CHAPTER XIII.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH BARBARY POWERS.

Barbary powers no longer formidable-Mediterranean always subject to piracies-Remarkable sea-Celebrated in all ages-Power of corsairs diminished-Once very great-No proper diplomatic intercourse-Regencies dependent in a degree on Porte-Morocco independent-Before Revolution trade protected by England-Trade considerable-American vessels taken by Algerines in '85-Slavery mild in the East-Slaves article of traffic-Government attentive to trade, but poor and weak-Different modes of dealing with Corsairs-Tribute-Force-Treaty with Morocco-Suffered little from that state-Algiers, prince of pirates-Piracy, monopoly of government-Often bombarded-To little purpose-Rates of ransom-Government too poor to pay-Captives long detained-Mathurins-Affair not honourable to this country-Indebted to Corsairs for navy― Treaty-Very expensive-Frigate Washington carries Algerine ambassador to Constantinople-Algiers only country that ever declared war against United States-War of 1812-Unlucky time for DeySquadron sent to Algiers-Makes treaty and abolishes tribute-Tripoli-Navy first distinguished there-Treaty-Expedition of Eaton —Pashaw Hamet-Ill used-Treaty made by Lear--Too hasty— Article never communicated to government-Davis receives Hamet's family-Tunis-Near Carthage-Remarks respecting Turks-Ruins in East more interesting than in Europe-Regencies, but one want-Money-System in regard to Corsairs honourable to government and navy.

THE trade of the country being no longer exposed to molestation, the Barbary powers have ceased to awaken alarm, even to attract attention. But the early transactions of this people with the piratical governments of that coast merit any other appellation than honourable, as our

commerce enjoyed any other advantage than security. To that class of measures, the government from weakness has been compelled to pass over in silence, or to trust to time and accidents, or to a chaffering, hesitating policy for relief or redress, belongs the intercourse with the Corsair states. We now reflect on them with composure, only from a deep conviction, that the condition of things in this country left unhappily in most cases, neither choice nor remedy.

The Mediterranean, the most remarkable sea on the surface of the globe, is not the less so for the states, by which it is enclosed. On one border, we find the most ancient, on another the most polished people, of which history has left us any traces, and on the rich and beautiful territory, that projects far across it, stood the deep foundations of the most powerful as well as most extensive empire of antiquity. On the other hand, the shores of this sea have, from the earliest times, furnished an ample and lucrative commerce to the less fortunate nations, placed beyond the pillars of Hercules. Still, as if to lend more effect and relief to these surprising advantages, the bays and islands of the Mediterranean have, in all ages, been vexed, to an extreme degree, by pirates and freebooters. No scenes are more celebrated in poetry, modern or ancient ;--none possess a beauty of a milder and more picturesque kind than the haunts and resorts of these corsairs, where, indeed, may be traced the track of the hero of more than one epic. At periods when nations, inhabiting those shores, have been most polished or powerful, piracies have not less existed, though it may be observed, they abounded in proportion to the corrupt factions and disorganized state of the population along its borders. The expedition of the great Pompey against the pirates was not only one of the most considerable armaments, ever equipped by Rome, but the undertaking, itself, is accounted by the biographer of that celebrated man, among his most conspicuous achievements.

We can only say, that the piracies of the Mediterranean, never entirely subdued, though perpetually assailed, are one of those moral phenomena, (of which a great many certainly

may be found) as extraordinary and quite as unaccountable by any process of reasoning or course of facts in relation to human faculties or passions, as the existence of Grecian temples on one of its shores and Egyptian on the other. For nearly half a century, Europe has occupied itself with the extermination of a slave trade, on the west coast of Africa, only worse because more extensive, than that which prevails on the north. But as to the Barbary corsairs, it seems now to be understood, that each nation shall provide, in that particular, for its own security as in any other case, solely, of a commercial nature. The memorials and projects for their annihilation presented to the Congress of Vienna by the knights of Malta and Sir Sydney Smith, were both received with the hand of the same courtier, and speedily laid on the same cold shelf.

