Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 2 (of 16)United States. Congress
History
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 2 (of 16)
United States. Congress
Law -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
On the 3d of September Mr. Donaldson arrived at Algiers,
and on the 5th the Treaty was concluded, and the peace
presents immediately given, by a loan. Mr. Donaldson,
knowing that funds had been lodged in London to answer his
stipulations, engaged to make the payments in three or four
months.
Colonel Humphreys had received advice, under date of the
30th 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, meaning to
furnish, by anticipation, the value of that part which
remained unsold, if the service of the United States
required it. Colonel Humphreys, counting on the money as
always ready after this period, sent Captain 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. The other details, relative to the pecuniary
transactions, appear in the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury.
The disappointments in the pecuniary negotiations, put the
Treaty in jeopardy; the Dey threatened to abandon it, and
it was with extreme difficulty that it was prevented. Mr.
Barlow did not arrive at Alicant 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 critical situation, he
determined to go thither immediately, with the hope of
soothing the Dey. He arrived there the 4th of March; they
had before prolonged the time to the 8th of April for the
payment of the stipulated sums. On the 3d of this 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 thirty days after, the money was not
paid, the Treaty should be at an end, and his cruisers
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--this
fortunately succeeded. For the particulars of this
transaction, the Secretary begs leave to refer to the
enclosed letter from Messrs. Barlow and Donaldson.
Colonel 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 despatched
Captain O'Brien, in the brig Sophia, to America. There was
evidently no alternative; and the promise was confirmed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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