Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Some incidents have occurred and scenes been enacted in this neighborhood within the last few days which I deem it my duty to report. On Saturday, the 12th instant, the Bey sent a messenger, according to established customs, to say to the consuls of France, England, Italy, and Austria, that his envoy, General Kheridine, would depart for Constantinople on Thursday, the 17th instant, and would be pleased to take a letter of introduction to their respective ministers accredited at the Sublime Porte. A courteous answer was returned by the last three consuls named, while the French consul seized the occasion to display his ill humor, expressing to the messenger his astonishment that the Bey should venture to take such a step without consulting him.
At 5 o’clock p. m. on the same day the French consul appeared at the Bardo, and had an interview with the Bey in presence of his prime minister and some subordinate officers. After the usual compliments, the consul stated his objection to the proposed mission, and told the Bey that such a measure could not receive his approbation or countenance. He took to himself the credit of having recently extricated the Bey from difficulty and embarrassment, by inducing the Ottoman envoy to leave his capital, and suggested that if the Bey refused to heed his counsel he might be left to take care of himself in future. Preserving his self-possession and dignity, the Bey replied that neither the consul’s countenance nor approbation was asked, and that he was notified of the proposed mission simply as an act of courtesy. The Bey pronounced counsel in such a case as out of place. Upon this the consul became more imperious in his bearing, and protested in the name of his master, the Emperor of the French, against the step which the Bey proposed to take. Still, with apparent calmness, the Bey replied, that regarding himself as an independent sovereign, he could accept no dictation from any foreign representative. At the conclusion of his remarks, presuming from the silence that the interview was ended, he reached out his hand as an act of parting courtesy; whereupon the consul scornfully drew back from the Bey, giving an unmistakable expression of disrespect.
Meanwhile, the letters of introduction arrive from the other consuls named, and it is decided that the envoy depart on Monday, the 14th instant, instead of Thursday, the 17th. Towards evening on the 14th instant the appointed envoy, General Kheridine, arrives, after visiting the tomb of a Moslem saint on his way, at the Bey’s Goletta palace; when forthwith appears the lieutenant of the French iron-clad Invincible, and requests an interview. Being received, the lieutenant informs the general that he was instructed by his commander to use his utmost efforts to dissuade him from attempting to set out for Constantinople, adding, as a final argument, that force would be employed, if necessary, to prevent his departure. The general replied: “Be it so; I have received my orders from my sovereign, and must obey them to the extent of my ability. If the force which you threaten is employed, the responsibility will not rest with me.” [Page 461] The lieutenant shortly afterwards signalled the Invincible, and the fires were lighted to get up the steam. The general was soon on board the Bey’s steamer the Bechir, whose steam was already up, and at 8 o’clock he set out on his mission, tacking about so as to avoid, as far as possible, approaching the Invincible. The commander of the Invincible, observing this movement, turned his vessel to encounter the Bechir, and signalled her to stop, employing a profusion of Bengal lights to the amusement of large numbers upon the shore. But the Bey’s steamer had the advantage of speed, and being light, was enabled to take a short passage and so, after some hours of sailing, escaped further pursuit. The commander of the Invincible was not prepared to take the responsibility of using his cannon. The next morning his ship returned to her place of anchor.
This affair has called forth a variety of inquiries and comments. What do the French mean by such conduct? One reply is, that they mean to make the Mediterranean a French lake and this is their way of attempting to reach such a result. When such an idea is suggested, there is but one feeling awakened aside from Frenchmen. “Never shall that be,” exclaimed John Bull, and Aniens are utered on every hand. But the more common and probable opinion is, that the French officials here are wanting in tact and good sense, and that their folly is causing to their government trouble and loss of influence. What seems most astonishing is to see such pretensions set up without any adequate efforts on the part of the French government either to justify and sustain them or to rebuke them. French corsairs have come to be named in the same breath with those of the confederates.
The Bey’s object in this mission is readily perceived. He designs to express his gratitude to the Grand Sultan for having sent his ambassador here in the time of trouble. While, with the example of Tripoli and Egypt before him, he would shrink from the free embraces of his religious superior, he is quite willing, by a system of coquetry, to chill the troublesome amours of the French Emperor, and rebuke his pretentious manners. And in this course of action he receives encouraging expressions on every hand.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.