Recent Conduct and new Insults of the Barbary Powers.-Negociations of Lord Exmouth, and General Sir Thomas Maitland.-Bombardment of ALGIERS.-Submission of the Dey.-Observations on the Treaties lately made between the European Powers and Barbary States.—Remarks on the Conduct of Great Britain, compared with that of other Governments.—Singular Enigma.-Reflections suggested by it.-Necessity of taking greater Precautions than those already adopted.-How far we are justified in relying on the Faith of Treaties.-Morality of a Barbary Chief.-His Motto.-Actual Disposition of these Powers, manifested by their general Conduct.

SCARCELY had Europe began to breathe from the toils of a destructive war, and nations indulged in the pleasing anticipation of a solid and lasting peace, when the freedom of the seas and commerce were assailed in every direction by the corsairs of Barbary, whose chiefs considered this, as above all others, the most favourable epoch for a general attack on all those states who did not possess a navy to keep them in check, or were so remote as to encourage a hope that their depredations might be tolerated with impunity. Soon after the peace of 1814, the cruizers of Morocco and Tunis, which had been for some time much less active than their neighbours, went to sea in search of plunder; while the Algerine squadron increased to a larger number of ships than it had for a century before: these marauders, assisted by the co-operation of Tripoly, made several descents on various parts of the Italian coast, Spain, Sicily, Sardinia, and all the other islands of the Mediterranean, carrying off or destroying whatever came within their reach, and conducting the unfortunate

inhabitants, without regard to age or sex, into slavery. The pirates had even audacity enough to insult the British flag, which gave rise to Sir Thomas Maitland, the governor of Malta, proceeding to obtain redress at Tunis; while Lord Exmouth went to Algiers for a similar purpose. These officers were enabled to procure temporary satisfaction; and several slaves were ransomed through their interference, at a lower rate than had been hitherto demanded.

Notwithstanding the apparent moderation observed by the barbarians, while the negociations were going on, there was not much difficulty in perceiving that all was the result of their characteristic deceit, the better to cover designs of future aggression. Algiers took the lead; and shortly after the treaty, manifested evident intentions to renew her depredations whenever a favourable opportunity occurred. Besides various efforts to recruit his army, and add to the naval forces of the regency, the Dey began to correspond with the Porte, the Emperor of Morocco, and Pacha of Egypt. While the English negociator was still at Algiers, the Janizaries are even said to have deliberated on the propriety of cutting him to pieces, when passing from the Pascialick to his boat; and Lord Exmouth had not arrived in England on his return from the piratical city, when a swarm of corsairs once more infested the seas. The British consul was seized, and thrown into prison at Algiers; and Captain Dashwood, who commanded a ship of war in the bay, was treated in the most violent manner by the Turks his surgeon, who attempted to embark Mr. Mc Donnel's wife and daughter, experienced a still harsher treatment.

Several atrocities were committed at Oran; and as if something was wanting to complete the work of iniquity, above two hundred coral fishermen, natives of Corsica, Sicily, and Sardinia, were inhumanly butchered in cold blood, at Bona.*

* This dreadful massacre took place on May the 31st, 1816, about twelve o'clock in the day, when the poor coral fishers were at prayers. The slaughter was regularly planned at Algiers, and commenced by a signal from the principal fort at Bona. Indeed there is scarcely

Awakened by such reiterated acts of violence, the British lion at length began to shake the dew-drops from its mane, and the ministers of England determined to avenge the honour of its flag, violated by repeatedly broken promises, and above all, the shocking affair at Bona. A formidable armament was therefore immediately fitted out, and Lord Exmouth being appointed to the chief command, was destined to prove, that impunity was not always to be the result of violence. In addition to the ships of war, the expedition was provided with a large quantity of those destructive engines, called Shrapnel shells and Congreve rockets. Omar Basha, the reigning Dey, seemed, on his side, to meet the coming storm with corresponding energy; and judging from his preparations to resist the attack, he evidently calculated on a desperate struggle. The fortifications had undergone considerable repairs; several new batteries were mounted; and thirty thousand Moors and Arabs were joined to the Turkish soldiery. Previous to the appearance of the English squadron, Omar

