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

passport issued by the United States for both signatories, the remaining articles
secured free trade and navigation for American citizens only. 90 Among them
many were restrictive for Algiers while advantageous for Americans: article 7
prohibited Algiers from giving or selling men-of-war to nations in war with the
United States (1830: to be equipped from countries at war with the ruler of
America); articles 8, 9, 10, and 12 permitted American citizens to sell their
prizes at Algiers even if they were not in possession of a passport without
paying duties and denied to other nations at war with the United States to sell
American captured ships at Algiers. More privileges were provided by article
11 including “presents of Provisions & Refreshments Gratis” were to be given
for visiting American warships (1830: no such provision were inscribed) and
reiterated in article 20 “the Dey will Send fresh Provisions on board as is
Customary, Gratis.” 91
It remains to say that the treaty was more tolerant about slavery since
article 11 required that escaping slaves to visiting warships “shall be
immediately returned [and] no excuse shall be made.” 92
Finally, one may
certainly remember Lady Temple’s “box of tea and a piece of silk” brought
90 As an example of disparities between the 1795 original translation and that of 1830 is this statement
in article 4: 1795, Algerine cruiser must have “passport and Certificate from the Consul of the United
States of North America resident in this Regency”; 1830, Algerian cruisers must be “in possession of a
passport delivered by the ruler of Algiers or the American Consul residing in Algiers.”
91 Article 20 provided also for a salute “with twenty one Guns” for American warships on anchorage at
Algiers. One may not understand why there was so much fuss about the naval stores since powder was
used for saluting the incessant ballet of their warships.
92 The irony of history had made it that at about the same time the treaty was debated in Congress for
appropriations and ratification and detailed in the newspapers where article 11 did not pass unnoticed,
Ona—one of the best nine slaves George Washington took with him to Philadelphia when he became
president—escaped from the executive mansion. Washington sent agents to seize and shackle her but
the task proved difficult without raising public indignation as she was in free territory (New
Hampshire). Nine months later, “another part of [his] human property declared his independence” and
outwitted all attempts to capture him; he was no more than his valuable cook Hercules. For both
anecdotes see Nash, The Forgotten Fifth, pp. 62-67.
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