uth proposed a
treaty, for ever prohibiting the making of Christian slaves, and that
such prisoners as might be taken in war should be treated according to
the practice of civilized Europe. These stipulations were agreed to and
the treaties signed. In the meantime he had received instructions to
claim from Algiers the privilege of selling and refitting privateers
in its port. On his return to that place upon this mission, he took
the opportunity of pressing on that state the abolition of Christian
slavery; but his request was haughtily refused, and when his lordship
was returning to the fleet he was insulted by the crowd, and narrowly
escaped assassination. As Lord Exmouth had not received definite
instructions from the admiralty, he did not think himself justified in
proceeding to extremities; and he therefore agreed that the dey should
appoint an ambassador, who might proceed first to Constantinople, for
the purpose of gaining the sanction of the Ottoman Porte, and thence to
London, to treat on his proposal. His lordship then returned to England;
but before he reached its shores, accounts arrived, which determined
government at once to exact satisfaction for the past and security for
the future. On the 21st of May the dey had ordered the British consul,
Mr. Macdonald, to be confined, and all the English vessels in Oran to
be seized. The Algerines likewise murdered the crews of several Italian
vessels under the British flag, that were engaged in the coral-fishery
at Bona. Thus braved, ministers resolved to punish the Algerines, and
to enforce obedience on the common enemies of the civilized world. Lord
Exmouth received instructions to complete his work; and he sailed on
the 28th of July, in the "Queen Charlotte" of 110 guns, with four other
ships of the line, five frigates, with sloops, bomb-vessels, &c, for
that purpose. With this fleet he arrived at Gibraltar on the 9th of
August, where he met with a Dutch squadron of five frigates and a
corvette, commanded by Vice-admiral Von Capellem, who, on learning the
object of the expedition, solicited and obtained leave to assist in the
enterprise. The Algerines expected this attack, and had been preparing
for it by the removal of every article of value, and by strengthening
their already formidable fortifications. The city of Algiers is built
on the declivity of a hill, in a triangular shape; the base being the
sea-front, which rises directly from the water, and is about a mil