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To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 January 1797

From Timothy Pickering

Department of State January 6. 1797

To the President of the United States, The Secretary of State respectfully makes the following brief representation of the affairs of the United States in relation to Algiers.

When Colonel Humphreys left America in April 1795, he was accompanied by Joseph Donaldson Esqr. who had been appointed Consul for Tunis and Tripoli; and him Colo. Humphreys was authorized to employ in negociating a treaty with Algiers; while he should proceed himself to France, for the purpose of obtaining the cooperation of that government in this negociation.1

They arrived at Gibralter the 17th of May. Colo. Humphreys concluded, that it was expedient for Mr Donaldson to go first to Alicante, rather than Algiers, in order to be near at hand to ascertain facts and profit of occasions. He gave him instructions accordingly; and having also instructed Mr Simpson, our Consul at Gibralter, to renew our peace with the Emperor of Morocco,2 Colo. Humphreys sailed from Gibralter the 24th of May and arrived at Havre de Grase the 26th of June, from whence he set off immediately for Paris. The object of his mission was communicated by our Minister, Colo. Monroe, to the Committee of Public Safety.3 On the 21st of July he had received only a verbal answer, that the French Government was disposed to interest itself and to do every thing in its power, to promote the accomplishment of our wishes on the subject in question.4 On the 28th assurances were received, that immediate measures should be taken for giving particular instructions to the Agents of the Republic to use its influence in cooperation with us. The multiplicity of affairs with which the officers of the government were occupied, and the getting from London a sum of money necessary to purchase the usual peace presents, prevented a conclusion of the arrangements at Paris until September.5 It had been judged expedient by Colo. Humphreys and Colo. Monroe, that Joel Barlow Esqr. should be employed in the negociations with the Barbary States; and his consent had been obtained.6 By the 11th of September all the writings on the part of Colo. Humphreys were prepared for Mr Barlow, to proceed with the instructions and powers from the Government of the French Republic to its agents in Barbary, in favor of our negociations.7

Colo. Humphreys left Paris the 12th of September and reached Havre the 14th, where he found the master and mate of the United States’ Brig Sophia, both sick with fevers. While waiting there impatiently for their recovery, he received intelligence from our Consul at Marseilles, that Mr Donaldson had concluded a Treaty of peace with the Dey of Algiers.8 Nevertheless Colo. Humphreys thought it expedient, that Mr Barlow should proceed with the presents prepared and preparing at Paris; for if not needed at Algiers, they would be wanted in the negociations with Tunis and Tripoli.

About the 5th of October Colo. Humphreys sailed from Havre, and after a stormy passage of more than forty days, arrived at Lisbon the 17th of November. There he found Capt. O’Brien, who had arrived about the 1st of October with the treaty with Algiers.

On the 3rd of September Mr Donaldson arrived at Algiers, and on the 5th the treaty was concluded, and the peace present immediately given, by a loan from M. Bacri, the Dey’s broker. Mr Donaldson, knowing that funds had been lodged in London to answer his stipulations, engaged to make the payments in three or four months.9

Colo. Humphreys had received advice, under date of the 30th of July, from the Messrs Barings in London, to whom the funds had been remitted, that having made progress in the sales of the United States’ stock, they should hold at his disposal the whole of the value of 800,000 dollars, meaning to furnish by anticipation the value of that part, which remained unsold, if the service of the United States required it.10 Colo. Humphreys counting on the money as always ready after this period, sent Capt. O’Brien from Lisbon to London in the Brig Sophia to receive it. Owing to contrary winds, she did not leave Lisbon till the 24th of December.11 The other details relative to the pecuniary transactions appear in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury.12

The disappointments in the pecuniary negociations put the treaty in jeopardy. The Dey became impatient, and threatened to abandon it; and it was with extreme difficulty, that it was prevented. Mr Barlow did not arrive at Alicante until February 1796, where he proposed to wait the arrival of the funds: but after a little time his intelligence from Algiers showing, that our affairs were in a most critical situation, he determined to go thither immediately, with the hope of soothing the Dey. He arrived there the 5th of March. They had before prolonged the time to the 8th of April for the payment of the stipulated sums. On the 3rd of that month the Dey declared what should be his final determination, that in eight days Mr Barlow and Mr Donaldson should leave Algiers; and if in 30 days after the money was not paid, the treaty should be at an end, and his cruizers should bring in American vessels. Under these circumstances, and as the last hope of saving the treaty, they were induced to offer the present of a frigate.13 This fortunately succeeded. For the particulars of this transaction, the Secretary begs leave to refer the President to the enclosed letter from Messrs Barlow and Donaldson.14

