Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

American turned up at his court he could but appeal to his wisdom and
generosity as a Muslim but the statesman remained unshakeable.
With Lamb at the vicinity of the Dey, either the habit of the mule trader
took the upper hand over the diplomatic envoy or he considered that the Dey
and his Divan were not worth much respect. Completely lacking courtesy and
good manners, Lamb stepped at El-Djenina the way he probably did to mule
markets. 79 His aggressive discussions were short of huckstering and were a
source of annoyance for the Dey who, according to Cathcart, “was displeased
with his supposing him to be capable of huckstering like a Jew.” 80
Harassed,
the Dey explained clearly that he would not defraud the treasury of the state
“one dollar in my demand,” but on his personal expense he would remit 10 per
cent of the price asked for the redemption of captives. All the more he added:
“if you are not satisfied I desire you will not trouble me any more on the
subject. I told you already that we have plenty of bread and olives to give them
[the captives].” 81
That Yankee’s boastful character exceeded the Dey to the Spanish
envoy Count d’Expilly and took the form of accusations and direct threats. The
Dey and d’Expilly were already engaged in difficult negotiations when Lamb
dropped in without prior notice. 82 Although the Spanish envoy intervened in his
79 Lamb remained in the mule-trading business as late as 1795. Irwin, Diplomatic Relations, p. 83.
80 Cathcart, The Captives, p. 38.
81 Ibid.; also USDC, 5:248, From the American Captives to John Adams, February 13, 1787.
82 It should be noted here that after almost three centuries of constant warfare Algiers and Spain moved
finally to make peace. The one-year truce which was concluded in March 1785 had already expired and
both sides were working for its renewal before hostilities broke again. Unfortunately, Lamb’s mission
fell at that critical period and he was impatient. For Algerian-Spanish negotiations of 1785-1788 see
Grammont, Histoire d’Alger, pp. 333-37.
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