1816	Battle of Algiers	397

carried on against barbarians. Partly to settle some differences with the regencies of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, and partly, no doubt, to astonish Europe with the extent of their naval force, the United States, the moment peace with England permitted them, sent forth, in separate divisions, as fast as the ships could be got ready, nearly the whole of their Atlantic or sea navy. On the 17th of June, off Cape de Gatte, the first division, consisting of three frigates and three smaller vessels, under Commodore Decatur, in the new 32-pounder 44-gun frigate Guerrière, after a running fight, by one account, of 25 minutes, and by another account, of nearly two hours, captured the Algerine 18-pounder 40-gun frigate Mezoura. Mr. Madison, in his speech to congress delivered on the 5th of December, when referring to this" demonstration of American skill and prowess," says, " The high character of the American commander was brilliantly sustained on the occasion." With examples of this sort from the head of the government, no wonder that the people of the United States are such unconscionable braggarts.

The American squadron also drove on shore near St.-Xavier a small frigate or corvette. On the 30th Commodore Decatur concluded a treaty with the Dey of Algiers; by which all prisoners made on either side were to be restored, and all property given up, and no more tribute was to be demanded from the United States. The Algerine prisoners on board the squadron of Commodore Decatur amounted to 500, and the natives of the United States in the hands of the dey did not exceed 10 : consequently his highness did not, in that respect, make a bad bargain. The American commodore afterwards sailed for Tunis and Tripoli, and obtained from those regencies payment of the few thousand dollars in dispute between the latter and some American citizens. In the case of Tripoli, 10 Danish and Neapolitan captives were given up by the bey, in lieu of a portion of the stipulated sum. In his letter to the American secretary of state, Commodore Decatur had the modesty, to say, that the treaty he had concluded " placed. the United States on higher ground than any other nation." * One of the officers of his squadron concludes a letter to a friend with the following piece of pleasantry : " You have no idea of the respect which the American character has gained by our late wars. The Spaniards, especially, think we are devils incarnate ; as we beat the English who beat the French, who beat them, whom nobody ever beat before ; and the Algerines, whom the devil himself could not beat."

On the 23d of May, at Bona, near Algiers, the crews of between 300 and 400 small vessels engaged in the coral-fishery, while on their way to celebrate mass (it being Ascension-day), were barbarously massacred by a band of 2000 Turkish

* Naval Monument, p. 299. † Ibid., p. 295.

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