gotten the fate of Don Sebastian, king of Portugal; and none perhaps are ignorant of the discomfiture of Charles V, who, backed by half the power of Europe, and all the treasures of the new world, invaded Algiers, from whose territory he was driven after the loss of almost the whole of his army. Another example is that of Lewis XIV, who made attempts to humble the pride of these nations, but was never able to gain from them terms so advantageous as those dictated by our commissioners. Nay, even the potent fleet of lord Nelson failed in a still more recent instance in a similar attempt, after having previously succeeded in others, that were at that time considered almost desperate, but which have since been discovered to have owed their success to the deplorable imbecility and unskilfulness of his opponents.

From the foregoing causes, as well as from the circumstance of their having long been the terror of the mariner, and the scourge of the powers bordering on and navigating the Mediterranean, has arisen that feeling of vague, but overwhelming terror, with which the world has long contemplated these renowned barbarians. This feeling was perhaps stronger in this country, previous to the Tripolitan war, than any where else, and we contemplated these poor creatures through the same exaggerated medium we once did, and in some degree still do, more than one nation across the Atlantic. To the gallant navy which first dissolved the enchantment of British superiority, are we indebted for our emanci pation from that of Algerine prowess, and for this among other benefits we are indebted to a race of admirable officers, who seemed to be conscious that whatever other men might be, they could not be more than their equals. They seem, indeed, even to have possessed that noblest species of confidence, which is not derived from any idea of what their encmies might be, but of what they themselves really were.

In contemplating what was performed by our small force, conducted as it was with characteristic promptness and energy, we are called upon to compare it with what was done by

the most powerful monarchs of Europe, and the comparison is a subject of honest exultation. Perhaps to assume a superiority over these mighty potentates, who occupy so large a space in history, may be called boasting. So let it be. It is by performing such things, that nations become illustrious, and it is by speaking of them as they ought to be spoken of, that courage and enterprise meet their reward, and emulation is awakened from its slumbers. The pride of our hearts is gratified with the knowledge that while the corsairs laughed at the demands of a superior European fleet, carrying the descendants of De Ruyter and Van Tromp, they shrunk beneath the energy of a republican commodore, and gave up what they had never before yielded to any nation. In addition to this, both our pride and our humanity are solaced with the conviction that our ships of war, ennobled as they are by many other attributes, have, by the late treaty with Algiers, become sanctuaries, not like the Catholic and Mahometan churches, for robbers and assassins, but for the oppressed Christian slaves of all nations.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.

COPIES OF LETTERS FROM COMMODORE DECATUR TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

SIR,

U. S. ship Guerriere, at sea, May 20, 1815.

I have the honour to inform you, that after being detained by head winds from the 18th instant, I have now passed the bar, and shall proceed to the point of destination with all possible despatch.

I will thank you to order the transport ship that is to follow us to touch at Gibraltar, where she will receive instructions as to our place of rendezvous. I have the honour to be, &c.

SIR,

S. DECATUR.

U. S. ship Guerriere, off Gibraltar, June 15, 1815.

I have the honour to inform you of our arrival off this place, after a passage of twenty-five days, having previously communicated with Cadiz and Tangier. The Spitfire, Torch, and Firefly separated from the squadron during a gale of wind, on the 26th ultimo, and the Ontario on the 31st. I am happy to find that they have all, with the exception of the Firefly, arrived. The latter vessel, I fear, may have lost her spars and returned to the United States. From all the information I can collect I feel assured that the Algerines have returne

into the Mediterranean. The vessels that separated are now joining, and I shall proceed in search of the enemy forthwith. I have the honour to be, &c.

S. DECATUR.

(EXTRACT.)

SIR,

U. S. ship Guerriere, off Carthagena, June 19, 1815.

I have the honour to inform you that on the 17th inst. off Cape de Gatt, the squadron fell in with and captured an Algerine frigate of forty guns, and be tween four and five hundred men, commanded by Rais Hammida, who bore the title of Algerine admiral. She struck her flag after a running fight of twenty. five minutes. The admiral was killed at the ommencement of the action. Af ter the Guerriere (who from her favourable position was enabled to bring the ene my to close action) had fired two broadsides, they, with the exception of a few musketeers, ran below. The Guerriere had four men wounded by musket shot. We have four hundred and six prisoners, including the wounded. The prisoners state that about thirty were killed and thrown overboard.

