Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807) to Tobias Lear re: Bassa accepting Lear's diplomatic authority
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02794.077 Author/Creator: Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807) Place Written: Tunis Type: Manuscript document Date: 1805/08/05 Pagination: 2 p. 31.7 x 19.7 cm Order a Copy
Translation in a clerk's hand of GLC 2794.076: "[Y]ou are appointed as [Consul] to all the Powers whose coasts are wet by the Mediterranean, and as I am one of those powers, I make not the least difficulty to the contrary." This comment comes after Bashaw had originally refused to see Lear.
The Bashaw Bey of Tunis, the City well guarded the residence of the Felicity:-
To Mr. Tobias Lear, Consul general of the U States of America, attached to the Regency of Algiers, & at present on board the frigate Constitution, in the Roads of Goletta.-
Your Genteel letter of the 2nd of this month I received the day before yesterday, the contents of which gives me a pleasure untill now unknown to me, that is to say the power & character given to you by the President, to have care of different important affairs in the Mediterranean, of which the Copy of your Credentials proves to me.-
Not having been before informed of this your incumbence [sic], and knowing myself by the grace of God independent Lord & Sovereign of my Country, was the reason I told you messinger [sic] I wound not treat with a Consul attached to another Prince, when there existed a direct treaty between your government & me, & a person here that represented your nation, & if it was the pleasure of the President to employ another, such commission might have been sent to the Commodore Commander in these seas, or send me direct a person capable of explaining & terminating every thing;-
As then by the tenor & Spirit of the President's letter to you, you are appointed as such to all the powers whose coasts are wet by the Mediterranean, and as [2] I am one of those powers, I make not the least difficulty to the contrary, I would find the greatest pleasure in conversing with you, & I find means as I hope to destroy all differences & displeasures between us, assuring that you will be received by me with all that politeness you merit, & the friendship I profess for your President for whom I have the greatest esteem;
Not knowing if the Italian language is familiar to you, I beg conduct with you a person who understands it that I may not be under an obligation of employing a Minister or strange Interpreter, which might be displeasing or Suspicious to you.-
I remain anxious to make your personal acquaintance, in the meantime I wish you all happiness.
/Signed/ Hamuda Bassa
Bey
Dal Bardo di Tunis
5th Augt. 1805
In the Evening
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