trictly true. A lye is impossible for a
true Mussulman to tell; at least, I had always believed so. What,
then, must have been my astonishment, to have heard, from his
Britannic Majesty's consul, Mr. Lucas, that the moment the Vanguard
sailed, the French consul, and all the French, were liberated; and,
also, the French vessels in the port allowed to fit for sea: and
one, to my knowledge, had sailed for Malta! Why will your highness
be thus led astray by evil counsellors; who can have no other
object in view, but your ruin? Your highness knows that, although a
powerful squadron of Portuguese ships has been since last August
under my command, by every means in my power they have been
prevented from cruizing against the ships of your highness, or from
approaching your coast. It is now my duty to speak out, and not to
be misunderstood. That Nelson, who has hitherto kept your powerful
enemies from destroying you, can and will let them loose upon you,
unless the following terms are in two hours complied with; viz.
that the French consul at Tripoli, vice-consul, and every
Frenchman, are delivered on board her most faithful majesty's ship
Alphonso, to Commodore Campbell, in two hours from Mr. Lucas's
setting his foot on shore; that hostages are also sent on board, to
remain till every Frenchman in the state of Tripoli shall be sent
off, which shall not exceed four days. N.B. There shall be no
reservation, or trick, about the French consul, &c. at Tripoli; he
shall be on board in two hours after the demand's being made. All
French vessels, or vessels pretended to be taken from the French,
shall be destroyed in two hours. These terms complied with,
Commodore Campbell will, as he has done upon the passage, refrain
from taking your vessels, till his arrival at Palermo. If, then,
proper terms are not complied with, I can no longer prevent the
ships of her most faithful majesty from acting with vigour against
your highness.

"Your highness will, without difficulty, write me a letter, the
substance of which will be dictated by Mr. Lucas: you will also, as
a convincing proof of your detestation of the evil councils which
have been given to you by Hamet Reis, your captain of the port,
either cause him to be delivered to Commodore Campbell, that I may
send him