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

agreement with Algiers. 103 Initially, Donaldson “engaged to make the payments
agreed on in three or four months.” 104 For the purpose, O’Brien was released,
given a passport, the yatagan and many letters for Humphreys, and a copy of
the treaty for ratification. He sailed from Algiers on September 12, 1795 for
Alicante. The search for money took him to Lisbon, London, Lisbon again,
Livorno, Lisbon again, Philadelphia, Lisbon again, and Tripoli before finally
returning to Algiers on October 1, 1796 with $200,000! 105 Meanwhile, at the
term of four months, the Dey grew uneasy. He summoned Donaldson and
threatened to repudiate the treaty if payments were not made. Nonetheless he
granted another three months (up to April 8) for the USA to fulfill its
agreement. 106
Another emissary, Sloan, was dispatched for Lisbon early in
January 1796 for the same purpose. After long vicissitudes, the latter returned
to Algiers after about three months empty-handed. 107
Meanwhile, Barlow reached Algiers early in March 1796 with presents
which the Dey refused to accept on the basis that payments were not made yet
and therefore the treaty was unsure. 108
He also rejected a demand for an
audience which was generally imputed to the commencement of Ramadan. On
103 ASP/FA, 1:553-58, Message from the President of the United States to Congress Relative to Algiers,
Jan. 9, 1797.
104 Ibid., 1:553, Report of the Secretary of State, Jan. 6, 1797.
105 The odyssey which surrounded the search of money for the treaty resulted from the general warfare
which set Europe afire following the French Revolution.
106 ASP/FA, 1:554, Report of the Secretary of State, Jan. 6, 1797.
107 Sloan to Cathcart, March 1, 1795 in Cathcart, “Diplomatic Journal and Letter Book,” p. 373.
108 Barlow held a hostile view towards Algiers and all that was connected to it—like all Americans
indeed—and more. Describing his voyage he wrote: “after we had been cast about [for three days from
heaven to hell, it drove us to a port which certainly belongs to neither, since they are not men who
inhabit it. This port is called Algiers… it is doubtless, in all respects, the most detestable place one can
imagine.” Cantor, “A Connecticut Yankee,” p. 95. For more of the sort see letters to his wife written
from Algiers, pp. 95-109. A full account about Barlow’s mission at Algiers can be found in Milton
Cantor, “Joel Barlow’s Mission to Algiers,” Historian, 25: 2 (1963), pp. 172-194.
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