Colo. Humphreys not deeming himself authorized to confirm this promise of a frigate, referred the matter to the Executive of the United States: and for this end dispatched Captain O’Brien in the brig Sophia to America. There was evidently no alternative; and the promise was confirmed.15

The frigate is now building in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and is expected to be finished in the spring.16 Capt. O’Brien returned to Lisbon, where he arrived on the —— of July.17 Colo. Humphreys had advantageously negociated bills on London for 225,000 dollars. This sum was embarked on board the Sophia, and on the 4th of August Capt. O’Brien set sail for Algiers.18 He has not since been heard of: and there is room to fear, that some misfortune has befallen him.19 The money was insured at a small premium against the dangers of the seas. Again⟨st⟩ all risks they demanded so high a premium as Colo. Humphreys judged it inexpedient to give, seeing the Sophia was a vessel of the United States, having a special passport from the President, as well as a passport in the turkish language under the seal of the Dey of Algiers.20

Such arrangements have been made by Mr Barlow and Mr Donaldson with the house of the Messrs Bacri at Algiers and Leghorn, as will doubtless ensure the payment of the 400,000 dollars originally expected from the latter place, and the same house have become engaged to the Dey and regency for the residue of the money, due as the price of peace, without which he would not agree to the redemption of the captives.21 The Secretary of the Treasury estimates these further sums to be provided, to fulfil the terms of the treaty.22

On the 31st ult. received a letter from Mr Barlow, dated the 12th of July, informing that the agent Mr Famin, at Tunis, who had been recommended to him by the French Consul Herculais, had concluded with the Bey of that Regency a truce for six months from 15th day of June last, and this without any presents.23

Timothy Pickering.
Secy of State

LS, DNA: RG 46, entry 52. This letter also is printed in ASP description begins Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. description ends , Foreign Relations, 1:553–54. GW laid this letter before Congress on 9 Jan. (see GW to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, that date).

1See David Humphreys to GW, 8 April 1795; see also Humphreys to GW, 3 Feb. 1795, and n.1. For Joseph Donaldson, Jr.’s appointment as consul at Tunis and Tripoli, and for Humphreys’s appointment as commissioner to negotiate commercial treaties with the Barbary powers, see Circular to Barbary Powers, 30 March 1795; GW to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 2 March 1795 (first letter), and n.2 to that document; and GW to the U.S. Senate, 12 June 1795 (first letter).

Edmund Randolph, then secretary of state, had given Humphreys the following instructions concerning Donaldson: “Joseph Donaldson, Junior, is named by the President as consul to … Tunis and Tripoli. … it is expected that Mr. Donaldson will (if deemed necessary) be employed in an agency with Pierre Eric Skjoldebrand (now named as consul of the United States for Algiers) in ascertaining and agreeing upon the provisional or preliminary terms of a treaty with Algiers” (Randolph to Humphreys, 28 March 1795, in ASP description begins Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. description ends , Foreign Relations, 1:529).

2Shortly after reaching Gibraltar, Humphreys on 21 May 1795 named James Simpson, the U.S. consul at Gibraltar, as agent to either secure recognition of the 1786 U.S.-Moroccan treaty, or to negotiate a new treaty with then-Moroccan emperor Mawlay Sulayman Ibn Mohammed. For more on that mission and for the August 1795 agreement confirming the 1786 treaty, see Simpson to GW, 24 Sept. 1795, and notes 1 and 3 to that document; see also GW to the U.S. Senate, 21 Dec. 1795; and Miller, Treaties description begins Hunter Miller, ed. Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America. Vol. 2, 1776-1818. Washington, D.C., 1931. description ends , 227.

3In a letter written from Paris on 5 July 1795, James Monroe, then-U.S. minister to France, wrote the French Committee of Public Safety: “unfortunately no treaty has yet been formed with any of those [Barbary] powers (Morocco excepted) and in consequence our commerce has been interrupted by their cruizers and especially those of Algiers, whereby many of our citizens were also taken and who are now detained in slavery. ’Tis the wish of the United States to make an effort at this present moment to conclude a peace with those several powers, and to pursue that object in harmony with this Republick, that its aid may be extended to them in their negociations with each, and for which purpose I have now the pleasure to inform you that Mr Humphreys minister of the United States at Lisbon has just arrived here with full power to commence and conclude such treaties. … that the only aid which we wish from this Republick is that of its good offices and influence in the councils of those powers” (Papers of James Monroe description begins Daniel Preston et al., eds. The Papers of James Monroe. 5 vols. to date. Westport, Conn., and Santa Barbara, Calif., 2003–. description ends , 3:397–98).

