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CHAPTER IX.

WAR WITH ALGIERS.

NEW century dawned, and with its dawning Thomas Jefferson became President, and Aaron Burr, of New York, Vice-President. There had been no choice by the electors chosen by the different States, and, in accordance with the Constitution, they were elected by Congress.

A few months before they were elected the capital was removed from Philadelphia to Washington, which was only a straggling village, and where the members of Congress and officers of the government had to live for a while in shanties and boarding-houses. There was only one hotel, and the President's house was only partly finished. Mrs. Adams, during the winter of 1799, used to hang her washing to dry in the great unfinished east room.

President Jefferson was a plain man. When he was inaugurated he would have no parade of military, but rode alone and on horseback to the capital, tied the horse to a post, entered the Capitol, took the oath of office, and rode back to his house.

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

He was hospitable, and so democratic that members of Congress, strangers, anybody and everybody, who called upon him were welcome to sit down to his long dining-table, where they found plain, wholesome food, and but little cake.

President Jefferson was far-sighted. People were swarming into Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana. He saw that in time the Ohio and

Mississippi were to be highways to the sea for the whole central portion. of the continent. But France held Louisiana-not the State alone which now bears the name, but all the country west of the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains and the Rio Grande. St. Louis and New Orleans were inhabited by French people. The President sent Robert R. Livingston of New York and James Monroe to Paris, to see if the country along the Mississippi to the ocean could be purchased. Bonaparte wanted money, and was ready to sell all of the territory owned by France for $15,000,000, and they quickly signed the treaty. "We have lived long, but this is the noblest work of our lives," said Mr. Livingston as he laid down the pen.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

So the United States obtained possession of the country from the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the head waters of the Mississippi.

No one knew anything about the country but what had been learned from hunters. The President sent Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clarke up the Missouri to make explorations. They

crossed the Rocky Mountains, descended the Columbia to the sea, and returned after an absence of three years, giving to the world the first authentic intelligence of the interior of the continent-of its great rivers, farreaching prairies, and lofty mountains. Not till their return did the world have any idea of the wonderful resources and unmeasured capabilities of the vast domain, and of the possibilities for the future greatness of the American people.

The United States Government had been so slow to resent the insults and outrages of France and England, that Algiers, Morocco, Tunis, and Tripoli-the Barbary States in Africa-set themselves to capturing American vessels, selling their crews as slaves. Not only American but French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian-vessels of all nations-were plundered by the pirates, who asked great prices for the ransom of the crews from slavery. The sailors were whipped, kicked, cuffed by their cruel masters. The United States, to purchase the good - will of these pirates, made presents every year of cannon, powder, and

money.

The President sent Captain Bainbridge, in the ship George Washington, to pay the tribute for 1800. The Governor of Algiers was insolent and arrogant.

"I want you to carry my ambassador to Constantinople," he said. "I cannot do it," Bainbridge replied.

WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE.

"You pay me tribute; you are my slaves, and I have the right to order you to do as I please," said the governor. The guns of the castle were pointed toward the George Washington, and he was obliged to sail to Constantinople, with the ambassador on board. The Sultan saw a strange flag floating from the mast-head of a vessel in the Bosphorusthe Stars and Stripes-and was astonished to learn that far away in the West there was a new nation, the United States.

The Sultan was much pleased with Commander Bainbridge, and gave him a firman (or paper) to protect him from the insolence of the Governor of Algiers. Bainbridge sailed back to that port.

"I want you to go back again to Constantinople," said the governor, intending to make him fetch and carry at his pleasure.

"I shall not go !"

The governor flew into a rage, and was ready to draw his sword and strike down the man who had refused to do his bidding.

"You will instantly release the French Consul and sixty Frenchmen, whom you have put in prison."

The governor did not dare refuse, and Commander Bainbridge had the pleasure of carrying the consul and his countrymen across the Mediterranean to France. The Governor of Tripoli was Yussuf Caramelli, who had murdered his father and eldest brother, and compelled his next older brother, Hamet, to flee to Egypt. He was cruel, blood-thirsty, and insolent. He was not satisfied with what he received from the United States, but demanded a large sum of money, and, because it was not paid, captured several American vessels, and made slaves of the crews.

Commodore Dale sailed with ships to bring them to terms, but the pirates sharpened their swords, thinking to make quick work with the