e Dey of Algiers with presents. These
"presents" were bribes which the United States paid to the Algerian
pirates to secure exemption from capture for its merchant ships in the
Mediterranean. Bainbridge was disgusted at having to pay the tributes.
While his ship was at Algiers war was declared by the pirates against
France, and the French consul and citizens were ordered to leave the
country in forty-eight hours. Captain Bainbridge received them all on
his ship and landed them safely.

When the United States found that bribes to the pirates did not protect
their commerce, they decided to use force. Captain Bainbridge was given
command of the frigate _Philadelphia_, and sailing to Algiers, blockaded
Tripoli. Being driven from his cruising grounds, Bainbridge pursued a
strange ship that was trying to break the blockade. He gave chase, but
ran upon a reef on the morning of October 31, 1803. The pirates
immediately attacked, and when the ship could no longer be defended they
captured and scuttled her, imprisoning the officers and crew. After a
treaty of peace between the Dey and the United States had been
concluded, the Americans were released on February 3, 1805.

Captain Bainbridge returned for a time to the merchant service, but when
the War of 1812 broke out, he was appointed to command the United States
frigate _Constitution_. In this ship he captured two British frigates
and many merchantmen. On his return he was received with an enthusiastic
welcome by his countrymen. The _Constitution_ became an object of
national pride, and because of the little damage it sustained in the
numerous encounters in which it engaged, received the popular name of
"Old Ironsides."

After the conclusion of the War of 1812, Bainbridge once more served
against the Barbary pirates. Later he served on the board of navy
commissioners. Commodore Bainbridge died in Philadelphia on July 28,
1833.

PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION

ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR. VOL. 4, No. 3, SERIAL No. 103

COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.

[Illustration: IN THE POSSESSION Of THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY

FROM THE PAINTING BY REMBRANDT PEALE]

The War of 1812

OLIVER HAZARD PERRY

Monograph Number Five in The Mentor Reading Course

Oliver Hazard Perry was born at South Kensington, Rhode Island, on
August 23, 1785. His father was Christopher Raymond Perry, captai