4On 27 July 1795, Monroe wrote Jean-Victor Colchen, a commissioner of foreign affairs: “I presented sometime since a letter to the Committee of p: S: requesting the aid of this republick in favor of our negotiation with algiers, Tunis & Tripoli and having yet recd no definitive answer to that application, permit me to desire of you to mention the subject to the committee & procure for me the answer which is sought.” Humphreys, Monroe explained, had been in Paris “waiting this decision for near a month past” (Papers of James Monroe description begins Daniel Preston et al., eds. The Papers of James Monroe. 5 vols. to date. Westport, Conn., and Santa Barbara, Calif., 2003–. description ends , 3:406).

5In a letter of 1 Sept. 1795 to Colchen, written from Paris, Monroe noted that U.S. officials had “at length completed the arrangements which appeared … necessary, with respect to funds, presents, &c., for prosecuting … treaties with Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli, so as to be in readiness to dispatch the persons to whom the negociation with each is intrusted” (Papers of James Monroe description begins Daniel Preston et al., eds. The Papers of James Monroe. 5 vols. to date. Westport, Conn., and Santa Barbara, Calif., 2003–. description ends , 3:432–33).

6Humphreys and Monroe selected Joel Barlow to act as consul general to Algiers after Benjamin Hichborn declined the offer. The perceived temporary nature of the post led Barlow to accept (see Buel, Barlow description begins Richard Buel, Jr. Joel Barlow: American Citizen in a Revolutionary World. Baltimore, 2011. description ends , 197). Barlow served as U.S. agent or acting consul in 1796 but did not receive the official nomination as consul there until 2 March 1797 (see GW’s first letter to the U.S. Senate, that date).

7Humphreys had prepared a set of instructions, dated 7 Sept. 1795, which advised Barlow of his mission to proceed to Algiers. Humphreys noted that Barlow “should be charged with the special Instructions of the Government of the French Republic to the Agents or Consuls of the said Republic in Barbary … to employ all the good offices & influence of the Republic with those Powers, for the purpose of effecting a Pacification between them & the United States.” Barlow had authorization to negotiate both a peace treaty with the dey of Algiers and a “Treaty for the liberation of the Citizens of the U.S. in captivity at Algiers.” Humphreys directed Barlow to conduct “the whole business … with the most perfect good faith, intelligence & concert with the Government of the French Republic” (Knox, Naval Documents, Barbary Wars description begins Dudley W. Knox., ed. Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers. 6 vols. Washington, D.C., 1939–44. description ends , 1:117–19).

8Donaldson and Barlow, with assistance from American captives Richard O’Bryen and James Leander Cathcart, concluded a treaty with Hassan Bashaw, dey of Algiers, on 5 Sept. 1795 (see Simpson to GW, 24 Sept. 1795, and n.4 to that document). Stephen Cathalan, Jr., the U.S. vice-consul at Marseille, France, sent Monroe news about the treaty in a letter to him of 26 Sept. 1795 (see Papers of James Monroe description begins Daniel Preston et al., eds. The Papers of James Monroe. 5 vols. to date. Westport, Conn., and Santa Barbara, Calif., 2003–. description ends , 3:467–68). If Cathalan wrote Humphreys with the same intelligence, that communication has not been identified. Cathcart, however, informed Humphreys of the treaty agreement in a letter of 10 Sept. 1795 written from Algiers: “Nothing can eaqual the innate satissfaction of yr unfortunate countrymen in captivity on the happy result of Mr Donaldsons embassy which was determined on Saturday the 5th inst. when the banners of the United States was display’d in this Regency & saluted by the Marine Foritifications with 21 Guns, the particulars of said Negotiation you will be inform’d of by Mr. Donaldson … & Captn. OBrien?” Cathcart thanked Humphreys for contributing to the liberation of the captives “taken in 1785” (Knox, Naval Documents, Barbary Wars description begins Dudley W. Knox., ed. Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers. 6 vols. Washington, D.C., 1939–44. description ends , 1:119).

