The commerce of Eastern Barbary has hitherto been carried on chiefly from Leghorn and Mar seilles. Louis XIV. established at the latter port' a Royal African Company, which formed several es tablishments upon the coast of the Algerine province of Constantine. The objects were the corn trade and the coral fishery, which they shared at first with an English company already established ; but the latter failing, the whole trade fell into the hands of the French. Their first establishment was at the Bastion de France, at the western extremity of Al giers-r but this was abandoned, and they settled at La Cala, Bona, 11 Col, and Tabarca. They paid L. 4000 a-year to the Dey of Algiers, and 100 per cent. to the Bey of Constantine, on the grain export ed ; in addition to which, they were obliged to sub mit to various species of extortion and humiliation. The Continental war, and the extinction of the French naval power, threw a large proportion of this trade into the hands of the British ; and Malts, became the channel through which it was conducted. In 1806, the British Government contracted with the Dey of Algiers for the possession of La Cala, Bona, and Il Col ; in consideration of which, they stipulated to pay him the sum of 50,000 dollars (L. 11,000 Ster ling). Mr Blaquiere, and other persons acquainted with this coast, are of opinion, that very important advantages might be derived' from this ement. The coral fishery alone might employ 500 boats and 9000 men ; besides which, there s e large export of - hides, wax, and wool. It is added, that the country produces ship-timber, particularly oak, of the best quality, and in inexhaustible abundance, and that ex cellent hemp and flax might be raised. As yet, how• ever, the British Government have continued,,to pay the money, without forming any establishment, or deriving any benefit from the privilege thus pur chased. The coral fishery is carried on by a small number of French and Neapolitan boats ; and the spirited attempts made by the merchants at Malta to open a communication with this quarter have been frustrated. From the pressure of the war, or other causes, no military establishment has yet been form ed at La Cala. The place, however, is said to be admirably suited for such a purpose, and, at a very small ex pence might be rendered impregnable.
We shall finally consider these states under the view, which has so justly excited the interest and sympathy of the British nation, that of Christian slave ry. To be placed under the absolute control of the most brutal and corrupted of mortals, whom re ligions antipathy has divested besides of every hu e ja man pathy—without any law or earthly power to to—the hopeless victims of brutal cruelty, and I more brutal voluptuousness -this is certainly the most dreadful fate to which human beings were ever devoted. Yet such has been the fate of thou sands of Europeans, among whom were often those who, from rank, sex, and cultivation of mind, muss have been most keenly sensible of its homage. Painful: as the subject is, it seems indispensable to giro soma: details which may illustrate the extent , of the eva, and the ,necessity which existed for some arrange ments to remedy it.
The most particular and authentic account of the treatment of slaves at Algiers is that given in the American work already alluded to. On the 28d October 1792, the ship President saw approaching an armed xebeck, bearing Spanish colours, till she came within gun-shot, when she instantly hoisted the bloody flag, and fired. Escape was now impossible ; the xebeck instantly put out a boat, with thirty armed men, who rowed furiously towards the vessel, and boarded it with the wildest shouts and outcries. No resistance being made, they began to strip the crew with a fury of avarice, of which it was impossible to form an idea. Sometimes several fell upon one Ame
rican, and fought over him for the clothes of which he was stript. Having ransacked every corner, they then ordered the Americans to descend into the boat ; and those who showed any hesitation were in stantly knocked down, and kicked over into it. On • reaching Algiers the distribution took place. The Dey made first his choice, which was formerly limit ed to an eighth of the whole, but now extends to as great a number as he chooses to demand. For this purpose, they were conducted to the palace, and drawn up in files along a court, where they passed under this review. Having made his selection, be dismissed the rest with the compliment, “ Go, you Christian dogs, and eat stones." - The youngest were employed in menial offices about the palace, the rest were put to work in the marine and in public build- . ings. Whenever a foreign vessel was in the port, they were loaded with thirty or forty pounds weight of chains, in order to prevent their escape. Their heaviest labour consisted in dragging immense stones from a neighbouring quarry, for the repair and en largement of the mole. A body of Turks attended to urge them on, but-gave no aid, unless by conti nually roaring out Hyomoly, " heave away," with a noise so tremendous, that it was heard at the distance of more than a league. At night, they were locked up in two huge buildings, called bagnios, the lower part of which was employed for shops, and the upper for the joint accommodation of the captives and of the wild beasts belonging to the Dey. There was no bed in the place, and they were obliged to lie on the floor, till their own ingenuity enabled them to erect some humble substitute. The daily allowance of food was a pound of very bad bread, and a small quantity of oil. Many sunk under this accumula tion of distress, and were carried to the Spanish hos pital, the only relief provided for their miseries. The sympathy of the American people having been at length excited by reports of their sufferings, they opened a negociation, and, at the expense of nearly 800,000 dollars, procured the release of the cap tives.
The observations made by Captain Croker, dur ing his visit in 1815, agree with the narrative of the Americans, and prove that no improvement had taken place since that time. At she period of his ar rival, three hundred Christian captives had been driven in from Bona, exposed to such treatment that fifty died within six days after reaching Algiers. They were still employed in the quarries, and loaded with chains, as before. His description of the house in which they were locked up is, that, " if it had light," it would re semble those in which the West Indian negroes keep their pigs. Being now at peace with the great powers, their piracy is chiefly exercised on Naples and Satdinia, with whom they have always taken care to continue at war. European, and even Eng lish colours, are assumed to entrap the unfortunate victims. They frequently also make descents on the coast, and sweep away all the inhabitants, with out distinction of age and sex. The Tunisians, at the commencement of the reign of the present Bey, landed on the island of St Pierre, belonging to Sar dinia, and carried off the whole population, amount ing to upwards of a thousand. At Tunis and Tri poli, the treatment of slaves is not so utterly inhu man as at Algiers. The most dreadful fate is that of those who are judged fit to be received into the harem of the prince, or any of his principal officers ; which, in consequence of the depraved propensities here prevalent, is not confined to one sex. Of those who become the slaves of private persons, both at Tunis and Algiers, some are tolerably, and a few very well treated.