avoured to lead the mob
into the city. Some few followed their standard; and on their march they
broke into the shop of a gunsmith, on Snowhill to obtain arms, and
a young man, named Watson, there shot a gentleman who offered some
resistance. Seizing all the arms they could find in that and other
shops, they proceeded to the Royal Exchange, when the lord mayor and
aldermen, after vainly exhorting them to disperse, boldly secured some
of the most forward, and shut the gates against the remainder. The mob
fired, but without effect, over the gates on the magistrates; but a
strong body of troops having been quickly marched into the city, the
rioters were finally overpowered, and compelled to disperse. Some
examples were made of the ringleaders; but the greatest criminal,
Watson, effected his escape to America. The vigilance of government was
by these events excited; and, after experience of this danger, every
popular meeting in the vicinity of the metropolis was watched by large
bodies of the military and special constables.

EXPEDITION TO ALGIERS.

The piratical state of Barbary had for ages infested the commerce of the
Mediterranean, and subjected Christians to the most dreadful slavery. No
check had been given them in their career, although during the late
war the fears of the barbarians had induced them to respect the British
flag. The renewed freedom of commerce, however, after the peace, tempted
the three principal states of Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers to augment the
number of their corsairs; and the ferocious system of depredation which
they carried on against the vessels of nations in alliance or under the
protection of Great Britain, rendered it imperative on the mistress of
the ocean to vindicate her honour. For this purpose Lord Exmouth, at
this time commanding in the Mediterranean, was instructed to demand
security from these piratical states for the commerce of the Ionian
Islands; to negociate a peace for Naples and Sardinia; and, if possible,
to obtain a general abolition of Christian slavery. His lordship
proceeded first to Algiers, where he obtained the release of all Ionian
captives, and the ratification of a pacific treaty for Naples and
Sicily: the former nation paying a ransom of five hundred dollars, and
the latter three hundred dollars per head for their redeemed slaves. His
lordship then proceeded to Tunis and Tripoli, the deys of which places
appeared disposed to accede to any terms. Lord Exmo