a more atrocious or sanguinary outrage on record; and I very much doubt whether the celebrated Crusades, in the course of which so many hundred thousand human lives were sacrificed, had so legitimate a cause as this furnished to Europe for subjugating the piratical states. With respect to the coral fishery, the subject has occupied my attention for several years; and I have made every possible exertion to shew that it might have been rendered a source of some profit to this country. The massacre at Bona proves the necessity of some European power having a place near the banks, at which the fishermen may take shelter, and not be exposed either to stress of weather or the ill-treatment of the barbarians, who never omit any opportunity, even at present, of annoying them. While at Leghorn and Genoa in the course of last summer, I ascertained that the French government was making very strenuous efforts to regain its former influence in this lucrative fishery; and an official notice had appeared in the Italian journals, signed by the French consul at Leghorn, inviting the coral fishermen of all countries to resume their labours under the protecting auspices of France, which had, according to this document, obtained some extraordinary privileges from the Dey of Algiers. The result of my information on the general state of commerce in the Mediterranean, was transmitted to a gentleman who had more facility than myself, of communicating with men in office. Although gratuitous information is not always the most acceptable, or likely to receive attention, neither of these circumstances should prevent us from persevering in an honest endeavour to serve our country, without the smallest regard to the prejudices of party.-Ed.

had sufficient address to inspire the believers with a large share of enthusiasm; the populace flocked round his person, happy if they could touch the hem of his caftan; and he was carried in ferocious triumph through the warlike city. There have been few more daring enterprizes, or well contested battles, than the bombardment of Algiers: many of the ships approached within pistol-shot of the city, particularly that of Lord Exmouth, which is said to have nearly grounded on the Mole-head.

The Algerines exhibited all the furious valour of Musselmen on this memorable occasion: their principal batteries, which by the noble admiral's judicious plan of attack, were taken in flank, suffered dreadfully; but no sooner was one set of cannoniers swept away, than another was in readiness to occupy their place; till these fell in their turn to rise no more. The intrepidity and sang froid displayed by the devoted Mahometans, might well surprize the British. The battle raged for several hours, with unabated fury; innumerable cannon on the shore, a fire from the assailants, which those who witnessed compared to a volcanic eruption; shells bursting in the air, added to the terrific hissing of Congreve's rockets; are said to have rendered the attack on Algiers, one of the most sublime horrors ever beheld. Victory continued to hover over the hostile parties for a considerable time, till by a new effort of the British forces, the thunder of Mars had reached the piratical ships; whose flames, together with those of the guilty city, seemed to ascend to Heaven as an atonement to the Divinity for past aggressions, and threatened speedy destruction, if not terminated by a timely submission to the victors. At this period of the action, nothing could exceed the panic into which the followers of Islam were thrown; deprived as it were by magic, of all exertion, they stood motionless, and as if petrified by the hand of destiny, surveyed the surrounding ruin with stupid indifference. Another hour, and to speak in the language of the gallant admiral, the national vengeance would have written, ALGIERS THAT WAS!

It was in this perilous crisis of his affairs, that the haughty

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Algerine chief bowed the neck, and condescended to appeal to the generosity of his enemies. "It is not the policy of England," said Lord Exmouth, “to make unprovoked war on peaceful nations; nor does it delight in the sufferings of individuals: we love and seek peace; which has never been refused to an enemy, who sought for it with sincerity." Hostilities ceased, an amicable arrangement followed; and, to avail myself of an expression in the Prince Regent's answer to a civic deputation of the London citizens, "The treaty of peace was such as a great and generous nation should accord to its enemies." Amongst other stipulations, Algiers was obliged to restore the money that had been advanced by several Italian states, for the ransom of their subjects; all Christian slaves were not only released, but a solemn promise was exacted to abstain from making any more captives. This treaty, dictated by a philanthropic spirit, a sublime and amiable philosophy, might be justly compared to that which Hiero, the magnanimous sovereign of Syracuse, imposed on the people of Africa above two thousand years before, for having disgraced themselves by human sacrifices and abominable rites.*

* The result of our attack on Algiers, will be seen in the following General Memorandum, dated three days after the action.

GENERAL MEMORANDUM.

Queen Charlotte, Algiers Bay, August 30th, 1816.

The Commander-in-Chief is happy to inform the fleet of the final termination of their strenuous exertions, by the signature of peace, confirmed under a salute of twenty-one guns, on the following conditions, dictated by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent of England:-

I. The abolition, for ever, of Christian slavery.

II. The delivery, to my flag, of all slaves in the dominions of the Dey, to whatever nation they may belong, at noon to-morrow.

III. To deliver, also, to my flag, all monies received by him for the redemption of slaves since the commencement of this year, at noon, also, to-morrow.

IV. Reparation has been made to the British consul for all losses he may have sustained in consequence of his confinement.

V. The Dey has made a public apology, in presence of his ministers and officers,