr fquadron, and attending to Our wants
aud fublifance, to refortng to the gardens. In
thus Purin'ng the dictates Of a feeling mind he
was very neai bfng his life by a fllot from the
Contribution Had he not acted in this friend.
ly manner towards US it is very probable we
ihould have been feveral DAYS without proviii.
on as the enemy were occupied and exafpe-
raed. '
i have, fir, detailed to you generally the fer.
vices rendered to the officers and crew of the
PHILADELPHIA, at Tripnii. by Nicholas c. Niffen.
efquire, butitis imponible for me to convey
juf fente Of thsw. = Nothing but perfect ac-
qnantance with our Sftuation, and the aid we
received, can truly climate the fervices render
ed.
ave the honor To be, FIR, &c.
(SignrtO WIN. BAINBRIDGF.
Ker. Ron sRT SM7H, See,e-
sary Vtbt May.