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

Dey. That was noted by the American prisoners and reported by de Kercy in
his dispatch of 13 June, 1786. 131
c) A Westerners’ Verdict: Algiers sincerely looked forward for peace
with the United States. Lamb, Carmichael, and O’Brien noted it in their
correspondence and Cathcart detailed it in his memoirs. 132
Carmichael, for
example, and despise his blatant unfair play was conscious about the sincerity
of Algerian officials, particularly Sidi Hassan; but he abused it:
I think it necessary to induce the Algerines to believe that the United
States are more disposed to be at peace than at war with them. Their
Minister of Marine desires peace with us, and appears apprehensive of
seeing American cruisers in the Mediterranean. I have ways of
cultivating his friendly disposition, and exciting his apprehensions. 133
Unfriendly and treacherous utterance indeed; nevertheless it shows clearly that
Algiers was sincerely inclined towards peace but the Americans were in fact
playing an outward game of peace while in reality they had warring intentions.
Even the mule trader had understood that a treaty of peace was possible with
Algiers: “I have good reason to think that peace may be made with these
people,” Lamb wrote before meeting the Dey. 134 At the term of his mission he
reported that “their principal Minister [Sidi Hassan]” told him that it was his
“greatest desire that our peace might be made with their Regency,” and that “he
would use his utmost endeavors for the purpose.” 135 The only ones who seem
131 EN, 3:198, Richard O’Bryen, Zaccheus Coffin and Isaac Stephens to Thomas Jefferson, June 8,
1786; Parker, Uncle Sam in Barbary, p. 59.
132 EN, 3:194, Richard O’Bryen to Thomas Jefferson, June 8, 1786; Cathcart, The Captives, 39-40.
133 USDC, 1:800, Extract of a Letter from William Carmichael to Thomas Jefferson, July 15, 1786.
134 USDC, 3:33, From John Lamb to Thomas Jefferson, March 29, 1786.
135 USDC, 3:82, From the same to the same, May 20, 1786; Lamb reiterated that view in another letter,
that of July 18, 1786, USDC, 3:125.
284