PURCHASE OF LOUISIANA.

193

efforts of France had nearly exhausted her treasury, and the money which would be received for the territory would greatly relieve the embarrassed state of her finances. Instead of merely purchasing New Orleans and the Floridas, they were enabled to acquire the entire territory of Louisiana, equal in extent to the whole previous territory of the United States. By the treaty of cession, sixty millions of francs, equal to eleven and a quarter millions of dollars, were to be paid to France by the United States, in six per cent. stock, three months after the delivery of the country; and certain claims of American citizens against France were to be relinquished, which had been stipulated to be paid by the convention of September, 1800, which were estimated at twenty millions of francs, or three and three-quarter millions of dollars. French and Spanish vessels, with merchandise of their respective countries, were to be admitted into the ports of Louisiana, for twelve years, on the same footing with American vessels; the same privilege to be extended to no other nation; the ceded country to be admitted into the union as soon as the constitution permitted. After the expiration of twelve years, the French were to be admitted into the ports of the ceded country, on the same terms as the most favoured nations.

The extent of country thus acquired has been estimated at a million of square miles, containing at that time but about eighty or ninety thousand inhabitants, half of whom were laves.*

The minority in Congress were opposed to the ratification of the treaty, on the ground that the sum paid for the territory was much larger than was necessary to secure New Orleans s a port, and the navigation of the river. The majority, owever, sided with the executive, and considered the cost as rifling, compared with the permanent possession of the Valley f the Mississippi, and the advantage derived from the removal f such a troublesome neighbour as France would have proved, rom the whole western frontier.

* Tucker, Hinton, Holmes.

. II. 25

194

PURCHASE OF INDIAN LANDS.

This year, there was another important acquisition of territory. The friendly tribe of Kaskaskia Indians, reduced by wars and other causes to a few individuals, who were unable to defend themselves against the neighbouring tribes, transferred its country to the United States; reserving only a sufficiency to maintain its members by agriculture. The United States stipulated to extend to them patronage and protection, and to give them certain annual aids, in money, implements of agriculture, and other articles of their choice. The country thus ceded extends along the Mississippi, from the mouth of the Illinois, to and up the Ohio, and it is esteemed one of the most fertile tracts within the limits of the union.

THE TRIPOLITAN WAR.

HE United States had added by negotiation and purchase a vast and valuable extent of territory to their former possessions, and their foreign relations had been almost universally blessed with peace. Tripoli, the least considerable

of the Barbary States, early in the year 1800, had, however, manifested a hostile disposition towards the infant republic. In his communications with the United States' consul, Mr. Cathcart, the Bashaw complained that though they had fulfilled their engagements to him with good faith, they had not paid such attentions to him as to the rulers of Algiers and Tunis. The Dey of Algiers had received a frigate, and he thought himself entitled to one; and he signified that the American government had insulted his dignity by putting him on a level with one of the ministers of the Bey

196

WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

of Tunis, in that they had given each the same amount of money.

On the 5th of May, 1800, the Bashaw sent a letter to the President, demanding, in a haughty tone, the subsidies he had formerly asked at the hands of Mr. Cathcart. In a conversation with that minister, he said that he would wait six months for an answer to the letter he had sent, and that if it did not arrive in that time, or if it were of an unsatisfactory nature, he would declare war, and order his cruisers to capture American vessels wherever found.

On the 10th of May, 1801, he sent a messenger to Mr. Cathcart, stating that he had declared war against the United States, and that he would take down the American flag-staff, on the 14th of May. He further stated that Mr. Cathcart might remain if he would, and that he should be treated with respect; but he might depart if he chose. Mr. Cathcart replied that he would not remain after a declaration of war, but would charter a vessel to convey him from the Tripolitan dominions. On the 14th, the Bashaw fulfilled his threat, cut down the flag-staff, and war was formally declared.*

Meanwhile, Tunis and Algiers had their cupidity excited by the rich, growing, and unprotected commerce of the United States in the Mediterranean; and as Spain, Sweden, and Denmark had made them large concessions, they resolved to take sides with Tripoli in the coming contest. Though there was no certainty of war in the United States, and intelligence of the declaration of it by the Bashaw had not yet reached the government, still the character of the Barbary States was such as to render that event highly probable, and it was resolved to send out a squadron to protect our commerce. The frigates President, Captain James Barron; Philadelphia, Captain Samuel Barron; Essex, Captain William Bainbridge; and the schooner Enterprise, Lieutenant-Commandant Sterret, composed the squadron, the whole of which was put in command of Commodore Dale. He set sail on the 1st of June, and arrived off Gibraltar on the 1st of July, where he found *Life of General Eaton.

CAPTURE OF THE TRIPOLI.

197

the high-admiral of Tripoli, at anchor, in a ship of twenty-six guns, nine and six-pounders, two hundred and sixty men, and a brig of sixteen guns, with one hundred and sixty men. The Tripolitan stated that he had been out thirty-six days, was not at war with America, and had not captured any prizes. From all the information Commodore Dale could obtain at Gibraltar, Tripoli was at war with the United States. Leaving a sufficient force to blockade the port, Dale sailed for Algiers, where he delivered to Mr. O'Brien the cloth and linen which he had brought out as part of the annual present for the Dey; and from thence he sailed to Tunis, where he met Mr. Eaton, the United States consul, who expressed his opinion that the appearance of the American fleet would have a good effect the actions of the governments of Algiers and Tunis. He then commenced a blockade of Tripoli, when the Bashaw opened a correspondence with him, and endeavoured to explain away the differences between him and the United States; but this was productive of no satisfactory results, and the blockade was continued for some time.

upon

On the 1st of August, Lieutenant Sterret, on his way to Malta, in the Enterprise, fell in with and captured the Tripoli, a Tripolitan ship of war of twelve guns, commanded by Rais Mahomet Sous. The Mohammedan made a desperate resistance, and only struck his colours after an incessant cannonading, within pistol-shot, of three hours' duration. Not a man was killed or wounded on board the Enterprise; but the Tripoli lost twenty of her crew killed and thirty wounded; among the latter was her captain and first-lieutenant. Her mizen-mast was shot away, and after the action the victors dismantled her of everything but a spar and an old sail. A sword was voted to Lieutenant Sterret, with the thanks of Congress, for his gallant conduct in this engagement, and one month's pay was allowed to all the other officers, seamen, and marines, who were on board the Enterprise when the action took place.

On the 21st of August, Dale captured a Greek ship, bound for Tripoli, laden with beans and merchandise, and having on