9Brokers Micaiah Coen (Cohen) Bacri (Baccri) and Joseph Coen Bacri, of Bacri and Company, the Jewish mercantile firm with branches in Algiers, Marseille, and Italy, advanced funds to Donaldson, with which he could distribute the required peace presents to the dey and other officials at the signing of the treaty in Algiers. The Bacris also offered to supply gifts, which the Americans could present to the dey. Another member of the firm, Solomon Bacri, also had minimal involvement in the matter (see Barnby, Prisoner’s of Algiers description begins H. G. Barnby. The Prisoners of Algiers: An Account of the Forgotten American-Algerian War, 1785–1797. New York, 1966. description ends , 182, 195–95, 243–44, 281).

The funds that Humphreys and Donaldson sought to secure were intended to implement the terms of the U.S.-Algiers treaty, which required the Americans to pay over $600,000 in cash and an annual tribute of naval stores (see GW to the Dey of Algiers, 3 Dec. 1796; see also Irwin, U.S. Diplomatic Relations with Barbary Powers description begins Ray W. Irwin. The Diplomatic Relations of the United States with the Barbary Powers, 1776–1816. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1931. description ends , 71–73).

10The 30 July 1795 communication to Humphreys from the London banking firm of John & Francis Baring & Co. has not been identified, but an indication of its contents was provided in a statement by that banking firm, dated 29 Aug. 1796: “July 30. We informed … Humphreys that, having made further progress in our sales, we should hold the whole of the value of” $800,000 “at his disposal, meaning to furnish, by anticipation, the value of that part which remained at that time unsold, if the service of the United States required it” (ASP description begins Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. description ends , Foreign Relations, 1:556). For more on the stock, see n.21 below.

In February 1795, Congress had authorized the Bank of the United States to lend the U.S. government $800,000. In March of that year, the 6 percent stock that the bank lent the government was transmitted to John & Francis Baring & Co., for sale. By August 1795, the firm allowed Humphreys to draw upon the $800,000 that it had raised through the sale of the stock (see Oliver Wolcott, Jr., to GW, 12 Nov. 1795, and notes 1 and 2 to that document; see also Hidy, The House of Baring description begins Ralph W. Hidy. The House of Baring in American Trade and Finance: English Merchant Bankers at Work, 1763–1861. Cambridge, Mass., 1949. description ends , 30–31).

11In a letter of 16 Feb. 1796, written at London, O’Bryen wrote Pickering: “I have by several Conveyances taken the liberty of informing you that I arrived in this city the 10th. ultimo, in the State Brig Sophia John Cranson master. I being employed in the Service of the U S … in receiving in London, the funds … to be appropriated to the Algerine business.” O’Bryen mentioned the Barings’ failure to provide the funds, citing the inability to procure “Gold or Silver” in London, but announced that he intended to return to Lisbon “with a credit from Sir Francis Baring, for the requisite Sum on Cadiz” (Knox, Naval Documents, Barbary Wars description begins Dudley W. Knox., ed. Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers. 6 vols. Washington, D.C., 1939–44. description ends , 1:137).

12For the report, dated 4 Jan. 1797, from Treasury Secretary Oliver Wolcott, Jr., see GW to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 9 Jan. 1797, and n.1 to that document.

13For the delayed tribute payments required by the U.S.-Algiers treaty of 1795 and for the offer of a 36-gun frigate to prevent war with Algiers, see GW to the Dey of Algiers, 3 Dec. 1796.

14The enclosed letter from Barlow and Donaldson to Humphreys, written from Algiers on 5 April 1796, reads: “… We have now what we hope will be more agreeable news to announce to you. For two days past we have been witnesses to a scene of as complete and poignant distress as can be imagined, arising from the State of total dispair in which our Captives found themselves involved, and we without the power of administering the least comfort or hope. The threat which we mentioned to you in our last, of sending us away, had been reiterated with every mark of a fixed and final decision. And the Dey went so far as to declare that after the thirty days, if the money did not come, he never would be at peace with the Americans.

