turned to Algiers, with a view of inducing the Dey to sign a similar declaration; but after much altercation, he persisted in declining it, on the ground that, being a subject of the Ottoman Porte, he could not consent to such a condition without the permission of the Sultan; but that he would send a minister to Constantinople to request it: and, in fact, an Algerine ambassador was conveyed on board the Tagus frigate to Constantinople for that purpose.

To this summary relation, various particulars may be added from the extract of a letter, which has been printed in a public

paper.

It is there asserted, that upon the refusal of the Dey of Algiers to agree to the abolition of the slavery of captives, Lord Exmouth departed from the interview with a determination to commence hostilities, and that the Dey in consequence ordered the British consul (Mr. M'Donald) to be placed under confinement, and the English vessels at Oran to be seized. On the next day, the ships got under way; but a violent gale continuing till the afternoon, it was too late to take a favourable position alongside the batteries, and the ships anchored again. His lordship then dispatched a letter to the Dey, demanding the release of the consul, which he refused, without the payment of a large sum of money, which he said was due to him. On the next day, the Dey sent a proposal, stating his willingness to conclude a perpetual peace; but requiring a delay of six months, respecting the abo

lition of slavery, in order that the Grand Seignior might be consulted on the subject. Lord Exmouth agreed to a suspension of three months; the frigate, as above-mentioned, was then sent with the Ambassador to Constantinople; and the British Admiral, after an interchange of the usual civilities with the Dey, set sail for England.

In the French papers has been published a letter from Lord Exmouth to the King of Naples, dated Algiers, April 6. In this communication, Lord E. congratulates his Majesty on the restoration of peace with the regency of Algiers--affirms that he has made the Dey perfectly understand, that upon his good faith and moderation would depend the existence of his political power, and that, by departing from these principles, he would excite the resentment of all Europe, which is ready to unite to oppose the proceedings of the Barbary powers- -informs the King, that he did not consider himself as authorised to compel the Dey to accept a less sum for the release of slaves, after his refusal to grant the Dey the enormous sum demanded by him for the peace, and to furnish him with naval and military stores in lieu of the annual tribute—and requests his Majesty to urge upon the Marquis of Circello the necessity of making with punctuality the first payment, for which he has given his word.

There is subjoined a letter from his Lordship to the above Marquis, dated April 19th, congratulating him upon the hope of seeing a speedy end put to Chris-

tian slavery; and impressing him with the importance of remitting as soon as possible, the money to be paid for the release of the slaves.

Before Lord Exmouth had quitted the Barbary coast, a tragical incident occurred, (which, however, did not come to his knowledge) resulting from the savage and perfidious disposition of a people trained to piracy, and rendered furious by the apprehension of being compelled to renounce their most profitable branch of traffic. At Bona, on the coast of Algiers, is an establishment for carrying on a coral fishery, under the protection of the British flag, which, at the proper season, is frequented by a great number of boats from the Corsican, Neapolitan, and other Italian ports. On the 23d of May, the festival of Ascension, at one in the morning, as the crews of all the boats were preparing to hear mass, a gun was fired from the Castle, and at the same time appeared about 2000 infantry and cavalry, consisting of Turks, Levanters, and Moors. A part of these troops proceeded towards the country, whilst another band advanced towards the river, where the fishing boats were lying at different distances from the sea; and firing, as did also the forts, upon the unfortunate fishers, who were partly on board and partly on land, massacred almost the whole of them. They seized the English flags, tore them in pieces, and trampling them under foot, dragged them on the ground in triumph. The men who happened to be in the country, saved themselves by flight, and declared

By

that they saw the soldiers pillage the house of the British viceconsul, the magazines containing the provisions, and the coral which had been fished up. the boats which escaped, intelligence was brought, that on the arrival of a courier, hostilities were suspended; that the Viceconsul was set at liberty, but not suffered to quit the town; and that several masters of boats, and seamen, who had taken refuge in a magazine during the massacre, were also liberated, and were advised by the Vice-consul to put to sea, with the boats which were destitute of crews. A Turk, who was asked the reason of this violence, replied, that the Dey had declared war against the English, because the Admiral had demanded the burning of the Algerine fleet. On the whole, it appears probable, that this horrid act was perpetrated, rather in consequence of the blind and ungovernable rage of a licentious soldiery, than of orders from the Dey and his Divan; for although the firing from the forts might be construed as an authorised hostility, there is no reason to suppose, that it would have been commanded by a regular government for the mere purpose of useless destruction.

