Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Davis, George (fl. 1803-1811) to Ahmet Bashaw Caramanli re: stipulations of Caramanli's loss of power

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02794.121 Author/Creator: Davis, George (fl. 1803-1811) Place Written: Tripoli Type: Manuscript document Date: 1808/12/05 Pagination: 2 p. 23 x 19 cm Order a Copy

Davis writes: "The mutability of Your Excellency's opinions has, in a great measure, destroyed in the mind of your brother those favorable feelings towards you which, with an infinite deal of troubles, I had succeeded in exciting." He then goes on to detail the conditions of Caramanli's required departure to " the Levant or to the Continent of America [. . . .] If Your Excellency shall at length decide upon the positive acceptance of these offers I will request Mr. Higgens, our Navy Agent at Malta, to supply you with the monthly allowance lately discontinued." Scribal copy bound together with GLC 2794.118, .120-.124, .128-.133, .135-.145 and .147-.151.
(Letter #4 in bound volume.)

4.

George Davis, Consul of the United States of America for the Regency of Tripoli - To His Excellency Ahmet Bashaw Caramanli.--

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letters under date of the 1. October and 5. & 9. November, announcing your arrival at Malta and the object of your temporary residence at that place.
A person less indulgent than your brother would long since have insisted on my silence respecting Your Excellency's claims, because all the concession which I have obtained from him by my solicitations have met with your disapprobation, excepting the cuniary advantages resulting from their acceptance, and notwithstanding that the measures were modified to your wishes.
Mr. Barker presented to Your Excellency a correction dated in October which stipulates your removal from Syracuse, and, almost, vests in the Bashaw the right of naming your permanent residence, excepting only Morocco to which you had particularly objected. To this instrument Your Excellency affixed your seal and informed Mr. Barker of your acquiescence in it's conditions; at the same time however you make a written declaration at foot in the Arabic character (which from that gentleman's ignorance of the language he did not understand) stating that you would be guided solely by your own will, and that you only accepted of the pension. I need not express to Your Excellency my surprize [sic] at learning the contents of this Arabic paragraph at the moment I was urging the Bashaw's consent to those parts of the agreement which differed from the Convention of December 1807.
The-
The mutability of Your Excellency's opinions has, in a great measure, destroyed in the mind of your brother those favorable feelings towards you which, with an infinite deal of trouble, I had succeeded in exciting. In consequence of which he now refuses to listen to any terms until you shall remove to the Levant or to the Continent of America, but the particular part of either is left to your discretion. When your choice is definitely settled the Bashaw agrees to defray the expenses of your transportation, but he will not oblige himself to pay your debts nor to exceed the allowance of $3,000 P[er]annum. The season being unfavorable for navigation His Excellency consents to your remaining at Malta until the ensuing month of April, but in case of your refusal to embark previous to the expiration of that month all conventions and obligations heretofore made are to be considered null and I have also bound myself never to renew the mention of your name on this subject.
If Your Excellency shall at length decide upon the position acceptance of these offers I write request Mr. Higgens, our Navy agent at Malta, to supply you with the monthly allowance lately discontinued, as soon as you shall communicate to him your determination; and when the stipulation for your departure to either of the countries above specified shall be put in execution, I will endeavor to put an arrangement for the discharge of your debts provided the sum is not exorbitant. In the mean time, as early as it may suit your Excellency's convenience, be pleased to inform me of their amount.
With respect & consideration
I have the honor to be
Tripoli 5. December 1808. Your Excellency's Mo[st]: Ob[edien]t. serva[an]t.
(signed) George Davis.

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources