RESIDENT JEFFERSON stood high in the favor of a majority of the people of the Union, and even those who opposed his doctrines, admitted his political talents. During the Revolution, he rose to eminence as a statesman and patriot, and had ever since continued to serve his country in a civil capacity. In his inaugural address, the president summarily stated what he deemed the "essential principles of our government, and consequently, those which ought to shape its administration." These principles were, generally, those which the republican party had advocated, and which he had ever maintained.

The president proceeded at once to make the changes in matters under the control of the executive, which he had long recommended. Through his exertions, the army and navy were reduced; some portion of the taxes which had become odious were abolished; the levées of the president were omitted, and future communications from the executive to Congress were to be made in writing. The most violent of his political opponents were removed from office. The abolition of internal taxes enabled him to do away with a great number of offices, and by taking measures for gradually paying the debt, Jefferson led the way towards undermining the great patronage and influence of the treasury department.

A difficulty with the French government now occurred, and threatened to end in a war. Napoleon, having effected a treaty of peace with Britain, was directing his active mind to the recovery of that colonial force which had been lost during the war. An expedition was fitted out to recover St. Domingo from the insurgent blacks. After its conquest, the army was to take possession of Louisiana, and these united would give France a preponderance in the West Indies, as well as the full command of the Mississippi and the Gulf.

The president, informed of these schemes, wrote to the envoy at Paris, to represent there the inexpediency of them, and the dangerous consequences of interrupting the good feeling of the people of all nations. The people of the Western States, deprived by the Spanish authorities of the right of having a depôt at New Orleans, determined to assert their claim by force of arms; and had not fortune favored Jefferson at this time, he would have been involved in a war with France at once: but the expedition against St. Domingo failing of success, and the breach between France and England widening, every day, Napoleon's scheme became impracticable, and he offered to sell Louisiana to the United States government. The offer was accepted, and the immense tract of Louisiana was purchased for the sum of 15,000,000 dollars.

The

The State of Ohio was admitted into the Union on the 28th of April, 1802. In 1803, it contained 76,000 inhabitants. Public attention was now directed to another subject which had long caused uneasiness. piratical states of Barbary, especially Algiers and Tripoli, had been committing constant depredations on American commerce.

On the 14th of May, 1801, the bashaw of Tripoli formally declared war against the United States, in consequence of the refusal of the government to grant him subsidies. Though there was no certainty of war in the United States, and intelligence of the declaration of it by the bashaw had not yet reached the government, still the character of the Barbary States was such as to render that event highly probable, and it The was resolved to send out a squadron to protect our commerce. frigates President, Captain James Barron; Philadelphia, Captain Samuel Barron; Essex, Captain William Bainbridge; and the schooner Enterprise, Lieutenant-Commandant Sterret, composed the squadron, the whole He set sail on the of which was put in command of Commodore Dale.

1st of June, and arrived off Gibraltar on the 1st of July, where he found the high-admiral of Tripoli at anchor, in a ship of 26 guns, nine The and six-pounders, 260 men, and a brig of 16 guns, with 160 men. Tripolitan stated that he had been out thirty-six days, was not at war with America, and had not captured any prizes. From all the informa

tion Commodore Dale could obtain at Gibraltar, Tripoli was at war with the United States. Leaving a sufficient force to blockade the port, Dale sailed for Algiers, where he delivered to Mr. O'Brien the cloth and linen which he had brought out as part of the annual present for the Dey; and from thence he sailed to Tunis, where he met Mr. Eaton, the United States consul, who expressed his opinion that the appearance of the American fleet would have a good effect upon the action of the governments of Algiers and Tunis. He then commenced a blockade of Tripoli, when the bashaw opened a correspondence with him, and endeavored to explain away the differences between him and the United States; but this was productive of no satisfactory results, and the blockade was continued for some time.

