xvi INTRODUCTION. 



check, die cruifer brought him and his vefTel 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 allied me, up- 

 on my word as a Chriftian and an Englishman, whether 

 thefe written pafles were according to treaty, or whether 

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

 with the Moorifh regencies ? All equivocation was ufelefs. 

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

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

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

 ceflity 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 fo'on as the greater bufinefs of 

 fettling the general peace gave the Britifh miniftry time to 

 breathe. Upon this the Dey, holding feveral paffavants 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 wifli 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 writings and feals are Governor Moftyn's, or Go- 

 vernor Johniton's, and not the Duke of Medina hidonia's, or 

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

 impoflible to anfwer a queftion fo fimple and fo direct. I 

 touched then the inftant of being cut to pieces by the fol- 

 diery, or of having the whole Britifh Mediterranean trade 

 carried into the Barbaryports. The candid and open man- 

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

 I always 



