Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

favor to permit him landing and audiences with the Dey, Lamb was not
satisfied. At a time the Dey reasonably conceded to allow talks over captives
only, Lamb accused d’Expilly of not cooperating and became entangled in a
dispute with him. As reported by Lamb, the Spanish envoy refused to help him
because he “cares very little about our peace in that quarter” and complained
that the Count did not comply with the instructions of his government and kept
him “in the dark as much as he could on all accounts.” 83 One year later he kept
accusing him of baffling his efforts and for being “turned out of Algiers for the
most atrocious crimes.” 84
Count d’Expilly, however, wrote the American minister at Madrid
assuring him that he had not trifled with Lamb and that he had simply
explained to him that his “unseasonable arrival” was to no avail because the
“Dey had some days before declared publicly that he would treat with no
power about peace that had not previously made it with the Sublime Porte.” 85
The captives and historians, on their side, attribute to Lamb threats that if Spain
would not help him settle negotiations with Algiers satisfactorily, the United
States would seize Spanish territory in America. 86 O’Brien wrote a long letter
on June 8, 1786 to Jefferson, which was also signed by other captives; the letter
was devastating for Lamb: 87
83 USDC, 3:83, 86, From John Lamb to Thomas Jefferson, May 20, 1786.
84 Ibid., 3:258, From John Lamb to Thomas Jefferson, May 20, 1787.
85 Ibid., 6:306, From William Carmichael to Messrs. Adams and Jefferson, May 19, 1786, enclosure:
From Count d’Espilly to Mr. Carmichael.
86 EN, 3:197, Richard O’Bryen, Zaccheus Coffin and Isaac Stephens to Thomas Jefferson, June 8,
1786; also Irwin, Diplomatic Relations, p. 39; Parker, Uncle Sam in Barbary, pp. 49, 63-65.
87 EN, 3:192-7, Richard O’Bryen, Zaccheus Coffin and Isaac Stephens to Thomas Jefferson, June 8,
1786. Also this letter was not reproduced in American state papers series until 1996.
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