Whatever was the direct cause of this atrocity, it cannot be doubted, that the intelligence invigorated the determination of the British cabinet to employ effectual measures for obtaining by force from these barbarians, that security for their future peaceful conduct which would be in vain expected from their regard to justice or humanity. [H2]

Immediately,

65

ately, therefore, upon the arrival of Lord Exmouth, the most active preparations were made for placing under his command a naval power, which would be capable of overthrowing every defence that the piratical states could oppose to it. Some delay occurred in manning the additional ships destined for the expedition, the British sailors not readily entering into the King's service, when they can obtain more lucrative employment in the trading marine. At length, however, the Admiral set sail with a fleet, complete in all its points," consisting of his own ship, the Queen Charlotte, of 110 guns, the Impregnable of 98 guns, three of 70 guns, the Leander of 50 guns, four more frigates, and several smaller armed vessels; and having rendezvoused at Gibraltar, and received there five gunboats, he departed from that port on the 14th of August. Much had been said in foreign papers of an intended junction of the maritime force of other powers, especially of such as were particularly interested in abolishing the piratical system; but Great Britain, perhaps from choice, undertook the glory and the hazard alone, with the exception of a Dutch squadron of five frigates and a sloop, which proved itself worthy of the honourable participation.

Before Lord Exmouth left Gibraltar, he had received information which prepared him to expect a determined resistance in the quarter to which his expedition was directed. At Algiers very considerable works were continually throwing up, not only

on both flanks of the city, but immediately about the entrance of the mole, and a large army had been assembled for its defence. A corvette which the Admiral had sent to endeavour to get away the British consul, joined the fleet off Cape de Gatte; and Captain Dashwood, its commander, reported, that he had succeeded in bringing off under disguise the Consul's wife and daughter, leaving a boat to convey his infant child; but that the child, who was put in a basket, crying in the gate-way, all the crew attending, 18 in number, were seized and confined in dungeons : the Dey gave a solitary proof of humane feelings, by sending off

the

poor child on the next morning. The Captain further said, that about 40,000 men had been called in from the interior, as well as all the Janissaries from distant garrisons, and that they were indefatigably employed in strengthening the sea defences, and manning batteries. The ships were all in port, and between 40 and 50 mortar and gun-boats were made ready, and others were refitting. The Dey was fully apprized, that the armament was destined against Algiers; and he had closely confined the Consul, refusing either to give him up, or to promise his personal safety.

In consequence of calms and adverse winds, the fleet did not arrive before the bay of Algiers till the 27th. Lord Exmouth on the same day dispatched a boat with a flag of truce, bearing the demands he was enjoined to make on the part of the Prince Regent. These were, the iminediate delivery of all Christian

without intermission, and continued partially for more than two hours longer. At the beginning of the action, the Dutch Viceadmiral Van Capellen took his assigned station, and was followed by the remainder of his frigates, keeping a well-supported fire on the flanking batteries.

About sun-set the Admiral received a message from rear-admiral Milne commanding the Impregnable, mentioning the severe loss he had sustained, then amounting to 150 men killed and wounded, and requesting that a frigate might be sent to take off some of the enemy's fire: the Glasgow accordingly weighed, but the wind having been laid by the cannonade, she was only able to obtain a more favourable position. At this time orders were sent for the explosion vessel to be carried within the mole, but the Rearadmiral thinking that he should receive more benefit by exploding it under the battery in his front, this was directed and executed.

The flotilla of mortar, gun, and rocket boats was ably conducted, and it was by its fire that all the ships in the port, with the exception of the outer frigate, were involved in flames, which spread rapidly over the whole arsenal, store-house, and gun boats, affording a spectacle of awful grandeur beyond the power of description. The shells were directed with so much precision, that though thrown across and over the men of war, not an accident occurred in them. The burning of the enemy's ships so near the British, produced several anxious moments to the assailants; and it was long that the Admiral re

sisted the eager entreaties of his officers, to make an attempt upon the outer frigate, lying about the distance of 100 yards at length he yielded to the request of major Gossett, who was impatient to land his corps of miners, and permitted him to accompany Lieutenant Richards to the attack, in the Queen Charlotte's barge. The frigate was instantly boarded, and within ten minutes was in a perfect blaze. The enterprise of a gallant young midshipman is mentioned, who although forbidden, followed the barge in a rocketboat, but was desperately wounded, and lost many of the crew, in his rash attempt.

The enemy's batteries around the Admiral's division were silenced about ten o'clock, and reduced to a state of perfect ruin; but a fort on the upper angle of the city, on which the guns of the fleet could not be brought to bear, continued to annoy the ships with shot and shells during the whole combat. Indeed, there appeared no want of steadiness and resolution on the part of the mussulman defenders, who fought whereever they could mount a gun. The usual land-wind from the bay at length gave a desired opportunity of withdrawing the ships from their still painful situation, and all hands were employed in warping and towing off, till, about two in the morning, the whole fleet came to anchor, out of the reach of shells.

The behaviour of the noble Admiral, and of all the officers and men acting under his command, on this trying day, deserved every praise which has crowned the exertions of the British navy.

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