Here the envoys found a more difficult task before them.  The Bey had heard of the ships and cargoes left at Algiers, and asked at once, Where were all the good things promised to him by Famin?  The Consuls presented President Adam’s letter of polite excuses, addressed to the Prince of Tunis, “the well-guarded city, the abode of felicity.”  The Bey read it, and repeated his question,—­“Why has the Prince of America not sent the hundred and seven thousand dollars?” The Consuls endeavored to explain the dependence of their Bey on his Grand Council, the Senate, which august body objected to certain stipulations in Famin’s treaty.  If his Highness of Tunis would consent to strike out or modify these articles, the Senate would ratify the treaty, and the President would send the money as soon as possible.  But the Bey was not to be talked over; he refused to be led away from the main question,—­“Where are the money, the regalia, the naval stores?” He could take but one view of the case:  he had been trifled with; the Prince of America was not in earnest.

Monsieur Famin, who found himself turned out of office by the Commissioners, lost no opportunity of insinuating that American promises were insincere, and any expectations built upon them likely to prove delusive.

After some weeks spent in stormy negotiations, this modification of the articles was agreed upon.  The duty might be three or three hundred per cent., if the Consuls wished it, but it should be reciprocal.  The Bey refused to give up the powder:  fifteen barrels of powder, he said, might get him a prize worth a hundred thousand dollars; but salutes were not to be fired, unless demanded by the Consul on the part of the United States.  The Bey also persisted in his intention of pressing American vessels into his service; but he waived this claim in the case of national ships, and promised not to take merchantmen, if he could possibly do without them.

Convinced that no better terms could be obtained, Cathcart sailed for Tripoli, to encounter fresh troubles, leaving Eaton alone to bear the greediness and insolence of Tunis.  The Bey and his staff were legitimate descendants of the two daughters of the horse-leech; their daily cry was, “Give! give!” The Bey told Eaton to get him a frigate like the one built for the Algerines.

“You will find I am as much to be feared as they.  Your good faith I do not doubt,” he added, with a sneer, “but your presents have been insignificant.”

“But your Highness, only a short time since, received fifty thousand dollars from the United States.”

“Yes, but fifty thousand dollars are nothing, and you have since altered the treaty; a new present is necessary; this is the custom.”

“Certainly,” chorused the staff; “and it is also customary to make presents to the Prime Minister and to the Secretary every time the articles are changed, and also upon the arrival of a new Consul.”