Peace with England gave the United States opportunity to chastise the Algerians, whose Dey, Hadgi Ali, a sanguinary tyrant, had been committing outrages on American commerce ever since the beginning of the war with the British. Commodore Decatur was sent to the Mediterranean in May, 1815, with a squadron to chastise the Dey. He had no difficulty in encountering the Algerian corsairs, who supposed that the American navy no longer existed. Decatur, after a brief engagement, captured the Dey's flagship, and this was followed by the capture of another man-of-war belonging to the pirates. Decatur then sailed for Algiers with his squadron and prizes. The terrified despot appeared on the quarter-deck of Decatur's flagship, the Guerriere, gave up the captives in his hands, and signed a treaty dictated by the American commodore. Decatur then sailed to Tunis and Tripoli, and compelled the rulers of those States to make restitution for having allowed the British to capture American vessels in their harbors. In view of the services of the Danish consul, Mr. Nissen, when Captain Bainbridge was a prisoner in Tripoli, it is gratifying to know that Commodore Decatur, while in that port, secured the release of eight Danish seamen. History does not record whether Decatur, on this occasion, visited the lonely grave supposed to contain the mortal remains of Somers, the companion of his youth, and the hero of the gunpowder enterprise during the war with Tripoli. What emotions must have filled Decatur's mind as the old scenes brought back to him the memory of his own brave exploit--the destruction of the Philadelphia--and of the unhappy fate of his bosom friend! South America Free. CHAPTER XXVIII. England and Spanish America--A Significant Declaration--The Key to England's Policy in South America--Alexander Hamilton and the South Americans--President Adams' Grandson a Filibuster--Origin of the Revolutions in South America--Colonial Zeal for Spain--Colonists Driven to Fight for Independence--A War of Extermination--Patriot Leaders--The British Assist the Revolutionists--American Caution and Reserve--The Monroe Doctrine--Why England Championed the Spanish-American Republics-- A Free Field Desired for British Trade--The Holy Alliance--Secretary Canning and President Monroe--The Monroe Declaration Not British, But American.