But, notwithstanding these untoward circumstances, it is no doubt true, the power of the corsairs has sensibly diminished. It appears from history, that in the 17th century they were extremely formidable. We shall probably, by and by, see them all exterminated, not by force, a process uncertain and generally accompanied by a reaction in some other quarter, but by the progress of commerce and the arts. The territories, where they are now established in a sort of rude cantonment, are generally fertile,-at the head of the continent of Africa, within sight of Europe, and so valuable, that they will become the abode of a civilized race of men. That operation is already commenced, partially, in Egypt, and it will probably spread along the whole of the Barbary coast, when the Turkish encampment is moved across the Thracian Bosphorus and Greece, the Morea and the islands purified and thoroughly cleansed of their present profligate population. From these sources the pirates of Morocco* and the Regencies are principally recruited.

In treating this subject, we are somewhat at a loss to select an appropriate name to bestow on the relations with

*This word is generally written Morocco, though we believe the proper mode is Marocco,-see Jackson's work on that Empire. .

the Barbary powers. With the exception of Morocco, they cannot strictly be called sovereign, though substantially independent. They pay an annual tribute to the Porte, and, even, if some of the officers are not appointed by the Sultan, at least, it was the custom to renew a portion of their troops from the Janissaries of Constantinople, an arrangement by no means calculated to expurgate or improve their population. At the same time, the transactions of this government have been carried on directly with the Regencies themselves. In the dismantled and disjointed condition of the different provinces of the Turkish empire during the last half century, even, if held together by a feeble thread in a sort of apparent union and general dependence on the Porte, still, individually wasting away and perishing under domestic rapacities and a debasing tyranny, the grand Seigneur, never having been held responsible for the acts of many of his governors, has not been consulted in the arrangements, that, from time to time, have been entered into with them ;--a measure, the United States could not have adopted under any circumstances, never having succeeded in establishing a diplomatic agent at Constantinople.* The conventions, concluded by this government with the Barbary powers, have usually been denominated treaties of peace, but the attacks, that constituted a state of war, have, in every instance, been piratical, accompanied necessarily with circumstances, which, in the ordinary customs of nations, disfranchise their authors, and disable them from forming treaties of any sort. The instruments, themselves, contain provisions and stipulations, disqualifying them, in technical language, from entering into a diplomatic code, plainly indicating an absence of the essential ingredient of a treaty,-equality of condition and circumstances. The diplomatic relations of this country with those states will, therefore, be strictly considered in the light of

* The first treaty with Tunis was made under the auspices of the Emperor Selim. Morocco should be excepted from this remark, being an independent empire. We may, also, say in this place, that Russia and Austria secure the protection of their vessels by treaties with the Porte.

exceptions, as well as the description of establishments now maintained at the capitals of the Regencies, consisting of a consul general at Algiers, with consuls at Tunis, Tripoli and Tangier. Those officers receive stated salaries instead of fees, (the mode of paying consuls adopted in this country) and are invested with commercial as well as diplomatic pow ers, differing in that respect from all other agents employed by the United States.

Before the revolution* the colonies had a considerable trade to the Mediterranean, estimated at about 20,000 tons. of navigation, and employing 1200 seamen. Being protected. by the mother country, it was not exposed to molestation. During the war this traffic was necessarily abandoned. The peace, however, of '83, having restored to us the use of the principal fisheries, and little capital being required for the purpose, it was speedily resumed with spirit. But the spectacle of a new flag, appearing in the Mediterranean, soon caught the vigilant, greedy eye of the corsairs, not so much surprised, perhaps, at the foundation of another State in the world, as that any people should possess the temerity to venture into that sea without adequate protection. This fact, unfortunately, was soon ascertained, and, we believe, in the second summer after the peace one of our vessels† was captured and carried into Tangier, but the crew were liberated by the interposition of the Spanish consul. At that time we

owned but a single ship of war, the Alliance, sold, by order of congress, the following year. In the summer of 1785-1the Dey of Algiers took, even, the trouble to declare a formal war against the United States, having, for that proceeding, the best possible reason for a person in his condition and of his character,-a rich commerce completely exposed.

*It is not easy to ascertain the precise amount of this, or any other branch of colonial trade, as the custom house records of several of the States were lost during the war. But, according to a report of the secretary of state of December 1790,-one-sixth part of flour and wheat, and one-fourth of dried and pickled fish found their best market in the ports of the Mediterranean.

The Brig Betsey captured in October 1784.