IN AMERICAN DIPLOMACY
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hospitality. He was very attentive and agreeable. He opened the conversation by saying that he had followed with interest the exploits of their illustrious countryman, General Washington, and felt a great admiration of his conduct. That since he never expected to see him, if Congress would do him the favour to send him a full-length portrait of that celebrated person, he would hang it in a good light in his palace at Algiers.
In regard to the captives, the Dey was as cordial as any good merchant to a valuable customer. He allowed that captives were becoming more and more expensive to get, but that he would make a special discount for the sake of new trade, and concluded with a magnanimous schedule of prices, as follows:
3 | Captains, $6,000 each | $18,000 |
2 | Mates, $4,000 each | 8,000 |
2 | Passengers, $4,000 each | 8,000 |
14 | Seamen, $1,400 each (a bargain) | 19,600 |
$53,600 |