The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-02-12

SINGULAR HISTORY The case of Moham
med Habet, a Musaulman from Barbary, apply
ing to the U. S. Government for justice, has beef
noticed The Boston Telegraph gives the follow.
ing history of his case:
1t seems strange at the first hush that Musul
man should have claims on our government ant
that those claims too, should be founded on genu
inc services rendered to the United States in
war waged some four thousand miles off. What
perhaps is stranger still, these claims grow out
violation OF our governments doctrine Of nonin
PREVENTION in the political affairs of foreign coun
tries
When we were at wsr with Tripod, more thar
half century ago. the BashaH of that nest of pi.
| rates was Jussuf Carauall, a usurper, who had
obtsined possession of The government by depos
Ing Hamet, his brother. Hamet, escaped with life
and, after time, took up his residence in Egypt
Ii was thought he might be made useful to ouI
cause, and, after much trouble, Mr. Eaton, Amer
| lean Consul at Algiers prevailed on Mr.. Jeffer
| In administrator to give 8 sort of consent to
| LIS acting with Hamet.
| The commander of the American naval forces
| In the Mediterranean ordered to CO operate
with Mr.. Eaton. so far as he might deem it proper
to do so. Eaton was soldier, and his life passed
| ID series of strange adventures This enter.
prise against Jussuff Carmalli, possessed great
| charms for him; and be actually left Alger., and
went to Washington, to intercede personally in
behalf of it with our government
Hereached Alexandra in the L. S. brig Argus,
Capt. He'll on the 2G,h Nov, le0i Accompanied
| by marine officer AID two mi ishipmen, he went
| to Cairo, where he was well received by the Pa.
cha of Egypt The off ,er's pes emission to Hamei
leaving the country without mOlestaton, was alb
aolutely necessary as the Tripoitan prince was
serving with the Mamelukes, who were the Pa.
cbas enemies. Gen. Eatons request was readily
granted; and Hamet, accompanied by some fol t ?
men, proce eded to the rend, ZVous fixed upop not
tar from Alexandra. Gen. Eaton there net him
at the head of q small force that he had recruited
IN Egypt, snd which was composed Of adveLturers
from many countries. Nothing but his inability
10 hnf food f1c so large q force prevented the
American Gene raj from railyipg 50 COO man
around his standard. At the bead If his little ar.
my. Eaton accompanied by flanet, marched up.
on Derne, By the way of the Desert of Barca. and
perhaps along the very route which was pursued
by Alexander the Great when be visited the TEN.
pie OF Ammon. Id these sands Ind persisted the
army Of Cambyses, King of Persia
Ine invaders arrived at Darne in the sprinp of
leeo, and aided by small American squadron
comms nded b. Captain Hui, made an attack on
thal Town LEmber Ct marines were lar ted
ON the ships, some stores and piece of cannon
Ihe argus, tie Hornet, and the Nautilus kept I'D
visoroui ii O. and land forces hes ded by I.ieut
Obannon and Midst oman Mann, stormed the
principal defence of the towr, the fall of which
shortly placed Derne in Gen Eaton's hands The
action was very spirited and the enemy made some
EFFORTS to recover the town, all of which failed
The place was given up to Hamet Gen. Eaton
then proposed TO march upon 1ripol and asked
Com. Barron for men and stores.
Barron refused to do more than to afford his
squsdron's Cooperation, saying tina. as Hamet
was in possession CT the second province of Tr
poll, such cooperation would be sufficient, if he
iHameD possessed the influence he claimed to
Rave. The result was, that little later treaty
OF peace was made with Tripoli and 10 more re-
gard was paid to Hsmets claims" than if they
had been an honest money demand on our govern
ment The terms were not half 30 favorable to
our government as might have been obtained if the
circumstances ia our favor had been turned to
proper account.
We actually paid 100000 to the intrusive Ba-
shaw as rams Im tor the American prisoners he
then held. That money, if properly expended
would probably have placed Hamet on the throne
and we should have escaped the disgrace of pay.
ing it, Gen. Eaton felt that eur Government had
acted stability, and that it had forced him into
peculiarly disgraceful position 1t is out of this
transaction that No manned Habet's claims on our
government proceed.