In August, the United States schooner Enterprise, Captain Sterret, fell in with one of these cruisers, off Malta. A desperate engagement ensued, which was, without intermission, continued nearly two hours, when the Tripolitan hauled down his colors. The crew of the Enterprise, ceasing to fire, cheered upon their victory; when the perfidious corsair again attacked, hoisting his colors, and renewing the action with increased desperation, but to little effect. A volley of small-arms from the Enter

prise swept the deck of the enemy, and the cruiser was ordered under her quarters. The treacherous disposition of these buccaneers was again manifested; for, on gaining this position, they renewed, from below, the contest a third time, by pouring a broadside into the Enterprise, hoisting the bloody flag, in token of extermination, and using every effort to board. The crew of the Enterprise were now animated to a high pitch of resentment, and resolved to wreak a signal vengeance on their treacherous opponents. Such a position was taken, that the corsair was raked fore and aft. A well-directed fire carried away the mizzen-mast, and drove the enemy from their quarters. The commander, perceiving impending destruction to the remainder of his crew, threw his colors into the sea, and, bending over the side of his vessel in an attitude of supplication, implored mercy. Captain Sterett instantly arrested the work of carnage, and, setting a noble example of the triumph of civilization and generosity over barbarism, ordered every attention to be paid to the wounded Tripolitans that humanity could dictate. The masts of the cruiser were cut down, Captain Sterrett's instructions not permitting him to make a prize of her; the guns thrown into the sea; and a spar being erected as a substitute for a mast, to which a tattered sail was attached, the surviving crew were thus sent into Tripoli, with an admonition not to expect tribute from a nation determined to pay it only in powder and ball.

O screen his own impolicy, the

bashaw ascribed the defeat to cowardice in the captain of his vessel, whom, though wounded, he ordered to be mounted on an ass, paraded through the town, as an object of public scorn, and afterwards to receive five hundred stripes with the bastinado. Captain Sterrett was honored with the special notice of the president of the United States, who, in a message to the two houses of Congress,recommended

this achievement to their particular attention. They unanimously passed resolutions expressive of their approbation of the gallantry of the commander, officers, and crew of the Enterprise; and voted a gold medal, with suitable emblems, to Captain Sterrett, swords of value to his officers, and one month's extra pay to the non-commissioned officers, seamen, and marines.

In the year 1802, Commodore Murray, in the Constellation, sailed for the Mediterranean. While cruising off the port of Tripoli, and happening to be becalmed, his situation was perceived, and the whole of the Tripolitan gun-boats in the harbor came out to engage him. The low construction of this kind of craft, and their moveability in calm weather, render them formidable, in proportion as the advantages of larger vessels are counteracted, when the want of wind prevents their being steered. A man-of-war then presents the fairest mark; and accordingly, at pointblank distance, the Constellation was exposed to a galling, incessant fire, for more than an hour. A breeze, however, fortunately springing up, the commodore dashed in among them, and obliged the whole to retire in dismay and confusion. Several of the boats were sunk; others upset in the surf; and numbers of the crews were killed, wounded, or drowned.

HE year 1802 elapsed without any other occurrence of interest. Early in 1803, the United States determined on vigorous measures against Tripoli. A squadron of seven sail was fitted out, consisting of the Constitution of 44 guns, Philadelphia 44, Argus 18, Syren 16, Nautilus 16, Vixen 16, and Enterprise 14, the command of which was given to Commodore Preble.

At this time, our situation with respect to Morocco and Tunis was critical, and in

regard to Tripoli, had been hostile for more than two years. American administration had proposed to adopt the same policy towards The these powers as that submitted to by most of the governments of Europe; that is, to give them presents or annuities, in conformity to their prejudices and habits, but to make an occasional display of force in their seas, with a view to keep down their demands and expectations. The former part of the system, however, had been practised upon, at least, till after the year 1798, without the aid of the latter. The opposition in Congress to the building of vessels of war till that period, withheld from the government the means of employing force to lessen the amount or secure the effect of presents.

Great sums had been paid in specie and articles of war, especially to Algiers. The new bashaw of Tripoli, who had deposed his elder brother, wishing to gratify his subjects-thinking to sell his friendship to us at a high rate, and perhaps expecting the co-operation of one or more of the African governments, sent out his cruisers against our trade. The United States' squadron, first under Commodore Dale, and next under Commo