186 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF FRANCIS ARAGO. 



better than the blow of a batcbet. All was agreed ; I armed myself witli 

 tbe carpenter's saw, and the operation was done.''' 



I went off immediatel.y to tbe American consul to claim the assistance 

 of tbe only surgeon worthy of conlldence who was then in Algiers. JMr. 

 Triplet — I think I recollect that that was the name of the man of the 

 distinguished art whose aid 1 invoked — came at once on board the ves- 

 sel, examined the dressing of the wound, and declared, to my very lively 

 satisfaction, that ail was going on well, and that the Englishman would 

 survive liis horrible injury. 



The same day we bad the wounded men carried on litters to JNIr. 

 Blankley's house; this operation, executed with somewhat of ceremony, 

 modilied, though sliglitly, the feelings of the Dey in our favor, and his 

 sentiments became yet more favorable toward us in consequence of 

 another maritime occurrence, although a verj' insignificant one. 



One day a corvette was seen in the horizon armed with a very great 

 number of guns, and shai:)ing her way toward the port of Algiers ; tliero 

 appeared immediately after an English brig of war in full sail ; a combat 

 was, therefore, expected, and all theterraces of the town werecovered with 

 si)ectators. The brig appeared to be the best sailer, and seemed to us 

 likely to reach the corvette, but the latter tacked about, aiid seemed 

 desirous to engage in battle; the English vessel lied before her; the 

 corvette tacked about the second time, and again directed her course 

 toward Algiers, where, one would have supposed, she had some special 

 mission to execute. The brig in her turn now changed her course, but 

 held herself constantly beyond the reach of shot from the corvette; at 

 last the two vessels arrived in succession in the port, and cast anchor, to 

 the lively disappointment of the Algerme population, who had hoped to 

 be present without danger at a maritime combat between the "Christian 

 dogs," belonging to two nations equally detested in a religious point of 

 view; but shouts of laughter could not be repressed when it was seen 

 that the corvette was a merchant vessel, and that she was only armed 

 with wooden imitations of cannon. It was said in the town that the 

 English sailors were furious, and had been on the point of mutiny against 

 their too prudent captain. 



I have very little to tell in favor of the Algeriues; hence I must do an 

 act of Justice by mentioning that the corvette departed the next day lor 

 the Antilles, her destination, and that the brig was not permitted to set 

 sail until the next day but one. 



I>nki'i often came to the French consulate to talk of our affairs with 

 M. Dubois Tliainville. "What can you want?" said the latter; "yon are 

 an Algerine ; you will be the first victim of the Dey's obstinacy. I have 

 already written to Livorno that your families and your goods are to be 

 seized. When the vessels laden with cotton, which you have in this 

 port, arrive at IMarseilles, they will be immediately confiscated ; it is for 

 j-ou to Judge whether it w^ould not better suit you to pay the sum which 

 the Dey claims than to expose yourself to tenfold and certain loss." 



