The Consuls of the European Powers accredited to the Regency of Algiers having met at the British Consulate at Algiers to reach a decision concerning the necessity of building an enclosure around the European cemetery in this city, where the bodies of Europeans are exposed to insults by the public and to damage by the sea, the British Proconsul General having obtained permission from H. H. the Dey, an estimate of the most urgent expenses has been made by the chief mason of this Government and several assistants assigned to him. The expenses have been fixed at two thousand five hundred piastres, hard currency; and since it is acknowledged that the number of Consuls in this city at present is ten or eleven, the sum of two thousand five hundred Spanish piastres, hard currency, would therefore be divided into two hundred and fifty piastres, hard currency, for each of them. Consequently, it has been agreed that each Consul will submit this proposal to his Government and obtain authorization to enclose the European cemetery in Algiers without delay, a tribute due the deceased who are already buried there and to those whom fate may bring to this foreign soil in the future.

(1) A letter of June 23, 1826, from the U.S. Secretary of State to the consul general of the United States at Algiers stated in part: "It gives me pleasure to state that the President fully approves of the Resolution of the Consuls, and you will consider this letter as authority from him, accordingly, to incur an expense on account of this Government, not exceeding the sum indicated by you for the accomplishment of the interesting object in question." (The U.S. consul general at Algiers had stated in a letter of Mar. 25, 1826, that he thought the cost would perhaps amount to a "ratio of one hundred dollars to each Consulate.") Back

ALGIERS, March 21, 1826