“Baccry the Jew, who has as much art in this sort of management as any man we ever knew, who has more influence with the Dey than all the Regency put together, and who alone has been able to soothe his impatience on this subject for three months past, now seemed unable to make the least impression. And the Dey finally forbade him, under pain of his highest displeasure, to speak to him any more about the Americans. His cruisers are now out, and for some days past he has been occupied with his new war against the Danes. Three days ago the Danish prizes began to come in, and it was thought that this circumstance might put him in good humour, so that the Jew might find a chance of renewing our subject in some shape or other. And we instructed the Jew, that if he could engage him in conversation on his cruisers and prizes; he might offer him a new American built ship of 20 guns which should sail very fast, to be presented to his daughter, on condition that he would wait six months longer for our money. The Jew observed that we had better say a Ship of 24 guns, to which we agreed. After seeing him three or four times yesterday under pretences of other business, without being able to touch upon this, he went this morning and succeeded. The novelty of the proposition gained the Dey’s attention for a moment, and he consented to see us on the subject. But he told the Jew to tell us that it must be a ship of 36 guns, or he would not listen to the proposition. We were convinced that we ought not to hesitate a moment. We accordingly went and consented to his demand, and he has agreed to let every thing remain as it is for the term of three months from this day. … We consider the business as now settled on this footing, and it is the best ground we could possibly place it upon. … The guns are to be 8 pounders (English nines) 24 on the main deck, 8 on the quarter deck, and four on the Forecastle. The 12 last may be smaller. She ought to be built long in proportion; and formed for sailing fast, a circumstance particularly pleasing here. We think such a vessel fitted for sea may be delivered in America for 45,000 dollars. Then, as by the terms of the treaty we have to deliver a quantity of long spars and other timber, this vessel will be a proper one to transport a cargo of them to this place. And in this way a saving may be made of about 10,000 dollars in freight.

“In order to save the treaty thus far … we found it necessary some time ago to make an offer to the Jew of ten thousand sequins (18,000 dollars) to be paid eventually if he succeeded, and to be distributed by him at his discretion among such great officers of State as he thought necessary, and as much of it to be kept for himself as he could keep consistent with success. The whole of this new arrangement will cost the United States about 53,000 dollars. We expect to incur blame, because it is impossible to give you a complete view of the circumstances, but we are perfectly confident of having acted right.

“With regard to the transfer of the funds to this place, we believe it can be done with the least difficulty through Leghorn. That is, to draw from that place on London, Madrid, or Lisbon, as shall be most advantageous, perhaps on all. Unless you can ship a part in specie from Lisbon, which we believe would be the preferable mode for such a sum as you can ship.

“Mr Donaldson sails tomorrow for Leghorn, there to wait your orders on this head. … You will be pleased to instruct him as soon as possible; and let our measures from this time forward be effectual” (Copy, DNA: RG 46, entry 52; see also ASP description begins Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. description ends , Foreign Relations, 1:554–55).

15The preceding paragraph appears in Pickering’s writing.

Humphreys’s communication to the “Executive” probably refers to his letter to Pickering of 25 April 1796 (see GW to the Dey of Algiers, 13 June 1796, n.2). No letter from Humphreys to GW on the subject of the frigate has been found.

16For the construction of the frigate Crescent, completed in August 1797, see GW to the Dey of Algiers, 3 Dec. 1796, and n.5 to that document.

17O’Bryen sailed from the United States to Portugal in summer 1796 (see GW to the Dey of Algiers, 13 June, and n.5 to that document).

18Pickering refers here to the treaty funds carried to Algiers aboard the U.S. brigantine Sophia. For more on the money transported by that ship, see Pickering to GW, 13 Oct. 1796, and n.8 to that document.

19The Sophia had been captured by Tripolitan pirates, but it eventually reached Algiers with the funds (see Pickering to GW, 23 Jan. 1797, and n.1 to that document).

20In a letter to Pickering of 5 Aug. 1796, written from Lisbon, Humphreys wrote: “Captn. O’Brien sailed yesterday for Algiers [on the Sophia]. … carrying with him the property of the U.S. … After determining to send on the Money from hence, I lost no time in making enquiries at what premium an insurance might be made on this property for the U.S. On learning it could not be done much under Six pr. Cent … and on taking into consideration the favorableness of the season, the goodness of the vessel, … the protection of the Dey’s Passport, the President’s Certificate of the vessel being in the Service of Government, & other circumstances in favour of the security of the voyage, I have been dissuaded from having an insurance made at so extravagant a price” (Knox, Naval Documents, Barbary Wars description begins Dudley W. Knox., ed. Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers. 6 vols. Washington, D.C., 1939–44. description ends , 1:170–72).

The “President’s Certificate,” dated 11 June 1796, was signed by GW and Pickering. A letter-book copy of it reads: “I George Washington … do hereby make known, that the Brig Sophia Commanded by Richard O’Brien is a vessel of the United States solely employed in the business of the Government of the United States of America: And I intreat all Kings, Princes, and Powers, and the subjects or citizens thereof to respect the same accordingly; promising to do the like in like cases to vessels employed solely in the business of their respective Governments” (DNA: RG 59, Instructions to Diplomatic Officers, Instructions, 1785–1906). On 13 June 1796, GW “Signed a Passport for the Brig Sophia” (JPP description begins Dorothy Twohig, ed. The Journal of the Proceedings of the President, 1793–1797. Charlottesville, Va., 1981. description ends , 340).