Their squadron is said to be cruising in our vicinity; five days ago they were off this place. Unless I obtain some further intelligence of them to-morrow, I shall proceed to the port of Algiers, in the hope of intercepting their return. For the present I have determined to send the prize into Carthagena. I have the honour to be, &c.

SIR,

S. DECATUR,

U. S. ship Guerriere, June 20, 1815.

I have the honour to inform you, that on the 19th inst. off Cape Palos, the squadron under my command captured an Algerine brig of twenty-two guns, and a hundred and eighty men. After a chase of three hours she ran into shoal water, where I did not think it advisable to follow with our large ships, but despatched the Epervier, Spark, Torch, and Spitfire, to whom she surrendered after a short resistance. Twenty-three men were found dead on board. We received from her eighty prisoners, the rest of her crew having left her in boats. Many of these must have been killed by the fire of our vessels, and one of the boats was sunk.

None of our vessels sustained any damage, nor was there a man killed or wounded. This brig is larger than the Epervier; was built in Algiers five years ago by a Spanish constructor, the same who built the frigate captured on the 17th, and is perfectly sound. I have the honour to be, &c.

We have the honour to refer you to the official reports of commodore Decatur to the navy department, for an account of the operations of this squadron previous to our arrival off Algiers on the 28th ultimo

Having received information that the Algerine squadron had been at sea for a considerable time longer than that to which their cruises usually extend, and that a despatch boat had been sent from Gibraltar to Algiers to inform them of our arrival in the Mediterranean, we thought that they might have made a harbour where they would be in safety. We, therefore, whilst they were in this state of uncertainty, believed it a proper moment to deliver the president's letter, agreeably to our instructions. Accordingly on the 29th ultimo, a flag of truce was hoisted on board the Guerriere, with the Swedish flag at the main. A boat came off about noon, with Mr. Norderling, consul of Sweden, and the captain of the port, who confirmed the intelligence we had before received, and to whom we communicated information of the capture of their frigate and brig. The impression made by these events was visible and deep. We were request

1

ed by the captain of the port, Mr. Norderling declaring he was not authorized to act, to state the conditions on which we would make peace; to which we repli ed by giving the letter fof the president to the dey, and by a note from us to him, a copy of which, No. 1, we have the honour to transmit herewith. The captain of the port then requested that hostilities should cease pending the negotiation, and that persons authorized to treat should go on shore, he and Mr. Norderling both affirming that the minister of marine had pledged himself for our security and return to our ships when we pleased. Both these propositions were rejected; and they were explicitly informed that the negotiation must be carried on on board the fleet, and that hostilities, as far as they respected vessels could not cease They returned on shore. On the following day the same persons returned, and informed us that they were commissioned by the dey to treat with us on the proposed basis, and their anxiety appeared extreme to conclude the peace immediately. We then brought forward the model of a treaty, which we declared would not be departed from in substance, at the same time declaring that although the United States would never stipulate for paying tribute under any form whatever, yet that they were a magnanimous and generous nation, who would, upon the presentation of consuls, do what was customary with other great nations, in their friendly intercourse with Algiers. The treaty was then examined, and they were of opinion that it would not be agreed to in its present form, and particularly requested that the article requiring the restitution of the property they had captured, and which had been distributed, might be expunged, alleging that such a demand had never before been made upon Algiers. To this it was answered that the claim was just and would be adhered to. They then asked, whether, if the treaty should be signed by the dey, we would engage to restore the captured vessels, which we refused. They then represented that it was not the present dey who had declared the war, which they acknowledged to be unjust, conceding that they were wholly in the wrong, and had no excuse whatever; requesting, however, that we would take the case of the dey into consideration, and upon his agreeing to terms with us more favourable than had ever been made with any other nation, to restore the ships, which they stated would be of little or no value to us, but would be of great importance to him, as they would satisfy the people with the conditions of the peace we were going to conclude with him.

We consulted upon this question, and determined that, considering the state of those vessels, the sums that would be required to fit them for a passage to the United States, and the little probability of selling them in this part of the world, we would make a compliment of them to his highness in the state they then were, the commodore engaging to furnish them an escort to this port. This, however, would depend upon their signing the treaty as presented to them, and could not appear as an article of it, but must be considered as a favour conferred on the dey by the United States.

