It is not easy to ascertain the precise extent in which this enormous evil lately existed. Mr Blaquiere, though he represents its horrors in the most glowing colours, considers the whole number of captives as amounting only to a thousand. Mr Macgill calculates two thousand in Tunis alone, and the Americans the same number at Algiers. The first estimate, however, is probably the more correct, as, bya calculation of the amount and rate of ransoms returned, the number in Algiers, at the time of Lord Exmouth's first tion, appears to have been four hundred and fifteen.
The outrageous conduct of the Barbary corsairs has repeatedly roused the indignation of the princi pal European states. Yet it has happened, that most of the expeditions undertaken to repress or in timidate them have been not only unsuccessful, but attended with the most disastrous issue. We may particularly mention the expedition of Charles V., which will be found narrated in the body of the work. More recently, in 1776, the Spaniards sent a large fleet into the road of Algiers, which landed 13,000 or 14,000 troops. Through a want of har mony, however, between the commanders, the army reimbarked, and the fleet sailed off without attempt ing anything of importance. They returned in 1783, when the fortifications were greatly strengthen ed, but by means of gunboats, they were enabled to bombard the city in a terrible manner. Yet the Dey, though obliged to leave his palace, was neither moved by his own danger, nor the sufferings of his subjects, to sue for peace ; and the Spaniards at length retired. They returned next year; but the Dey had now prepared a large force of gunboats, which kept them at a distance ; and they were ob liged to move off, without having effected anything whatever. The Algerines now believed themselves invincible; and the Spaniards were fain to purchase peace with a million of dollars, besides a large sum for the ransom of their captives.
In 1800, the Americans waged war against Tripoli, in consequence of a vessel belonging to them having been seized, and the crew made slaves. They repeatedly attacked the harbour, and did some damage to it, but were not able to make any serious impression, or to produce any effect, be. aides that of impelling the tyrant to a more rigorous treatment of his captives. They then adopted a different course. They landed in Egypt, where they were joined by Hamet, the elder brother of Yusuf, the reigning Bashaw, and to whom the throne rightfully belonged. The confederates having col lected 500 men, marched through the Lybian de sert, and took Derne, the frontier town of Tripoli. Notwithstanding the smallness of this force, Yusuf, alarmed by the popularity of his brother, accepted the mediation of the Danish consul, and a treaty was concluded. The prisoners were restored at a mo derate ransom, and Hamet, now abandoned, returned to Egypt. Upon the whole, there seems to have been very little ground for the boast which has been made, respecting the conduct and success of this American expedition.
After the termination of the Continental war, which had absorbed every other interest, a deep feelinf was excited in the British nation, for the fate of their fel low Christians, who were groaning under this horrible slavery. Sicily and Sardinia, the chief sufferers, were our intimate allies ; besides which, Britain, as mistress of the seas, seemed called upon to put down a system of naval warfare and depredation, incon sistent with all those ties by which civilized nations are united together. Urged by this impulse, the Bri tish Government directed Lord Exmouth (late Sir E. Pellew) to sail with a squadron against Algiers and Tunis. The appearance of this armament was suffi
cient to induce both states to a compliance with the terms demanded, which were, peace with Sicily and Sardinia ; the restoration of their captives at a mo derate ransom ; and an engagement, in every future war, to treat prisoners in the manner customary among civilized nations. Scarcely, however, had this treaty been signed, when it was violated, on the part of Al giers, in the most outrageous manner. Several hun dred boats, chiefly Neapolitan, being employed under sanction of the British flag, in carrying on the pearl. fishery on the coast near Bona, a gun was suddenly fired from the 'castle, when two thousand Turks and Moors rushed down upon the unfortunate fishermen, and, aided by fire from the forts, massacred the whole of them. The English flag was seized, and trampled under foot. Lord Exmouth had already sailed, and was arrived in England before he heard of this dread ful tragedy. The utmost expedition was then em ployed to equip a new and more formidable arma ment. In a few weeks Lord Exmouth again sailed, and being joined at Gibraltar by a Dutch squadron under Admiral Capellen, arrived before Algiers, on the 26th August last (1816), about three months from the time at which he had left it. On the morn ing of the 27th, a flag of truce was sent in, stating the conditions on which alone peace would now be granted, and allowing two hours for their acceptance. Three hours without an answer, but also without any hostile movement ; and Lord Exmouth began to hope the intentions of the Dey might be pacific, when several shots were fired from the har bour. A combat of the most terrible description immediately began, the batteries being attacked with all the characteristic valour of British sea men, and defended with all the fury of barbarian desperation. The British fleet suffered severely ; but after seven hours fighting, the enemy's batteries were reduced to a state of ruin ; and the flotilla having succeeded in setting fire to some of the Al gerine vessels, the flame spread to such a degree, that the whole fleet, arsenal, and gunboats, were•ere long reduced to ashes. On the following morning, the Dey submitted unconditionally to the terms pre scribed by the British Government. These were— the abolition, for ever, of Christian slavery ; the immediate delivery, to Lord Exmouth, of all cap tives, of whatever nation, who were within the ter ritory of Algiers ; the repayment of the ransoms for merly received ; with apology and reparation to the British consul, for insults that had been offered to him. All these stipulations were executed with the utmost promptitude.
Thus terminated an achievement, than which none has ever reflected a purer glory on the British name—one undertaken, not from any merely British motives, but to defend the general cause of humani ty, and vindicate the rights of the civilized world. All observers agree that, in the case of a race at once mean and barbarous, fear is the only motive which can act with sufficient force ; and that a signal chas tisement, such as cannot be soon forgotten, affords the only security for their future moderation. The lesson which the Algerines have now received is of this description ; and there is therefore every reason to hope that its influence may be long and salutary.