benefit of the example, it enabled me to ascertain the true character of the revolution which had just happened, and which at first sight appeared fatal to my mission.
“Having embarked on board the Seahorse, on the 3d of September, we proceeded to Tenedos, and remained there until the arrival of a Turkish plenipotentiary to open the conferences with me; and then removed to Barbieri bay, an anchorage between the first and second line of castles which defend the Straits. During our stay at Tenedos, I thought it advisable, although the negociation had not yet commenced, that the Turkish trade, which at this time was carrying on with considerable activity, should be suffered to pass unmolested to the capital. Captain Stewart acceded without hesitation to my wishes, and, by this act of disinterestedness, helped to keep alive, and to confirm the prevailing good humour of the Divan; a service the most essential, as it afterwards turned out, – for on the very day preceding my first conference with the plenipotentiary, another insurrection took place at Constantinople, and was followed by the death of the deposed Sultan, the slaughter of ten or fifteen thousand Turks, and the burning of a third part of the city. In this, as in the whole of his previous conduct, I conceive myself greatly indebted to Captain Stewart, for the success of the negociation entrusted to one.”
The treaty of peace between Great Britain and Turkey was signed on the 6th of January, 1809; after which the Seahorse proceeded to Constantinople, and remained there nearly three months, at the express desire of Mr. Adair, who required Captain Stewart’s assistance in several things he had to settle with the Ottoman Government; particularly to assist at a conference that was held, on the 23d March, relative to a proposed co-operation in case of a war between Russia and the Grand Seignor. During his stay at Constantinople, Captain Stewart and his officers were treated with marked civility by the Turks, which, as he had almost the whole conduct of the war against them, he attributed to his having personally well treated all their countrymen whom he had taken prisoners. The Seahorse subsequently visited Smyrna, for the purpose of seeing that the British Factory was re-established, and then returned to Malta, where her captain received two letters from Lord Collingwood, of which the following are extracts:–
