JB_024_494.xml

Title: [1823 Feb. 11 Tripoli. H. to Q.A ?.7. U.S]

Description: 1823 Feb. 11 Tripoli. H. to Q.A ?.7. U.S. Inducements

Morning Chronicle 28 Jany¼. 1823. "The Governor of Minorca notified to the Town

Council of Port Mahon, on the 30th Novr that the Dutch Consul at Algiers had

been apprised by the Dey's Minister of Marine, that a rupture had taken place,

between his Highness and Spain: and that, if the Dey's corsairs should go to

sea, they would capture whatever Spanish vessels they might chance to fall in

with. On the 22d ult. the date of the latest advices from Algiers, there were

fitting for sea, at that port, one vessel of 58 guns, one of 50, one of 36, an

18 gun brig, and 2 schooners."

Thus far the Morning Chronicle. What the cause of this rupture may have been I

can not take upon me to say. My surprise would not indeed be great, were I to

learn, that the bringing of it about, has been one of the modes, in which the

Holy Alliance, has been making proof of its regard for the interest and

happiness of the Spanish Nation: and, in that case, the cause would not have any

immediate application to your case. But, so long as the cause is unknown, may

not your State, as well as every other, be included in the virtual menace to

which it gives utterance?

2. In the next place comes © the having a port in the Mediterranean for refuge:

refuge against bad weather and

JB_024_493.xml

Title: [1823. Feb. 11 Tripoli. H. to Q.A. ?.7. U]

Description: 1823. Feb. 11 Tripoli. H. to Q.A. ?.7. U.S. Inducements

in a state of society and manners such as our's, the whole wisdom of years may,

at any time, be set at nought, by the caprice or ungrounded passion of the

moment:© passion grounded on false imformation © or even destitute of all

ground. Upon this topic I see no need of enlarging. Though, in your mind, in

your situation, the idea of this irritability, with its consequences, can not be

so strongly impressed by observation from a distance, as in our's it is by sad

and continual experience, it is not without some assurance that I expect to find

it sufficiently so, for the purpose.

True it is, that, on your part, no such security can be complete, unless and

until the plan has been accomplished in regard to ”all• the States in question:

more particularly in regard to ”Algiers•, that being beyond comparison the most

formidable. But the plan, you see, embraces them all: and every thing must have

its beginning. Neither, were it to stop at Tripoli, would a perpetual security

from the hostility of that State be at all times a matter of indifference to

you. At any rate it was not, in the year 1804.

It was but t'other day, and while some part of this letter was writing, that an

article, speaking of a rupture of Algiers with Spain, appeared in the English

papers. Whether that which is the lot of Spain one day, may not be your's

another day, it is for you to judge. The article is in the following words.

Morning

JB_024_457.xml

Title: [1823. Jan¼y 28 Trip. H. to Q.A. ?.7. Inducements]

Description: 1823. Jan¼y 28 Trip. H. to Q.A. ?.7. Inducements to U.S

2. In the next place comes the having a port in the Mediterranean for refuge:

refuge against bad weather and naval accidents. This convenience has long been

among the universally known objects of your desires and as yet fruitless

endeavours Very lately you have been trying to obtain it from Spain: so at least

I have heard from more than one authentic source. Even from Tripoli, so long ago

as the year 1804 or thereabouts, you took measures, and those strong ones, for

obtaining it. What you then got, was found not to answer the purpose, and you

abandoned it. Neither I have heard it said would the port of Tripoli itself. If

not, might not a spot that would on some other part of the Coast? Is the

negative sufficiently ascertained by any such surveys as you have made? If so,

might not the coast of Tunis, or that of Algiers? In these cases it is true

after the regeneration of Tripoli, you would have to wait for that of those two

States respectively.

Supposing you to succeed in any negotiation with Spain, there would be in the

first place the expence of purchase, in the next place the whole expence of

construction: and this, over and above the expence of such a fleet as you might

think fit to send to take possession. In our case, the mere expence of such a

fleet as that might perhaps suffice. If so, then the expence of purchase would

be the whole of it saved in the article of construction, expence, to a greater

or less amount might not improbably be saved by such contribution as for the

common benefit it might be in our power as well as inclination to afford.