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

1796. 55 Meanwhile, Humphreys instructed Donaldson to proceed to Algiers but
this caricatured envoy preferred waiting at Alicante until the Dey sent him an
invitation “under the seal of the Regency” and Skjoldebrand paid for a vessel to
go to Alicante and bring him to Algiers. About the circumstance, Dey Hassan
Pasha said: “that is not customary, and has never been granted by this Regency
to the Ambassadors of any nation.” 56 Definitely, the Dey had to deal with
capricious Americans whose conduct was unpredictable but that did not
weaken his efforts for making peace. Donaldson, nevertheless, ended by
reaching Algiers on September 3, 1795. 57
Like Lamb, he was wholly
unqualified for the mission but one element played in his favor: he could rely
on Cathcart, O’Brien, and the Swedish consul. 58 Those had already arranged
everything for him, including the provisions of the treaty itself; the only thing
he did was bargaining about the sum of money fixed for the treaty and value of
naval stores. 59
Negotiations were short but tense; they were carried through Cathcart
who acted as a liaison between the Dey and Donaldson—the latter only met the
Dey briefly after his arrival for the presentation of his credentials and then
55 Privateer, poet, businessman, and diplomat, Barlow was perhaps the ablest of all Americans envoys
to Algiers. During the critical years of 1796 and 1797, one may credit him with saving the treaty even
though his deals were deceitful. For a portrait of Barlow see Elise Marienstras, “Joel Barlow, de
Redding (1754) a Zarnowiec (1812): rêves cosmopolitiques et cauchemars tyranniques d’un américain
de bonne volonté,” La Revue Française des Etudes Américaine, 92 :2 (2002), pp. 68-85.
56 As recorded in Cathcart, The Captives, p. 160.
57 For a full portrait of Donaldson, his mission, and evaluation see Ross, “The Mission of Joseph
Donaldson,” pp. 422-433.
58 For a summary about Cathcart’s views about American envoys to Algiers, particularly Donaldson,
see Rojas, Insults Unpunished, pp. 175-181.
59 Donaldson also enjoyed free accommodation in the newly-built house for the wife of the Dey,
including service, thus he reduced the much-feared expenses the American had dreaded since 1783; as
for food, it was supplied for free by Cathcart.
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