They then requested a truce, to deliberate upon the terms of the proposed treaty, which was refused: they even pleaded for three hours. The reply was "not a minute; if your squadron appears in sight before the treaty is actually signed by the dey, and the prisoners sent off, ours would capture them." It was finally agreed that hostilities should cease when we perceived their boat coming off with a white flag hoisted, the Swedish consul pledging his word of henour not to hoist it unless the treaty was signed, and the prisoners in the boat. They returned on shore, and, although the distance was full five miles, they came back within three hours, with the treaty signed, as we had concluded it, and the pri

soners.

During the interval of their absence a corvette appeared in sight, which would have been captured if they had been detained one hour longer. The treaty has since been drawn out anew, translated by them, and duly executed by the dey, which we have the honour to transmit herewith.

Mr. Shaler has since been on shore, and the cotton and money mentioned in the 4th article, have been given up to him. They now show every disposi

tion to maintain a sincere peace with us, which is doubtless owing to the dread of our arms. And we take this occasion to remark, that in our opinion, the only secure guarantee we can have for the maintenance of the peace just coaeluded with these people, is the presence in the Mediterranean of a respectable naval force.

As this treaty appears to us to secure every interest within the contemplation of the government, and as it really places the United States on higher ground than any other nation, we have no hesitation, on our part, in fulfilling such of its provisions as are within our power, in the firm belief that it will receive the ratification of the president and senate.

We have the honour to be, with respect, sir, your obedient servants,
STEPHEN DECATUR.
WILLIAM SHALER.

The honourable James Monroe, secretary of state.

U. S. ship Guerriere, off Algiers, July 5, 1815.

SIR, I have the honour to inform you of the proceedings of the squadron subsequent to the date of my letter of the 20th ultimo. Having put the greater part of our prisoners on board the captured brig, I sent her into Carthagena, and made sail for Algiers, where we arrived on the 28th. Finding the Algerine squadron to be still out, and knowing that they had been at sea for a longer per riod than usual, and that a despatch boat had been sent to Algiers to inform them of our arrival, I thought it probable that they would seek shelter in some neutral port. It seemed, therefore, a favourable moment to deliver a letter from the president to the dey, pursuant to instructions from the department of state, which would afford him an opportunity to open a negotiation, if he thought proper. A negotiation was accordingly opened, and a treaty of peace was dictated by us, and finally concluded in twenty-four hours. This treaty, possessing all the favourable features of those which have been concluded with the most fa voured nations, together with other advantages conceded to us only, I flatter my. self will be considered honourable to the United States, particularly when we compare the small force employed on this occasion with the formidable expedi tions which have often, and without success, been fitted out against Algiers. It has been dictated at the mouths of our cannon; has been conceded to the losses which Algiers has sustained, and to the dread of still greater evils; and I beg leave to express to you my opinion that the presence of a respectable naval forcé in this sea will be the only certain guarantee for its observance.

Having concluded the treaty, I have, in conformity to your instructions to dispose of such vessels as might be captured, and which would be unsafe to send home, in such a manner as should seem to me most expedient, restored them in their present state to the dey of Algiers. This was earnestly requested by the dey, as it would satisfy his people with the conditions of the peace, and it was determined by Mr. Shaler and myself, that, considering the state of these vessels, the great expense which would be incurred by fitting them for a voyage to the United States, and the little probability of selling them in this part of the world, it would be expedient to grant his request.

I have appointed captain Downes of the Epervier, to the Guerriere, and lieutenant Shubrick, (first of the Guerriere) to the Epervier, which brig I have determined to send home with despatches. These arrangements I trust, will meet the approbation of the government. The ten American prisoners who were confined in Algiers, have been delivered up, and I have given them a pas◄ sage in the despatch vessel.

I shall now proceed with the squadron to Tunis, and from thence to Tripoli. At the latter place I understand there exists some difficulty between our consul and the regency, of what nature I am not particularly informed.

I have charged captain Lewis with the delivery of the despatches to govern. ment, and the flags taken from the Algerine admiral and the brig. He is an offi17

VOL. VII.