To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 July 1796
From Timothy Pickering
Department of State July 27. 1796.
Sir,
On the 25th I received letters from Colo. Humphreys dated April 30. May 30. & June 1. accompanied by a large packet from Mr Barlow at Algiers.1 The substance of the information respecting the pending treaty with Algiers is, That Mr Donaldson had gone to Leghorn, with orders from Mr Barlow to transmit two hundred thousand dollars to Algiers, which would procure the redemption of our captive citizens—That Mr Humphreys had sent to Mr Donaldson at Leghorn a letter of credit for 400,000 dollars; and in case he failed of obtaining the half of that sum, Colo. Humphreys authorized Mr Barlow to draw on Bulkeley & Son at Lisbon for 200,000 dollars payable at sight, so as to ensure the liberation of our prisoners within the three months allowed by the Dey; but with his explicit opinion that no part of it should be paid unless the captives were released. From these arrangements, it seems to me highly probable that our fellow citizens will now recover their liberty; & that the payment of the gross sum of 200,000 dollars will so far soothe the Dey as to prolong his patience until the original stipulations and the new one for the frigate can be accomplished.2
Altho’ the Dey’s disappointment in not receiving the stipulated sums, on Mr Barlow’s arrival, put him into so violent a rage as to render all applications fruitless, yet after some days he sent notice to Mr Barlow that he was willing to receive him as the Consul of the U. States, & desired him to bring his Consular presents. Mr Barlow readily complied. The presents were distributed to the Dey & his grandees. The Dey in return presented Mr Barlow with a fine Barbary stallion. Cathcart writes that Mr Barlow gives great satisfaction, & is respected by every one who knows him.3 This admission of Mr Barlow as Consul, with the distribution of the Consular presents, cannot fail to have a favourable influence on the affairs of the United States at Algiers. And from his information of the customary and periodical delivery of Consular presents, it does not appear that it will occasion any material extra expence to the U.S.
Mr Barlow’s packet contains long and interesting details of the nature of the algerine government, whence results the fickleness of its measures, and its frequent breaches of peace with the Christian states, on the most trifling and unreasonable pretexts. Because the armed vessels of the King of Naples carried into his port a Danish vessel having on board 320 Turkish soldiers bound from the Levant to Algiers, the Dey ordered his cruisers immediately to bring in all the Danish vessels they could meet with. In a few days about a dozen were captured & brought in; and their fate remained undecided. Mr Barlow details divers instances of breaches with other powers: whence he concludes that on an average we might count on a renewal of hostilities with ourselves once in six years. But the expences of renewing thus after our treaties with that regency, may be willingly incurred, when the commercial profits of the Mediterranean trade are taken into view. Of one and the other Mr Barlow has given estimates, which, with his observations on the commerce of that part of the world, manifest much information and that good sense for which he is distinguished.4
Mr Barlow describes the policy and utility of forming commercial & friendly relations with the Italian States, with Austria on account of her great trading port of Trieste, and with the Grand Seignior.5 Colo. Humphreys concurring in these ideas (so far as respects the Grand Seignior he has formerly expressed the same)6 strongly recommends Mr Barlow as the fittest person for the negociator; particularly with the Turk, under the countenance of France; Mr B. being a French as well as American Citizen. Mr Barlow would cheerfully engage in these enterprizes; and I am now inclined to think it would not be easy to find another person equally qualified for these negociations.
As these matters do not demand an immediate decision, I imagined it would be acceptable to you to receive this general account of the contents of the dispatches from Colo. Humphreys, & that the perusal of these would be more agreeable to you on your return to philadelphia.7 I have the honor to be, with the highest respect sir, your most obt servant
Timothy Pickering.
P.S. Colo. Talbot expected to sail yesterday or the day before for the West Indies.8
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, Domestic Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State.
1. David Humphreys, U.S. minister to Portugal and charge d’affaires to the Barbary States (but nominated as U.S. minister to Spain on 19 May), wrote Pickering from Lisbon on 30 April–3 May and 1 June (DNA: RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Spain; see also GW’s first message to the U.S. Senate, 19 May, and n.2 to that document). His letter to Pickering dated 30 May has not been identified. The packet from Joel Barlow, acting consul at Algiers, included his letters to Pickering dated 18 March and 8 and 17 April as well as enclosures (DNA: RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Algiers). Pickering based his subsequent remarks to GW on items in Barlow’s packet and possibly the missing letter from Humphreys.
When Humphreys wrote Pickering on 30 April–3 May, he highlighted the need for a U.S. consul at Lisbon and recommended Jacob Dohrman as a candidate. Humphreys also suggested men for diplomatic posts in the Barbary States. When he wrote Pickering on 1 June, Humphreys conveyed European news largely related to French military and diplomatic developments. He also reported the response in Great Britain to news that the U.S. House of Representatives had voted to implement the Jay Treaty.
2. For the impatience of the Dey of Algiers and the promised frigate, see GW to the Dey of Algiers, 13 June.
3. James Leander Cathcart (1767–1843) had been captured by an Algerian vessel in 1785. While a prisoner, he became the chief Christian secretary to the Dey of Algiers. Cathcart later received several U.S. consular appointments.
Cathcart wrote Humphreys from Algiers on 6 April 1796 that Barlow “is a Gentleman I much esteem and who I make no doubt will in a great measure contribute to the happy completion of our affairs in this Infernal Regency” ( 388–91; quote on 389). For overviews of Barlow’s diplomatic service at Algiers, see 115–50, and 196–214.
4. In a document dated 20 April and headed “Estimate of advantages & expences of maintaining a peace with Barbary,” Barlow believed that over five years the “freights in and for the Mediterranean” and the “Augmentation of our commerce arising from the circumstance of our being our own carriers” would generate $1,050,000, while the expenses of peace would amount to $60,000, leaving a “Clear advantage” of $990,000. Alternatively, the loss of one ship in the absence of peace would involve with ransom and other outlays an expenditure of $60,000, or a sum equal to the cost of peace for five years (DNA: RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Algiers).
5. Barlow alluded to Ottoman emperor Selim III (1761–1808), who ruled from 1789 until 1807.
6. Humphreys had written a “Secret & Confidential” memorandum delivered on 28 Aug. 1795 to James Monroe, U.S. minister to France, that he also enclosed with his letter to State Department dated 11 Sept. 1795. In his memorandum, Humphreys suggested enlisting French aid to ask whether “the Grand Seignior would issue an Order or Regulation for giving within his Territories ample protection & such commercial privileges as he may think proper, to the Citizens of the United States.” Such an action “might have considerable influence in inducing the Barbary Powers to enter into Treaties of Peace with us & to adhere to them” (DNA: RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Spain).
8. For complications related to Silas Talbot’s assignment to obtain the release of impressed Americans, see Pickering to GW, 4 July (second letter), and n.2 to that document; see also GW to the U.S. Senate, 30 May, and Pickering to GW, 12 June, and n.1 to that document.