of equipping, officering, manning, and employing such of the armed vessels of the United States as may be deemed requisite by the President of the United States for protecting the commerce and seamen thereof, and for carrying on warlike operations against the Regency of Tripoli, or of any of the Barbary Powers which may commit hostilities against the United States, and for the purpose also of defraying any other expenses incidental to the intercourse with the Barbary Powers, or which are authorized by this act, a duty of two and onehalf per centum ad valorem, in addition to the duties now imposed by law, shall be laid, levied, and collected upon all goods, wares, and merchandise, paying a duty ad valorem, which shall, after the thirtieth day of June next, be imported into the United States from any foreign port or place; and an addition of ten per centum shall be made to the said additional duty in respect to all goods, wares, and merchandise imported in ships or vessels not of the United States; and the duties imposed by this act shall be levied and collected in the same manner and under the same regulations and allowances as to drawbacks, mode of security, and time of payment, respectively, as are already prescribed by law in relation to the duties now in force on the articles on which the said additional duty is laid by this act.

That a distinct account shall be kept of the duties imposed by this act, and the proceeds thereof shall constitute a fund, to be denominated "The Mediterranean fund," and shall be applied solely to the purposes designated by this act; and the said additional duties shall cease and be discontinued at the expiration of three months after the ratification by the President of the United States of a treaty of peace with the Regency of Tripoli, unless the United States shall then be at war with any other of the Barbary States, in which case the said additional duty shall cease and be discontinued at the expiration of three months after the ratification by the President of the United States of a treaty of peace with such power: Provided, however, That the said additional duty shall be collected on all such goods, wares, and merchandise liable to pay the same as shall have been imported previous to the day on which the said duty is to cease.

That the President of the United States, if he shall deem it necessary, shall be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause to be purchased or built, officered, manned, and equipped, two vessels of war, to carry not more than sixteen guns each, and likewise to hire or accept on loan in the Mediterranean Sea as many gunboats as he may think proper.

That a sum not exceeding one million of dollars, to be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, shall be, and the same is hereby, appropriated (in addition to the sum heretofore appropriated for the same objects) for the purpose of defraying any of the expenses authorized by this act which may be incurred during the present year; or, if necessary, the President of the United States is hereby authorized to borrow the said sum, or such part thereof as he may think proper, at a rate of interest not exceeding six per centum per annum, from the Bank of the United States, which is hereby empowered to lend the same, or from any other body or bodies, politic or corporate, or from any person or persons; and so much of the proceeds of the duties laid by this act as may be necessary shall be, and is hereby, pledged for replacing in the Treasury the said sum of one million of dollars, or so much thereof as shall have been thus expended, and for paying the principal and interest of the said sum, or so much thereof as may be borrowed, pursuant to the authority

given in this section; and an account of the several expenditures made under this act shall be laid before Congress during their next session.

(Annals, 8th Cong., 1st sess., 295, 298; Stat. L., vol. 2, p. 291.)

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS, THIRD SESSION.

March 3, 1815.

As to protection of the commerce of the United States against Algerine cruisers, Mr. Bibb reported as follows:

That in the month of July, 1812, the Dey of Algiers, taking offense, or pretending to take offense, at the quality and quantity of a shipment of military stores made by the United States, in pursuance of the stipulation in the treaty of 1795, and, refusing to receive the stores, extorted from the American consul-general at Algiers, by threats of personal imprisonment, and of reducing to slavery all Americans within his power, a sum of money, claimed as the arrearages of treaty stipulations, and denied by the United States, to be due; and then compelled the consul, and all the citizens of the United States at Algiers, abruptly to quit his dominions. It further appears to the committee that on the 25th of August following, the American brig Edwin, of Salem, owned by Nathaniel Silsbee, of that place, while on a voyage from Malta to Gibraltar, was taken by an Algerine corsair and carried into Algiers as prize. The commander of the brig, Capt. George Campbell Smith, and the crew, ten in number, have ever since been detained in captivity, with the exception of two of them, whose release has been effected, under circumstances not indicating any change of hostile temper on the part of the Dey. It also appears that a vessel sailing under the Spanish flag has been condemned in Algiers as laying a false claim to that flag, and concealing her true American character. In this vessel was taken a Mr. Pollard, who claims to be an American citizen, and is believed to be of Norfolk, Va., and who, as an American citizen, is kept in captivity. The Government, justly solicitous to relieve these unfortunate captives, caused an agent (whose connection with the Government was not disclosed) to be sent to Algiers, with the means and with instructions to effect their ransom, if it could be done at a price not exceeding $3,000 per man. The effort did not succeed, because of the Dey's avowed policy to increase the number of his American slaves, in order to be able to compel a renewal of his treaty with the United States on terms suited to his rapacity. Captain Smith, Mr. Pollard, and the mate of the Edwin are not confined, nor kept at hard labor; but the rest of the captives are subjected to the well-known horrors of Algerine slavery. The committee have not been apprised of any other specific outrages upon the persons or property of American citizens besides those stated; and they apprehend that the fewness of these is attributable to the want of opportunity, and not of inclination, in the Dey to prey upon our commerce and to enslave our citizens. The war with Great Britain has hitherto shut the Mediterranean against American vessels, which it may be presumed will now shortly venture upon it. The committee are all of opinion, upon the evidence which has been laid before them, that the Dey of Algiers considers his treaty with the United States as at an end, and is waging war against them. The evidence upon which this opinion is founded, and from which are extracted the facts above stated, accompanies this report, and with it is respectfully submitted. (Leg. Jour. vol. 5, pp. 686, 687; Am. St. Pap., vol. 3, p. 748.)

NOMINATIONS.

MEDITERRANEAN COMMERCE, ETC.

FIRST CONGRESS, THIRD SESSION.
January 6, 1791.

On the President's speech relating to Mediterranean commerce, and the message from the President in regard to citizens of the United States in captivity in Algiers, Mr. Langdon reported as follows:

The committee to whom was referred that part of the President's speech which relates to the trade of the Mediterranean, also the President's message of December 30, with the papers accompanying the same, are of opinion that the trade of the United States to the Mediterranean, can not be protected but by a naval force, and that it will be proper to resort to the same as soon as the state of the public finances will admit.

February 1, 1791.

On letter from Secretary of State, with inclosures, relative to American prisoners in Algiers, Mr. Langdon reported as follows:

Resolved, That the Senate advise and consent that the President of the United States take such measures as he may think necessary for the redemption of the citizens of the United States now in captivity at Algiers, provided the expense shall not exceed forty thousand dollars; and also, that measures be taken to confirm the treaty now existing between the United States and the Emperor of Morocco, provided no greater sum than twenty thousand dollars be expended in that business.

Ordered, That the Secretary communicate this resolution to the President of the United States.

March 1, 1791.

As to protection of American commerce in Mediterranean and securing recognition of treaty with Morocco, Mr. Langdon reported following bill:

SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, for the purpose of effecting a recognition of the treaty of the United States with the new Emperor of Morocco, there be, and hereby is, appropriated a sum not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, to be paid out of the moneys which, prior to the first day of January next, shall arise from the duties imposed upon spirits distilled within the United States, and from stills, by the act entitled "An act repealing, after the last day of June next, the duties heretofore laid upon distilled spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and also upon spirits distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same;" together with the excess of duties which may arise from the duties imposed by the said act on imported spirits, beyond