No. 642.
Aristarchi
Bey to Mr. Fish.
Sir: The Sublime Porte has been apprised with regret of the arrival of two men-of-war of the Federal Navy in the harbor of Tripoli, in Africa, sent for the purpose of demanding redress for certain grievances, the extent and details of which we ignore, for they have not been brought directly to our knowledge. If, as the public voice says, it is a question of insult which may have been extended to the consul of the United States at Tripoli, the imperial government, you may be assured, will regret it profoundly, and is perfectly ready to examine into the complaints which the United States Government may bring forward, either on the part of this official or any other against the imperial authorities of Tripoli, and to give full and complete satisfaction, within the bounds of legality and justice. However, as the presence of American men-of-war in the waters of Tripoli, in Africa, seems to be prejudicial to the sovereign rights of the empire, I pray you, Mr. Secretary of State, to cause their withdrawal. I feel at liberty to add, on this occasion, that as Tripoli is a province of the Ottoman Empire, under the administration of a governor-general appointed by H.I.M. the Sultan, and an appendage of the imperial government, any grievance existing against the administration of that province should be addressed to the Sublime Porte. S. E. the minister of foreign affairs, appealing to your great wisdom and elevated sentiments, believes himself entitled to hope that you will give to this affair the solution to which we aspire.
Receive, &c.