From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, [ca. 22 August 1816]
To Alexander J. Dallas
[ca. 22 August 1816]
The translation of the Dey of Algiers’ letter, after a curious display of Oriental Bombast, presents the alternative of re-establishing the Old Treaty, instead of the late one as annulled by our breach of it, or a withdrawal of our Consul which means a commencement of war by him. The answer concludes with the declaration that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute.1 Letters from Shaler as late as June 29, leave things in the suspence connected with the appeal made by the Dey’s letter.2 It is probable that war will be prevented by the presence of our augmented squadron, unless it shd. result from an adjustment between the Dey & G. B. If the article in our Treaty violating that of the English, be the only obstacle to peace, it will be got over.3 The serious danger is that G. B. will support Algiers, either from a view to her navigation in the Mediterranean, or from her policy of being well with the Grand Signor in the event of a variance with Russia. This is probably meant by “the contrariety of interests and views” which Ld. Casth. mixes up with the subject in his late speech.4 The Dey has submitted to the Grand Signor his dispute with Exmouth: and it appears that he has lately recd. a solemn confirmation on the throne, from Constantinople. Harris’ late communications present a better prospect at St. P.5 The dispatches by Mr. Coles cannot well fail, to turn the sensibility of the Emperor agst. the quarter wch. excited it agst. the U.S. Our affairs at Tunis & Tripoli are in a good State. The departure of Consul Jones6 from the former was transitory & unmeaning.
Partial RC (CSmH). In JM’s hand. Undated, unaddressed, and unsigned. Recipient identified based on knowledge that the MS is located in a larger collection of papers exchanged between Dallas and JM. Date assigned on the assumption that JM wrote to Dallas after he had completed his 21 Aug. 1816 letter to the dey of Algiers and at the same time that he wrote to Benjamin W. Crowninshield on 22 Aug. 1816.
1. See JM to the Dey of Algiers, 21 Aug. 1816.
2. JM referred to William Shaler’s 29 June 1816 letter to James Monroe (DNA: RG 59, CD, Algiers).
3. JM referred to article 18 in the 1815 treaty with Algiers, which stipulated that if any of the Barbary states or any other power at war with the United States should capture an American vessel and take it to a port in Algiers, “they shall not be permitted to sell her, but shall be forced to depart the port on procuring the requisite supplies of provisions; but the vessels of war of the United States with any prizes they may capture […] shall have liberty to frequent the ports of Algiers for refreshment of any kinds, and to sell such prizes in the said ports, without paying any other customs or duties than such as are customary on ordinary Commercial importations.” In the treaty with Algiers of 22 and 23 Dec. 1816, in an “article additional & explanatory,” article 18 was annulled to the extent that it gave the United States “any advantage of the other most favoured Nations having Treaties with the Regency” (, 2:589–90, 623), although Algiers was otherwise required to accept again the terms of the 1815 treaty. JM had authorized this change as “a liberal concession, on the part of the United States, and of accommodation to the wishes of the Dey” (Monroe to Shaler, 22 Aug. 1816, DNA: RG 59, IM).
4. No source for the remarks JM attributed to Lord Castlereagh has been found, but the 7 Aug. 1816 issue of the Daily National Intelligencer reported that Castlereagh had informed the House of Commons that Great Britain had concluded a treaty with the dey of Algiers regarding prisoners.
5. See Monroe to JM, 14 Aug. 1816, and n. 2.
6. William B. Jones was American consul in Tripoli (, Miscellaneous, 2:315).