Free For Love of Country by William C. Hammond Page A

Captain Jones is a naval officer respected as much in Tripoli as he is in Paris. He is perhaps the only American who has a chance of succeeding in such a mission.”
    Silence prevailed.
    â€œCan we assume,” Anne asked into the quiet, “that you talked your way into this appointment, Richard? That it was on your initiative, and not our government’s?”
    â€œThat would be a safe assumption,” Katherine answered for him, adding in a voice blending humor with pique, “I had to put him on the rack to get that information out of him.”
    â€œI didn’t want to alarm you, Katherine,” Richard explained, his tone contrite even though the two of them had already settled the issue.
    â€œWill you be in any danger, Richard?” Elizabeth Cutler wanted to know. “I could not bear the thought of having two sons in captivity.”
    â€œNo, Mother,” Richard assured her. “You needn’t worry. I will have official status, and I plan to sail under the protection of the Royal Navy. Not in a formal capacity that would violate British policy, but Jeremy believes he can assist me by having his ship serve as an informal escort. I could sail alongside him in Falcon, ” referring to a newly built Cutler topsail schooner, “as he patrols the coast of North Africa. Pirate corsairs respect Royal Navy guns as much as their counterparts ashore. What I have to say to the dey of Algiers may be better received if a British warship is anchored in the harbor alongside my schooner.”
    â€œThank God for that,” Elizabeth Cutler sighed. “You’re certain of this assistance, Richard?”
    â€œYes, Mother, I am. I have a letter from Jeremy that confirms it. Look at it this way,” he concluded when silence again prevailed. “I can do no worse than Mr. Lamb. Nor suffer greater consequences. The worst that can happen to me is that I, too, will be given the boot from Algiers.”
    Anne said: “You mentioned a sum of almost sixty thousand dollars, Richard. I assume from what you said earlier that Congress is not providing that sum.”
    â€œThat’s correct. Congress has no money to send, so the ransom money must come from us, as a family. That is why we are gathered here today and why we are seeking your approval to do this. Sixty thousand dollars constitutes almost our entire reserves. As Uncle William explained, we can hardly afford such a loss at a time when Cutler and Sons must invest in new ships and crews, and new markets, in order to survive. The stakes couldn’t be higher.”

    Anne did not demur. “When it comes to a vote, I will vote yes. Everyone in this room will. But I must ask why Congress has no money. It provided funds for Mr. Barkley in Morocco, did it not?”
    â€œIt did, but Congress has no more funds available. It has exhausted its resources and has no immediate means to replenish them. Congress has promised us that it will eventually repay the sixty thousand dollars whatever the outcome may be in Algiers and whatever the outcome in Philadelphia. We are at risk only if Congress reneges on that promise. Mr. Hamilton has assured me that it will not, and I believe we can rely on his word.”
    Stephen Starbuck offered a final perspective. “Richard, please do not misunderstand me. We all want Caleb released, and we all support you. It’s a good plan and I admire your creativity and courage. But my concern is this: if the United States continues to pay ransoms for Americans who are illegally held in Barbary, should we not expect to pay ever higher ransoms for ever more Americans illegally held?”
    Richard nodded his understanding. “You’re right, Stephen,” he said. “Of course you’re right. That same thought worries me. But it’s not up to you or to me or to any of us in this room to decide matters of foreign policy. We are but one family trying to save one of our own and those in