Peacock; but was soon separated from her again by the appearance of a seventy-four gun-ship, by which the former was chased.

Captain Biddle finally succeeded in effecting his escape from the seventy-four, by throwing his guns overboard, and otherwise lightening his ship. This rendered the Hornet's return into port indispensable; and as it would have been extremely hazardous to approach the American coast, being without guns, boats, or anchors, he concluded to go into St. Salvador, for the purpose of refitting and resuming his cruise. He arrived there on the 9th of June, and received intelligence of the peace with Great Britain.

The refusal of the British government to treat for peace, under the mediation of Russia, its subsequent proposal of a direct negotiation at London or Gottenburg, the appointment of commissioners on the part of the United States, early in the year 1814, to treat at the latter place, and the subsequent substitution of Ghent for Gottenburg, have been related in a preceding part of this history. After a long and unnecessary delay, which evinced little anxiety to put a period to the

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calamities of war, the British commissioners, Lord Gambier, Henry Goulburn, and William Adams, arrived at Ghent, on the 6th of August, where the commissioners of the republic were already assembled.

At the first stage of the negotiations, the British plenipotentiaries were imperious and exacting in their demands; but, when the intelligence of the repulse of the British troops from Baltimore and Plattsburg, and of the capture of the squadron on Lake Champlain, reached Europe, the views of the British government in relation to America were materially altered, and the high demands which had proved to be the only obstacles to the conclusion of peace, were relinquished. The treaty peace, which was signed at Ghent, on the 24th of December, 1814, was ratified by the Prince Regent of England, on the 28th of the same month, and by the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate, on the 17th of February, 1815.

of

The first article of this treaty provided for the restoration of all places and possessions, taken from either party by the other, with the exception of the islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy. The second and third related to the period, in which prizes, taken after the ratification of the treaty, should be deemed valid, and to the restoration of prisoners. By the fourth article it was agreed, that the claims of the two countries to the islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy should be referred to two commissioners, one to be chosen by each party; and, in the event of a difference of opinion arising, it was provided that the question should be referred to the decision of some friendly sovereign or state. The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth articles, related to similar questions of boundary, and provided a similar mode of settlement. By the ninth article, both parties agreed to put an end to hostilities with all the tribes or nations of Indians with whom they were at war, provided such tribes or nations desisted from warlike operations on being notified of the ratification of that treaty. The traffic in slaves being declared to be irreconcilable with the principles of humanity and justice, it was agreed by the

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tenth article, that both parties should use their best endeavours to promote its entire abolition.

A treaty regulating the commerce between the United States and Great Britain was signed at London on the 3d of July, and ratified by the President, on the 22d of December.

At the commencement of the war between the United States and Great Britain, the Dey of Algiers, probably incited by the British, and stimulated by the hope of seizing some valuable American property with impunity, commenced hostilities. The war with Great Britain prevented the United States from insisting on reparation until the conclusion of peace in 1815, when war was declared against Algiers. In order to support this declaration, Commodore Decatur was ordered to proceed to the Mediterranean, with a squadron consisting of the Guerriere, Constellation, and Macedonian frigates, the Ontario and Epervier sloops-of-war, and the schooners Spark, Spitfire, Torch, and Flambeau. Commodore Bainbridge was to follow this fleet with another squadron; and on his arrival, Decatur was to return to the United States in a single vessel.

Decatur's squadron sailed from New York, on the 20th day of April, 1815, and on the 17th of June, off Cape de Gatt, in the Mediterranean, captured the Algerine frigate Mazouda, killing thirty men, including the famous Algerine admiral, Hammida, and taking four hundred and six prisoners. In this engagement the Americans had but four men wounded. On the 19th, they fell in with and captured an Algerine brig of twenty-two guns, which they sent into Carthagena.

They arrived in the harbour of Algiers on the 28th of June, and so surprised and intimidated the Dey with their show of vessels, and the fame of their deeds, that he was induced on the 30th to sign a treaty of peace and amity with the United States. The principal articles in this treaty were, that no tribute, under any pretext, or in any form whatever, should, from the date of the treaty, ever be required by Algiers from the United States of America. That all Americans in slavery should be given up without ransom, on the restoration of the

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subjects of the Dey of Algiers, taken since the declaration of war. That compensation should be made for American vessels captured, or American property seized or detained at Algiers. That the persons and property found on board an enemy's vessel should be held sacred. That vessels of either party putting into port should be supplied with provisions at market price, and, if such vessel should have occasion to repair, she should be at liberty to land and re-embark her cargo, without paying any customs or duties whatever. That if a vessel belonging to either party should be cast on shore, she should not be given up to plunder. And, if a vessel belonging to either party should be attacked within cannonshot of a fort of the other, she should be protected, and no enemy be permitted to follow her when she went to sea, within twenty-four hours after her departure. It was also stipulated that in case of war again breaking out between the two nations, the subjects of both parties should be permitted to embark with their effects unmolested, on board of any vessel or vessels they should think proper; and that prisoners captured in war, should not be made slaves, nor held to ransom, but should be treated as prisoners of war are treated by other nations, and exchanged rank for rank. After concluding this treaty, so highly honourable to the United States, Commodore Decatur made a present of the captured frigate and brig to the Dey.

Mr. Shaler was left as consul at Algiers, and Decatur proceeded to Tunis. There, learning that two prizes which had been captured by an American privateer and sent into that port, had been taken by a British vessel of war, within gunshot of the fort, and while under the protection of the Bey of Tunis, he demanded satisfaction of the Bey. After some hesitation, and proposing a delay of payment for one year, his demand was acceded to, and the money, amounting to fortysix thousand dollars, was paid into the hands of the consul, then acting as agent for the privateer.

From Tunis the squadron sailed for Tripoli, at which place it arrived on the 5th of August. There Commodore Decatur

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made a similar demand for a similar violation of the treaty existing between the United States and the Bashaw, who had permitted two American vessels to be taken from under the guns of his castle by a British sloop-of-war, and refused protection to an American cruiser lying within his jurisdiction. The Bashaw, who was willing to make restitution in full, at first objected to the amount claimed by the commodore; but finally agreed to his demands. The money, amounting to the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, was paid into the hands of the American consul. In addition to the satisfaction thus obtained for unprovoked outrages, Decatur had the pleasure of obtaining the release of ten captives, two Danes and eight Neapolitans, the latter of whom he landed at Messina.

After touching at Syracuse, Messina, Naples, and Carthagena, Decatur sailed for Gibraltar, where he found Commodore Bainbridge, with the relief squadron. There Commodore Decatur relinquished his command and sailed in the Guerriere to the United States, where he arrived on the 12th of November, 1815. Commodore Bainbridge proceeded according to his instructions to exhibit his force, now consisting of seventeen sail, before Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, and to make arrangements for the security of the American commerce in the Mediterranean. Having settled all for the honour and interests of his country, he returned to the United States, and landed at Boston, on the 15th of November, 1815.

The rapid growth and increasing prosperity of the republic in 1816, was indicated, among other things, by the formation of the territory of Indiana into a state, and its admission into the Union; the progress of canals in various states; the institution of a national bank with a charter for twenty years; and the arrival of many thousand emigrants, chiefly from Great Britain.

In 1816, Mr. Madison's term of office being about to expirc, James Monroe was elected to succeed him, and entered upon the duties of his office, March 4th, 1817.