ited
States towards the Barbary powers with feelings other than of
mortification. Tunis, Tripoli, Algiers, and Morocco constantly preyed
on our commerce, and enslaved our sailors. In the streets of Algiers
worked American slaves, chained together, and wearing iron collars
upon their necks. Their lives were the property of their owners, and
they suffered unheard of privations and tortures. Yet at this very
time the United States kept a consul in Algiers, and maintained
friendly relations with the Dey. Indeed, a historian writing in 1795
applauds the American Government for the care it took of its citizens
enslaved in Algiers, by providing each with a suit of clothing yearly!

But the continued aggressions and extortionate demands of the Barbary
powers became at last unbearable. The expedition to the Mediterranean,
under Commodore Dale, was but the premonitory muttering before the
storm. Dale returned to the United States in December, 1801, and his
report led to the organization of the naval expedition that was to
finally crush the piratical powers of Barbary.

CHAPTER XVI.

MORE VIGOROUS POLICY. -- COMMODORE MORRIS SENT TO THE
MEDITERRANEAN. -- PORTER'S CUTTING-OUT EXPEDITION. --
COMMODORE PREBLE SENT TO THE MEDITERRANEAN. -- HIS ENCOUNTER
WITH A BRITISH MAN-OF-WAR. -- THE LOSS OF THE
"PHILADELPHIA." -- DECATUR'S DARING ADVENTURE.

The return of Commodore Dale from the Mediterranean, and the reports
which he brought of the continued aggressions and insolence of the
Barbary powers, made a very marked change in the temper of the people
of the United States. Early in 1802 Congress passed laws, which,
though not in form a formal declaration of war, yet permitted the
vigorous prosecution of hostilities against Tripoli, Algiers, or any
other of the Barbary powers. A squadron was immediately ordered into
commission for the purpose of chastising the corsairs, and was put
under the command of Commodore Morris. The vessels detailed for this
service were the "Chesapeake," thirty-eight; "Constellation,"
thirty-eight; "New York," thirty-six; "John Adams," twenty-eight;
"Adams," twenty-eight; and "Enterprise," twelve. Some months were
occupied in getting the vessels into condition for sea; and while the
"Enterprise" started in February for the Mediterranean, it was not
until September that the last ship of the squadron followed her. It
will be remembered that the "Philadelphia" and "Essex," of Dal