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

ut whence he [Dey] could have got the information, I know not, for I
had never mentioned a syllable of it to any one in Algiers. I have since
learned that it was discovered by some means or other, when the planks
and spars were taken out of the vessel. 77
Obviously, the Dey was more angered by Lear’s deception than by the missing
stores and considered it an insult on the part of the United States as Lear
himself reported. Lear alluded to “many other expressions of anger and disgust
of the dey” 78 and added:
he [Dey] was more highly incensed at this, than on any other account;
saying that he considered it an insult offered, by having merchandise
embarked on board a vessel which was said to have been sent for the
sole purpose of bringing the annuity. 79
According to Lear, the Dey refused to unload the ship and asked for
‘immediate’ payment for the losing stores—the USA was again two years
behind the schedule of delivery. From that point onwards, disagreements
between the Dey and Lear over a multitude of details heightened to the point of
diplomatic breach. 80
The essence of the Alleghany episode is not in detail but is in principle.
These short samples from Lear’s report to the new Secretary of State James
Monroe (1811-1817) illustrate a consistency in American foreign policy
towards Algiers. Delivery of stores was badly viewed by Americans and all
excuses were good for not complying with the treaty. For Algiers, however, the
77 SPPD, 9:127, Lear to Secretary of State, July 29, 1812; also Shaler, Sketches of Algiers, pp. 120-121.
78 Ibid., 9:128.
79 Ibid., 9:131.
80 What neither the Dey nor Lear knew at that time was the declaration of war by the United States on
Britain. The war lasted from June 18, 1812 to Dec. 24, 1814. For the duration of the war, the Alleghany
incident did not evolve.
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