21In an effort to ransom the American prisoners in Algiers, Barlow made a deal with Micaiah Bacri and offered him $200,000 in bills on Leghorn in exchange for $200,000 in cash in Algiers. For more on the agreement under which the American prisoners at Algiers were ransomed, see Pickering to GW, 27 July 1796; see also Buel, Barlow description begins Richard Buel, Jr. Joel Barlow: American Citizen in a Revolutionary World. Baltimore, 2011. description ends , 206–7.

A statement dated 29 Aug. 1796, made by John & Francis Baring & Co., describes transactions involving the money that the United States owed the dey of Algiers. The Barings recorded that on 1 April 1796, they applied to the mercantile firm of Harry and Abel Fonnerau of Leghorn, Italy, “to open the necessary credit,” and requested that the latter “convey to Algiers … such information as should satisfy the Dey that the delay in paying the money did not arise from the want of funds … or endeavors, on the part of the United States.” On 17 June, the Fonnerau firm recorded the delivery to the Barings “on that day, of the orders from Colonel Humphreys to pay to the order of Mr. Donaldson” 400,000 “Spanish milled dollars.” In their statement, the Barings further recorded their instructions “to hold the proceeds or value … at the disposal of Colonel Humphreys, who directs them to pay $400,000 to the order of Mr. Donaldson” (ASP description begins Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. description ends , Foreign Relations, 1:556–58). In a letter to Treasury Secretary Oliver Wolcott, Jr., written from London on 9 Sept. 1796, Rufus King, the U.S. minister to Great Britain, wrote: “Colonel Humphrey’s having authorised Mr Donaldson to draw on the Messrs Barings for Sterling sufficient to purchase at Leghorn 400,000 Dollars … Messrs Barings, after sending me a Statement explaining the probable deficiency of the public money in their hands … asked my opinion whether they should pay Donaldsons Draft for a greater Sum than the estimated amount of the public money in their hands … I told Messrs Barings that I thought it adviseable they should pay Donaldsons Drafts … they will pay (the drafts should they exceed the funds appropriated) to this object—I mean the amount of their Sales, added to the estimated value of the unsold Stock in their hands—I intimated to Sir Francis Baring a wish that the Sale of the residue of the stock might not be forced … I understood him that they Could … make the requi(site) advance, and that the 6 ⅌ Cents unsold would be sold under 90 for 100” (NHi: Rufus King Papers; the material in angle brackets is taken from King, Life and Correspondence of Rufus King description begins Charles R. King, ed. The Life and Correspondence of Rufus King. 6 vols. New York, 1894–1900. description ends , 2:86–87).

22The following text follows this sentence on the LS:

255,759 dollars
“For two years annuities to the Dey  96,246
To which are to be added the 10,000 sequins promised by Mr Barlow and Mr Donaldson to Mr Bacri mentioned in their letter }  18,000
And the expenses of the captives per forming quarantine at Marseilles and transporting them to America, estimated by the Consul at Marseilles at about }   6,500
Dollars 376,505”

23The letter of 12 July from Barlow to Pickering has not been identified. However, on 18 Oct. 1796, Barlow sent Pickering notice of the six-month truce, dated 15 June 1796 and negotiated by Hamuda, Bey of Tunis, and Joseph-Etienne Famin, on behalf of the United States (see Pickering to GW, 5 Oct. 1796, and n.4 to that document).

Joseph-Etienne Famin (c.1762–1806), a French merchant, moved to Tunis in 1789. There, he managed a branch of a Marseille firm involved in the import-and-export trade. In 1795, Famin became France’s deputy to Tunis, serving as an intermediary for the exchanges and trade between the French government and Tunis. After negotiating the 15 June 1796 truce, Famin was named a U.S. diplomatic agent at Tunis in July 1796, and served in that capacity until January 1799. He died in Tunis.

Louis-Alexandre d’Allois d’Herculais (1754–1842), a former military officer, became French consul to Algiers in the spring of 1796. In December of that year, he left Algiers to look after French interests in Tripoli and Tunis. He served in that capacity for a brief period and was recalled in January 1797. Later in life, Herculais returned to military service and in 1816, was made an honorary maréchal de camp (brigadier general).

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