98] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816. 



turned to Algiers, with a view of 

 inducing the Dey to sign a simi- 

 lar declaration ; but after much 

 altercation, he persisted in de- 

 clining it, on the ground that, 

 being a subject of the Ottoman 

 Porte, he could not consent to 

 such a condition without the per- 

 mission of the Sultan ; but that 

 he would send a minister to Con- 

 stantinople to request it : and, in 

 fact, an Algerine ambassador was 

 conveyed on board the Tagus fri- 

 gate to Constantinople for that 

 purpose. 



To this summary relation, va- 

 rious 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 Ex- 

 mouth departed from the inter- 

 view with a determination to com- 

 mence hostilities, and that the 

 Dey in consequence ordered tlic 

 British consul (Mr. M' Donald) 

 to be placed under confinement, 

 and the English vessels at Oran 

 to be seized. On the next day, 

 the sliips got under way ; but a 

 violent gale continuing till the af- 

 ternoon, it was too late to take a 

 favoiwable position alongside the 

 batteries, and the ships anchored 

 again. His lordsliip then dis- 

 patched a letter to the Dey, de- 

 manding the release of the con- 

 sul, which he refused, without 

 the ])ayment of a large snm of 

 money, which he said was due to 

 him. On the next day, the Dey 

 sent a proposal, stating his wil- 

 lingness 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 con- 

 sulted on the subject. Lord Ex- 

 mouth agreed to a sus]jension of 

 three months ; the frigate, as 

 aboAc-mentioned, was tlien sent 

 with the Ambassador to Constan- 

 tinople ; and the British Admiral, 

 after an interchange of the usual 

 civilities with the J^ey, set sail for 

 England. 



In the French papers has been 

 published a letter from Lord E.\- 

 mouth to the King of Naples, 

 dated Algiers, April 6. In this 

 communication, Lord E. congra- 

 tulates his Majesty on the re- 

 storation of peace with the re- 

 gency of Algiers affirms that 



he has made the Dey peifectly 

 understand, that upon his good 

 faitli and moderation would de- 

 pend the existence of his political 

 power, and that, by departing 

 from these principles, he would 

 excite the resentment of all Eu- 

 rope, 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 siun for 

 the release of slaves, after his I'e- 

 fusal to grant the Dey the enor- 

 mous sum demanded by him for 

 the j)eace, and to furnish him 

 with naval and military stores in 



lieu of the annual tribute and 



retjuests his Majesty to urge upon 

 the Marquis of Circello the ne- 

 cessity of making with punctu- 

 ality the first payment, for which 

 he has given his word. 



There is subjoined a letter from 

 his Lordshij) to the above Mar- 

 quis, dated April 19th, congratu- 

 lating him upon the hope of 

 seeing a speedy end put to Chris- 

 tian 



