30 
MEMOIR OF BRTTCE. 
The despatches which Bruce sent home in his 
capacity of British consul (and which are preserved 
in the Colonial Office), gave a curious and correct 
picture of the customs of the Algerines, and of the 
barbarous government under which they lived. It 
was usual for every new consul to make large pre- 
sents on entering upon his official employment ; the 
rapacity of the Dey, which extended to his lowest 
menials, led him to render their situation as dis- 
agreeable as possible, in order that he might enrich 
himself by compelling the Christian states frequently 
to change their diplomatic servants. The conse- 
quence was, that our traveller soon got involved in 
disputes with the Dey, who violated without scruple 
both the persons and properties of such English 
subjects as fell into his hands. When Brace re- 
monstrated, he was instantly told by his Highness 
that “ he cared neither for the King of England 
nor his consul.” He then ventured, in a letter to 
his patron, Lord Halifax, to recommend “ forcible 
measures, as the only way of maintaining the dig- 
nity of his country at Algiers.” This bold advice 
evidently placed his own life in jeopardy, and he 
began at last to apprehend that he might fall a vic- 
tim “ to these lawless butchers.” 
Fresh quarrels having arisen on the subject of 
certain English passports which the French gover- 
nor of Minorca had seized when he took that island, 
and sold to Spaniards, Neapolitans, and other ene- 
mies of the Barbary regencies, with a view to involve 
us in a war with the Algerines, Brace courageously 
