xvi INTRODUCTION. 



check, the cruifer brought him and his veiTel as a good 

 prize into Algiers. Upon my claiming them, as was my 

 duty, 1 was immediately called before the Dey and divan, and 

 had it not been from perfonal regard the Turks always 

 fhewed me, I mould not have efcaped the infults of the 

 foldiery in my way to the palace. The Dey afked me, up- 

 on my word as a Chriflian and an Englifhman, whether 

 thefe written paries were according to treaty, or whether 

 the word paffuvant was to be found in any of our treaties 

 with the Moorifli regencies .? All equivocation was ufelefs. 

 I anfwered, That thefe pafTes were not according to treaty ; 

 that the word pajfavant was not in any treaty I knew of 

 with any of the Barbary Hates ; that it was a meafure ne- 

 ceffity had created, by Minorca's falling into the hands of 

 the French, which had never before been the cafe, but that 

 the remedy would be found as foon as the greater bufinefs of 

 fettling the general peace gave the Britifh miniftry time to 

 breathe. Upon this the Dey, holding {qnzt2\ pajfavants in his 

 hand, anfwered, with great emotion, in thefe memorable 

 terms, " The Britifh government know that we can neither 

 read nor write, no not even our own language ; we are igno- 

 rant foldiers and failors, robbers if you will, though we do 

 not with to rob you ; but war is our trade, and we live by that 

 only. Tell me how my cruifers are to know that all thefe 

 different wri-ings and feals are Governor Moftyn's, or Go- 

 vernor Johnfton's, and not the Duke of Medina Sidonia's, or 

 Barcelot's, captain of the king of Spain's cruifers ?" It was 

 impoffible to anlwer a queilion fo fimple and fo direct. I 

 I ached then the intrant of being cut to pieces by the fol- 

 diery, or of having the whole Britifh Mediterranean trade 

 carried into the Barbary ports. The candid and open man- 

 ner in which I had fpoken, the regard and efteem the Dey 

 i always 



