154 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816. 



evening paper to be derived from 

 a source which entitles it to im- 

 plicit credit : — 



" Caj)tain Dashwood, and Mr. 

 M'Manus, the surgeon of the 

 Prometheus, and some more 

 Engli'^hmeii who assisted in ef- 

 fecting the escape of the English 

 Consul's family at Algiers, and 

 who were unfortunately detected 

 in consequence of the child's cry- 

 ing, were in great danger of 

 losing their heads, and would 

 certainly iiave suffered if it had 

 not been for the interposition of 

 the American Consul. They were 

 put into a huge vault filled with 

 vermin and filth, where they re- 

 mained all night. They had mats 

 to rest on, upon a damp floor, 

 and had nothing to refresh them- 

 selves but had bread and water. 

 They were tantalized with a pro- 

 mise that they should be permit- 

 ted to go on board ship, but were 

 marched from one prison to an- 

 other. They were well treated 

 by some Sicilian slaves. The 

 Minister refused them when they 

 applied for more bread ; but the 

 Captain of the port showed some 

 compassion, and ordered refrcsli- 

 ments for them, directing the 

 guards to treat them well. The 

 sl.ivcs then gave them fruit, &c. 

 They were afterwards moved to 

 what is called the King's Prison, 

 under an escort of soldiers, and 

 marched through the town, in- 

 sulted on the way by Moors, 

 Jews, ami Turks, who even spat 

 in their faces. The Dcy thought 

 projjcr to send the Consul's child 

 on board. The .\nierican Consul 

 continued his kindness, and tlie 

 Swfdish Consul also uns very at- 

 tentive, anil supplied them with 

 books, pea>, and paper. The 



English were soon after put into 

 irons, and in that state were 

 marched about 12 miles across 

 the country ; and halting a short 

 time in a place where cattle were 

 confined, were obliged to resume 

 their journey. Their refreshment 

 was boiled corn and water. They 

 were then placed in anotlier pri- 

 son, but soon heard that they 

 w ere to be marched back to Al- 

 giers, to which place, after having 

 encamped on the bank of a river 

 which had recently been over- 

 flown, they were afterwards 

 brought. Then they were con- 

 fined in a large building on the 

 south side of the town, where 

 they remained in doubt, anxiety, 

 and apprehension as to what 

 would be their future fate. At 

 length the English were relieved 

 from their irons and marched 

 down to the Maiina, and put into 

 possession of their own boats. 

 Their situation would have been 

 deplorable indeed, if it had not 

 been for the persevering kind 

 offices of the American Consul. 

 The country over which these un- 

 foitunate travellers were passed 

 appeared to be in a desolate con- 

 dition, covered chiefly with un- 

 derwood. They crossed an ex- 

 tensive plain, stated to be, ac- 

 cording to report, about 2000 

 miles in length, and 50 in breadth. 

 The soil seemed to be fertile in 

 many parts, and with good pas- 

 turage. It may easily be con- 

 ceived that our poor countrymen 

 were in a melancholy condition, 

 with the pix)Spect of death before 

 them, as they were often by signs 

 threatened that their heads would 

 be cut off, or had reason to fear 

 that they should be punisheil as 

 the slaves in general are — a pu- 

 nishment 



