80 MEMOIR OF BRUCE. 



The despatches which Bruce sent home in hi 

 capacity of British consul (and which are preservec 

 in the Colonial Office), gave a curious and correc 

 picture of the customs of the Algerines, and of tin 

 barbarous government under which they lived. I 

 was usual for every new consul to make large pre 

 sents on entering upon his official employment ; th 

 rapacity of the Dey, which extended to his lowes 

 menials, led him to render their situation as dis 

 agreeable as possible, in order that he might enricl 

 himself by compelling the Christian states frequentl; 

 to change their diplomatic servants. The conse 

 quence was, that our traveller soon got involved ii 

 disputes with the Dey, who violated without scrupl 

 loth the persons and properties of such Englis] 

 subjects as fell into his hands. When Bruce re 

 monstrated, he was instantly told by his Highnes 

 that " he cared neither for the King of Englan 

 nor his consul." He then ventured, in a letter t 

 his patron, Lord Halifax, to recommend " forcibl 

 measures, as the only way of maintaining the dig 

 nity of his country at Algiers." This bold advic 

 evidently placed his own life in jeopardy, and h 

 began at last to apprehend that he might fall a vie 

 tim " to these lawless butchers." 



Fresh quarrels having arisen on the subject c 

 certain English passports which the French govei 

 nor of Minorca had seized when he took that islanc 

 and sold to Spaniards, Neapolitans, and other ene 

 mies of the Barbary regencies, with a view to involv 

 us in a war with the Algerines, Bruce courageousl 



