For many years the piracies of these corsairs conti nued the terror and the shame of the Christian powers. At length, in the year 1632, a French fleet being driven by accident into the bay of Algiers, the admiral de manded the release of all the prisoners of his nation, without any exception. When his demand was refused, he carried off, without ceremony, the Turkish bashaw, and his cadi, who had just arrived from Constantinople, with all their equipage and retinue. The Algerines, in revenge attacked a French fort lately erected by Louis XIII. called the Bastion of France, and carried off the inhabitants, with all their effects ; an outrage which so provoked the French admiral, that he threatened to pay them a visit next year.
Undismayed by this menace, the Algerines fitted out a fleet of 16 galleys, well manned and equipped, destined to seize the treasure or Loretto. Prevented by adverse winds from accomplishing their design, they made a descent upon Puglia, in the kingdom of Naples, ravaged the territory of Nocotra, and then, steering towards Dal matia, scoured the Adriatic, leaving the inhabitants of the coasts in the utmost consternation.
Provoked by these outrages, the Venetians sent out a fleet of 28 sail, under the command of admiral Capello, with orders to take, sink, or burn, all the Barbary cor sairs, wherever lie found them. Capello soon came up with the Algerine fleet, which, after an obstinate con flict, he entirely defeated; but a ball from one of the Venetian galleys having struck a Turkish mosque, the whole action was considered as an insult upon the grand signior. Capello was recalled, and the Venetians were obliged to purchase peace of the Porte with the sum of 500,000 ducats. Algiers was filled with consternation at the news of this defeat; but they repaired their loss with amazing activity, and were soon able to appear at sea with a fleet of 65 sail.
A squadron consisting of five galleys and two bri gantines, commanded by the Algerine admiral Pin chinin, was defeated by a Dutch merchantman of 28 guns, after a fierce engagement, in which the Dutch displayed uncommon valour ; but the rest of the fleet returned to Algiers, crowded with captives, and laden with an immense quantity of spoils. Such was the gen eral terror which these corsairs excited, that the English, French, and Dutch, were glad to obtain peace from them even on very degrading terms ; while against the Spaniards, Portuguese, and Italians, the inveterate ene mies of the Mahometan faith, they vowed eternal war. The outrages which they committed on the French coast, at last provoked Louis XIV. to send out a strong
'fleet against them, under the command of the Marquis du Quesne, vice-admiral of France. Du Quesne sailed to Algiers in August 1682, and bombarded it with such fury, that the V. hole t try was soon lt, ihtlinl:;, e I/•I/W•11;g to have it, -then the nal suddenly NCerill;!: the to to T0111011. The Mg( this outrage, immediately sent to th, coast of PI 01 CUL(' a number of gaily's and galliots, which «mnuitted dread ful rat ages, and carried a great number of c aptives. A new armament was fitted out at Mars( dies and Toulon ; and the Algerines, informed of these pi (Tara tions, repaired their walls, and rt. utilied their capital, to be ready for the expected assault. The squadron of Du Quesne appeared before Algiers in the beginning of the f011owing summer, and bombarded it with such acti vity, and with such dreadful execution, that the Dty and Bashaw immediately sued for peace. An imme diate surrender of all the French captives was insisted upon as a preliminary ; but a delay in the execution of that condition occasioned a renewal of hostilities. In less than three days most of the city was reduced to ashes, and the flame was so violent as to illumine the sea for several leagues around. The distress of this scene served only to inspire the Algerine commander with frantic rage. Not content with butchering all the French in the city, he ordered their consul to be fasten ed alive to the mouth of a cannon, whence he was shot away against their navy. By such unheard of atrocity, the French admiral was so much exasperated, that he did not leave Algiers till he had destroyed all its forti fications and shipping, and rendered the city almost a heap of ruins. This disaster so completely humbled the Algerines, that they immediately sent an embassy to France, begging for peace in the most abject terms, and supplicating pardon for the murder or the consul, which they attributed to the ungovernable rage of the populace. Their request was granted, and from that time they began to pay more regard to other nations, and to be more cautious of incurring their displeasure. In 1686 they entered into a treaty with England on terms highly advantageous to that ceuntiy. The treaty was renewed at different times ; but it was not till the En glish obtained possession or Gibraltar and Port Mahon, that they could compel those perfidious pirates tu pay proper regard to the obligation of treaties.