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 LA BELLE FATIMA

goods not belonging to the British nation." Year after year the Algerines still maintained their right to search all ships encountered on the seas; those furnished with passes from tribute-paying nations were permitted to go upon their way; the others were regarded as the legal prey of the Algerian government. To our shame it must be confessed that up to the year 1800, the United States also had poured more than two million dollars of tribute money into the coffers of the dey. In that year Captain Bainbridge, in a United States warship, came to Algiers bringing the customary "presents." The dey commanded him to become his messenger and carry his despatches to Constantinople. "The English, French, and Spanish captains have always done this service for me; you also pay me tribute, and you also are my slaves." And the captain, not daring to take action without orders, was forced to swallow the insult and obey the insolent command. But when the War of 1812 had been brought to a successful termination, there came a change in the attitude of our government, and it is to our credit that the then youngest of the great nations of the world, the United States of America, was