enough not to commit himself in new circumstances, and spirit sufficient to repeat what I say when he arrives. Let Buonaparte send his diamonds and his legions; I send the representative of the British nation, and the British flag.” “It will not do, my Lord,” exclaimed Mr. Lucas; “you know not the man; his hands have been already dipped in the blood of his father and brother; he will think it an insult that I am forced upon him in a brig of 18 guns.” “Let him,” returned his lordship, “and what then?” “I shall have the bow-string at my throat,” said the Consul in a mournful tone. “Let him,” repeated the hero, energetically, while fire seemed to flash from his eye; “only let him, I say, do that I wish he would.” “My Lord!” exclaimed Mr. Lucas with astonishment. “Let him, I say,” his lordship added, “and we will have a glorious burning pile.” Then turning to Captain Ricketts, and handing him the copy of a letter which he had written to the Bashaw, with an intimation that he was to guide himself by its contents, he directed him to put the original into the Bashaw’s own hands, and to see that Mr. Lucas was fully reinstated in his office. “This,” said his lordship, “must be complied with; and at all events, nothing but force is to prevent you from landing him in the town; then let the Bashaw do his worst: but do not fail to tell him, in a way he cannot misunderstand, that the British Consul must be honorably received, or I and my fleet will soon be there.”
In compliance with the orders of his determined chief, Captain Ricketts proceeded on his delicate mission, accompanied by Mr. Lucas, whose alarm did not subside until he was convinced that the menace of the British Admiral had made a salutary impression upon the mind of the Bashaw, who after some hesitation consented to receive him in his former capacity, with all due honours.
It should here be remarked, that the difficulties which Captain Ricketts had to encounter were greatly aggravated by the desertion of two of his crew, who took shelter in the palace of the Bashaw’s mother, and declared their resolution to become Mahometans; but who were given up to him on his making a peremptory demand to that effect.
