The daily gazette., 1878-02-06
B.inbFidswes. Ad,ylesnt.m.ree.l

Commodore Bainbridge's run, through
in 1901 was SO remarkable
that II deserves a detailed description.
He had arrived at Algiers with the tri- |
butte, which the United States, in COM
mon with all other governments, then
paid TO the Dey:. While his vessel, the
trgate George Washington, was lying at
anchor under the batteries Of Algiers. the
Dey requested him TO carry his ambassa-
dor and presents to the Sultan, his suze-
rain, whom he had offended by conclud-
ing treaty Of peace with France when
Turkey and her British ally were carry
ing on war in Egypt against the French
army under Bonaparte. Upon refusing
to go on such an errand, the Dey inso-
lently remarked to him: "You pay me
tribute by which you become my slaves,
please" Fearing the loss of the frigate
and the slavery Of himself and crew, and
the sacrifice Of our valuable commerce in
that quarter by the Algerine corsairs,
Brainbridge finally consented to execute
the mission. lnreporting these proceed
ings, and which were subsequently, APP
proved by his Government, cambridge
said: 81 hope l may never be sent again
TO Algiers with tribute, unless / am au-
thorized to deliver it from the mouth of
our cannon"
When the vessel was about sailing the
Dey insisted that the colors of Algiers
should fly at the main-an honor which
had always been yielded to him by the
English, French and Spanish comman-
ders who had been employed by him in
similar services. Bainbridge acceded TO
the demandl until he got out of reach of
the guns of the harbor and then he haul
ed down the corsair flag and ran up the
stars and stripes. The ambassador had a
suite of some two hundred Mussulmans,
with large number of tigers and other
animals, and 100000 AZ presents. The
shifting CT sail and nautical manRuvres
were much impeded by the praying on
deck of this crowd and their efforts to
keep their faces turned TO Mecca. After
a stormy passage the castles of theDarda-
nelles were reached. Fearing, If he was
to apply, he would not get firman to
pass up 10 the capital, he made ashow of
coming TO, partially chewing up his sails,
and in the meanwhile firing salute, As
soon as the castles began TO respond he
spread all his canvas to the wind, which
was blowing strong aft, and before his
operations could be- discerned Inc was
beyond the cannon range and spanking
, along against the current in dashing
style. On his arrival at Constantinople
an officer was sent off to know under
| what flag he,sailed to which he replied
the flag of the United States.
The messenger from the 'harbor fort re-
turned, and observed that such a nation
as the "United States" had been never
heard of before by the Turkish govern
meut,i and desired that Captain Balm.
bridge would explicitly state whence he
came. He then reported his vessel as be.
longing u. the New World" which Col
| umbus had discovered, on hearing which
the messenger immediately repaired tc
the shore. In a few hours he returned
| and for the first time, came on board the
frigate, bringing with him lamb and a
bunch of fiowers-the former as an en-
blem of peace, and the latter, of welcome
The Sultan then offered the vessel the
hospitality of the inner harbor. He was
much satisfied at the salute fired on pass
| United States flag, he remarked that, as
his own was decorated with one of the
heavenly bodies, he considered the coin
cidence AZ an omen of the friendly inter
course between the two nations. The
Minister of Foreign Affairs having
threatened TO sieze his vessel, Bainbridge
put himself under the protection Of Lord
Elgin, the British ambassador. When
the Capudan Paeha soon after arrived
with the fleet, he removed all further diff
| ficulties, and the more readily as he wa
II
refused, however, to receive the Algerint
ambassador or his presents, ordered him
to return and to carry to his master, the
Dey, the Snltan's demand to declare wal
against France, to remit to him millioI
Of piasters for his daring presumption and
to do all within sixty days. The CapudaI
Pasha told Bainbridgerit was the frs
time a foreign armed vessel had reached
lCorstantinople without having first OBJ
tanned "firnan" from the Grand Seig
nor. 1t must have been the fault of tn,
negligence of the Commander of th'
Castles. He had put him in confinement
and his execution was only suspended
until the sentence had received his (th'
Pashas) signature, which would not b.
withheld. ,Bainbridge took the whol'
blame on himself, frankly told all th'
circumstances, and finally saved the hf'
of the offending Pacha at the Dardan
elles. The Sultan gave him, on leaving
a firman of protection. When in an audi
ience with the Dey, he refused to go
second time to Constantinople on hi
business, he flew into a rage, and woul'
have had him murdered on the spot ha,
he not displayed the Sultan's firman
This brought him to terms, and Balm
bridge was allowed to depart.
= p