The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-02-13
An American Priyateer.

b y - b
During the last war with England, and
while stationed on the Barbary coast, we
were surprised one day, while exploring the
: ruins of Carthage, to see a sharp clipper
built schooner under full sail, with an
American flag floating to brisk breeze,
doubling Cape Bon and making direct for
The Raw We rode down to the fortress Of
S.s.. -, >,z,,ered launch 10 be made ready,
and found ourselves along side the schooner,
just as she had cast anchor.
Where are you from 2
From Boston,, replied the Captain,
smart dashing looking young fellow. 81
4 In what passage r
sTwen:y-threc days, sir.
We began to have our misgirings. Twen-
ty-lhree days from Boston? We suspected
she had been fitted out at Marseilles to
cruise in the Mediterranean. 1t was the
Abeleno, Captain Wyer, OF six guns and
seventy-fve men-a magnificent little craft.
We went down in the trunk cabin.
Now, sir said the Captain, 'Pll con-
vince you that we are from Boston, and will
ahowsyou Boston notions Of every kind,
from pumpkins and smoked behring's down
to wocien nutmegs. He soon filled the ia
BILE with all sorts OF good cheer and sound
comforts, with which the Bostoniins know
80 well how 10 furnish ship. 'And here,
said he, Is The Boston Centinel, Major Rus
seps paper All doubts were now at an
end and while we had been partaking OF
fare TO which we had long been accustomed
---homely iare, but more welcome on that
accountable Captain said:
II you are surprised at our short passage,
90 far up the Mediterranean, what will YOU
cay when ! tell you it is Just sixty days
since the keel OF this vessel was laid in
Boston: but here we are
We could scarcely ceditit.
NAY that's not all, sir continued Cap.
tain WyeE '0n my way here, off Cagliari,
lcaptufed two large British ships filled with
valuable cargoes and ordered the m for this
port. They will be here Tomorrow morn
ing.'
What! Ina neutral. port, in which the
British exercise unlimited influenced They
will never permit us tcsell the cargoes.'
We'll, sir, we Gun only try
Sure enough ext morning early. the an
cient city oil Tunis, honored once by the
presence Of Scipio Africanus, Hannibal, and
other distinguished personages, known to
history, was thrown into the greatest COM
motion 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 diplo-
1aGtiqne, and we soon saw the whole bevy
on horse back making for the palace.
q smell sulphur, said the Captain
Theresa storm brewing and we shall have
itsoon.'
In an hour message arrived BY Name
luke that we were wanted al the palace.
After making our toilet, Sidi Ambrosio, our
chancellor, and Mustapha, the drsgoman,
were sooa mounted, and off we paced at
moderate rate for Bardo. The consular
corps wereall present when We entered the
sallG. The Bey, reclining was usual on his
large crimson cushions, as busily engaged
combing his long beard with a tortoise she'll
comb, studded with brilliants. and looking
unusually grave.
What does all this mean, consul-iwo
'bIisish prizes entering our port, and for
what purposer
TO sell them. your highnessp
what against our treaty with Eng
landf
Certainly not, il there is such a prohi-
biiion in the treaty.'
The British consul, q most excellent man
uETolled the parchment, TO which a seal nj
wax was appended, nearly as large as one
sof our western cheeses, and commenced
reading as follows:
4tis further stipulated and agreed unon
that no European power at war with Eng.
iand shall be permitted TO fit out privateeTs
or other armed vessels TO cruise against the
commerce OF Great Britain, from or bring
prizes into the Tunisian ports..'
We'll, sir, said the Bey, what have Won
70 say to that? Is il not full and exclu-
sisef
Entirely 50. but it does not apply to us.
We are not European power.
# That, sir said the British consul, lis
mere evasion Of the spirit Of this section OF
our treaty. II was intended to apply. and
dotsepply, tooll Christian powers
sKeF} probably, sir; but we are not a
Christian p0werp The whole court looked |
aEaqzed. The Bey raised himself up from
his cushions, took hearty pinch cfsnuff
froU.a splendid diamond box, and gave us
Anpnxious and inquiring look.
SsIoW will you make that appear, sic 2
said the British consul, e
.yeyy easily, sir We then read the fol-
lowing section from our treaty with Tipo-
sstAg'tbe Uniied States isin no manner |
Ddrisiian Government, and entertains no