Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-12-08
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ancient city of Tunis, honored once by the
presence of Scipio7 Airicanus, Hannibal
and other distinguished personages known
to history, was thrown into the greatest
commotion on seeing two large and deeply
laden ships entering the port, the stars and
stripes floating over the union jack. II
startled the British consul and all the corps
diplomaf,gue, and we soon saw the whole
bevy on horseback making for the palace.
81 smell sulphur" said the captain
"There's storm brewing, and we shall
have it soon." 7.7e g 47
| In an hour message arrived by a mame-
luke that we were wanted at the palace
After making our toilette, Sidi Ambrosio,
our chancellor, and Mustapha, the drago-
man, were soon mounted, and off we paced
at moderate rate for Bardo. The consul
lar corps were al! present when we entered
the salia. The Bey, reclining as usual on
his large crimson cushions, was busily en-
gagged combing his long black beard with a
tortoise shell comb studded with brllliants,
and looking unusually grave.
"What does all this mean, consul-two
British prizes entering our port, and for
what purpose ?"
"To sell them, your highness!"
"What against our treaty with Eng
land 2"
"Certainly not, fthere is such prohi-
bition in the treaty."
The British consul, most excellent man,
unrolled the parchment, to which seal of
wax was appended nearly as large as one
of our western cheeses, and commenced
reading as follows:
at is further stipulated; and agreed upon,
that no European power at war with England
shall be permitted TO fit out privateers or
other armed vessels 10 cruise against the COM
merce OF Great Britain from, or bring prizes
into: the Tunisian ports"
"Well, sir" said the Bey, sswhat have
you to say to that. Is it not full and con-
elusive 2"
"Entirely so; but it does not apply to us.
We are not an European power"
s'That, sir," said the British consul, sis
mere evasion of the spirit of this section of
our treaty. 1t was intended to apply, and
does apply, to all Christian powers"
every probably, sir; but we are not a
Christian power !" The whole court look
ed amazed. The Bey raised himself up
from his cushions, took hearty pinch Of
snuff from splendid diamond box, and gave
us an anxious and inquiring look.
"How will you make that appear, sir 2"
said the British consul. I'D
every easily, SIR" We then read the
following section from our treaty with
Tripoli:
GAS the United States is in no manner a
Christian Government, and enteriains no hos
tility towards any denomination; it is hereby
understood that no disturbance shall arise be-
tween the two powers on any religious ques-
| iion." s.r .
1t was useless to argue the point further.
We did net in any shape come within the
purview of that treaty, so permission was
given to land the goods: and the ships and
cargoes, consisting Of every variety of mer-
chandise, were sold in single day. The
consul sent for British blockading squad
ron from Malta; but the privateer slipped
out of the bay, ran up the Archipelago, de-
stroyed nearly two millions of British pro-
perty, was chased round the Meditterra-
mean BY two ships of the line and two fri
gates, escaped through the Gut OF Gibral-
tar, and arrived home safely.
The commerce of any power would, by
this private marine, be utterly destroyed in
war with the United States and all the
navy of Great Britain could not blockade
ports so as to prevent privateers from esca-
ping. We should find them on the Allan
tic, the Pacific, and the Indian Oceans, the
Baltic and the Mediterranean. They
would be everywhere.