To secure their freedom, informal agencies were promptly established under the direction of our minister at Paris; and the _Society of Redemption_--whose beneficent exertions, commencing so early in modern history, were still continued--offered their aid. Our agents were blandly entertained by that great slave-dealer, the Dey of Algiers, who informed them that he was familiar with the exploits of Washington, and, never expecting to see him, expressed a hope, that, through Congress, he might receive a full-length portrait of this hero of freedom, to be displayed in his palace at Algiers. The Dey clung to his American slaves, holding them at prices considered exorbitant, being, in 1786, $6,000 for the master of a vessel, $4,000 for a mate, $4,000 for a passenger, and $1,400 for a seaman; while the agents were authorized to offer only $200 for each.[102] In 1790 the tariff seems to have fallen. Meanwhile one obtained his freedom through private means, others escaped, and others still were liberated by the great liberator, Death. The following list, if not interesting from the names of the captives, will at least be curious as evidence of prices at that time in the slave-market. [102] Lyman's Diplomacy, Vol. II. pp. 353, 354. _Crew of the Ship Dolphin, of Philadelphia, captured July 30, 1785._ Sequins. Richard O'Brien, master, price demanded 2,000 Andrew Montgomery, mate 1,500 Jacob Tessanier, French passenger 2,000 William Patterson, seaman (keeps a tavern) 1,500 Philip Sloan, " 725 Peleg Loring, " 725 John Robertson, " 725 James Hall, " 725 _Crew of the Schooner Maria, of Boston, captured July 25, 1785._ Isaac Stevens, master (of Concord, Mass.) 2,000 Alexander Forsythe, mate 1,500 James Cathcart, seaman (keeps a tavern) 900 George Smith, " (in the Dey's house) 725 John Gregory, " 725 James Hermit, " 725 ------------ 16,475 Duty on the above sum, ten per cent 1,647½ Sundry gratifications to officers of the Dey's household 240⅓ ------------ Sequins 18,362⅚ This sum being equal to $34,792.[103] [103] History of the War between the United States and Tripoli, pp. 64, 65. Lyman's Diplomacy, Vol. II. pp. 357, 358.