cited the cupidity of the other petty
states. Tunis demanded like tribute. The Bashaw of Tripoli,
discontented with his share of the spoils, cut down the flagstaff
before the American consulate, and sent out his cruisers to prey upon
American commerce. Accordingly, on the 20th of May, 1801, the
Secretary of the Navy ordered a squadron prepared to proceed to the
Mediterranean, and bring the rapacious Arabs to terms.

The vessels chosen for this service were the "President," Commodore
Richard Dale; "Philadelphia," Capt. Barron; "Essex," Capt. Bainbridge;
and the schooner "Enterprise," Lieut.-Commandant Sterrett. Though the
fleet in itself was powerful, the commodore was hampered by the timid
and vacillating instructions of Congress. War had not been actually
declared, and he was therefore to commit no overt act of hostility.
The vessels of the fleet were to be employed simply to convoy American
merchantmen in and out of the Mediterranean Sea, and to be in
readiness to ward off any hostile action on the part of any of the
Barbary powers.

On July 1 the fleet entered the roadstead at Gibraltar, and anchored
in the shadow of the famous rock. Here the Americans found two of the
most rapacious of the Tripolitan corsairs lying at anchor; one a ship
of twenty-six guns under the command of the Tripolitan admiral, and
the other a brig of sixteen guns. To keep an eye on these piratical
worthies, the "Philadelphia" was ordered to remain at Gibraltar, while
the other vessels scattered. The "Essex" was ordered to cruise along
the northern shore of the Mediterranean, gathering up all the American
merchantmen, and convoying them to sea. The "President" and the
"Enterprise" made sail for Algiers, to convince the ruler of that
country that it would be impolitic for him to declare war against the
United States at that time. The desired effect was produced; for the
sight of an American frigate did more to tone down the harshness of
the Dey's utterances, than could the most extortionate tribute.

The cruise of the "Essex" was uneventful, save for a dispute between
the officers of the American man-of-war and a Spanish xebec in the
roads of Barcelona. The trouble arose in this wise:--

The "Essex," though a small vessel, was perfectly appointed, of
handsome model and appearance, and her crew was drilled to the highest
possible state of discipline and efficiency. When she cast anchor at
Barcelona, she straightway became the talk of the town