The royal owner cared very little for the possession of Malta, Gozo, and tripoli, the latter situated on the adjacent coast of Barbary.
"The Story of Malta"
Maturin M. Ballou
As to tripoli, the order did not desire to possess it at all, and would have been glad not to have taken charge of it.
"The Story of Malta"
Maturin M. Ballou
In 1801 he was put in command of the American squadron that sailed to the Mediterranean and humbled the insolent Bashaw of tripoli by battering down his caste.
"Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution"
L. Carroll Judson