month, off Cape Palos, after a chase of three hours, he captured an Algerine brig of twentytwo guns, and one hundred and eighty men; one hundred of whom escaped in their boats prior to the capture of the brig.

Commodore Decatur arrived before Algiers, on the 29th June, and hoisted a flag of truce on board the Guerriere, with the Swedish flag at the main. A boat came off with Mr. Norderling, Consul of Sweden, and the Captain of the port, to whom the capture of the frigate and brig was communicated, and to whom Commodore Decatur and William Thaler, Esq. acting as commissioners to negociate a peace, delivered a letter for the Dey, from the President of the United States; and also a note from themselves, of which the following is a copy :

"The American Commissioners to the Dey of Algiers.

"The undersigned have the honour to inform his Highness the Dey of Algiers, that they have been appointed by the President of the United States of America, Commissioners Plenipotentiary to treat of peace with his Highness, and, that pursuant to their instructions, they are ready to open a nego. tiation for the restoration of peace and harmony between the two countries, on terms just and honourable to both parties; and they feel it incumbent on them to state explicitly to his Highness, that they are instructed to treat upon no other principle, than that of perfect equality, and on the terms of the most favoured nations: no stipula tion for paying any tribute to Algiers, under any form whatever, will be agreed to.

"The undersigned have the honour to transmit herewith, a letter from the President of the United States, and they avail themselves of this occasion

to assure his Highness of their high consideration and profound respect."

The Captain of the port then requested that hostilities should cease preceding the negotiation, and that persons might be sent ashore to treat. Both propositions were rejected, the American Commissioners declaring that the negotiations must be carried on, on board the fleet, and that hostilities as respected vessels, should not cease. On the following day, the Swedish Consul and the Captain of the port came on board with full powers to negotiate. The American Commissioners produced the model of a treaty which they declared would not be departed from in substance. Every attempt on the part of Algiers, to obtain a modification of it proved fruitless, even the restoration of the captured vessels was positively refused. Upon consideration, however, the American Commissioners resolved to restore the captured vessels as a favour, and not as matter of treaty, giving the Algerine to understand, that even this would depend on the signing. of the treaty as presented. The Alegerine Captain then proposed a truce, to deliberate on the proposed terms; the reply was "not a minute; if your squadron appears in sight before the treaty is actually signed by the Dey, and the prisoners sent off, ours would capture them!" It was finally agreed that hostilities should cease when the Algerine boat should be perceived coming off with a white flag hoisted, the Swedish Consul pledging his word of honour not to hoist it unless the treaty was signed, and the prisoners in the boat. The Swedish Consul and Algerine Cap-tain returned on shore, and although the distance was full five miles, they came back within three hours with the treaty signed, and having with

them the prisoners who were to be released from captivity by the terms of the treaty.

Commodore Decatur despatched the United States' brig Epervier, Lieutenant Shubrick, with the pleasing information to the American Government. This vessel was lost and supposed to have foundered at sea," with the prisoners on board, as nothing was ever heard of her since.

After having visited the other Barbary ports of Tunis and Tripoli, Commodore Decatur landed at Missena eight Neapolitan captives, whose release he obtained in his negotiations with the Dey of Algiers. This fact was communicated to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the King of the Two Sicilies, at Naples, on the 8th of September, 1815, and received a flattering and friendly answer. Decatur returned to the United States in November of the same year.

CAPTAIN

CHARLES MORRIS

Was born in the month of October, 1784, at Woodstock, in the state of Connecticut. His predilection for the navy, was early and strong. At the age of about fifteen, he was appointed midshipman, and sailed from Portsmouth in the ship Congress, under the command of Captain Sever; when that ship, and the Essex, under the command of Captain Preble, were ordered on a cruise in the Indian seas. During her voyage towards her destination, the Congress was dismasted, and was obliged to put back for repairs, In this disaster, Mr. Morris had his shoulder dis

located by the falling of a spar; when his father, then purser of the ship, inquired of him whether he chose still to pursue the profession which he had adopted: a prompt affirmative was the answer, and he continued on board the same ship during a cruise in the West-Indies. At his return, he went out with Commodore Preble, in the ship Constitution, to the Mediterranean. At Syracuse, he was one of the seventy who volunteered on the expedition, to burn the ship Philadelphia, then in the harbour of Tripoli. On the third day of February, 1804, the volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant Decatur of the Enterprise, sailed from Syracuse, in the ketch Intrepid, on a duty, which the Commodore himself would not encourage, on account of the danger with which it must be attended. Mr. Morris was armed with the Commodore's pistols, which were offered him by the Commodore himself-a proof of the good opinion entertained by the Commodore, of his young adventurer. After fifteen days tempestuous weather, the Intrepid, with her seventy men, entered the harbour. The Philadelphia was moored within half gun shot of the Bashaw's castle, and of the principal battery. Two of the enemy's cruisers lay within two cables' length, on the starboard quarter; and his gun-boats within half gun shot, on the starboard bow. All the guns of the frigate, were mounted and loaded. Such were the immediate perils to be encountered with a single ketch, besides the other dangers, that abound in a strongly fortified harbour. It was past eleven o'clock at night, when the ketch came alongside the frigate. Lieutenant Decatur and Mr. Morris instantly sprung on board, and after receiving a reinforcement from the ketch, attacked the Turks, who in great consternation had fled to the quar

ter deck, where Morris was the first of the assailants to set his foot. About twenty of the Turks were killed on the spot. The remainder, either leaped overboard, or were driven below. It was so dark, that at two several times, Mr. Morris was in danger of perishing by the hand of his gallant Commander; once, at the attack of the quarterdeck, and the second time, on going to secure the magazine; in both instances being closely followed by Lieutenant Decatur. The object of this enterprise was accomplished-the Philadelphia was set fire to, and destroyed. On his return, Mr. Morris was promoted to the first lieutenancy on board the ship Hornet, commanded by Capt. Dent; and in that capacity, made a voyage to France, with despatches from the American to the French government. At Faris, he was presented to the Emperor, being the first instance where that distinction was ever conferred upon a Lieutenant; and presented his Majesty with a model of the ship Constitution. In Captain Isaac Hull's glorious achievements in the Constitution, Mr. Morris took a distinguished part as first Lieutenant. Her escape, on the 17th July, 1812, from a British squadron, consisting of one ship of the line, four frigates, a brig and a schooner, the nearest frigate being within gun shot for twentyfour hours, has justly been considered a masterly exertion of nautical skill.* Captain Hull however insisted, with characteristic magnanimity, that his officers, and particularly Lieutenant Mor ris, should be partakers in the honour, which pub

* The chase continued for sixty hours, and was finally relinquished by the British Commanders, to their great mortification, in consequence of being completely out-mancuyred.