gh restrained from cruising against Neapolitan
subjects, there still remained a wide field for their enterprise. The
Roman States had already felt the effect of the new direction given to
their piracies. He then described the wretched condition of the slaves.
In one case, out of three hundred prisoners, fifty had died of
ill-treatment on the first day of their arrival, and seventy during the
first fortnight. The rest were kept in the most miserable condition,
being allowed only a pound of bread a day, and subject to the lash from
morning to night. No age, no sex was spared. A Neapolitan lady of
distinction, carried off with eight children, six of whom survived, had
lately been seen by a British officer in the thirteenth year of her
captivity. That it might be seen we did not countenance such
proceedings, it was necessary to ascertain what use we had made of our
influence in the late negotiations.

The minister objected to the motion, only however on the ground that all
the documents necessary to afford complete information had not yet
arrived; and he assured the House, that the cause of humanity had been
very materially served by the proceedings of the squadron. An animated
debate followed, in which every one expressed the utmost anxiety that
the barbarians should be compelled, and by force, if necessary, to
relinquish their piracies. This unanimous display of feeling in the
House of Commons, ensured to Lord Exmouth full approval of all that he
had done, and enabled the Government to take the decisive step which
immediately after became necessary. It is, indeed, a subject for just
pride, that upon every national question, the feelings of the people
have never hesitated to throw themselves upon the side of humanity and
justice, however seemingly opposed to their own interest.

Lord Exmouth had not yet reached England, when accounts arrived which
determined the Government not to await the issue of the proposed
negotiations with Algiers, but at once to exact the most ample
satisfaction and security. On the 23rd of May, the crews of the coral
fishing-vessels at Bona had landed to attend mass, it being
Ascension-day, when they were attacked by a large body of Turkish
troops, and most barbarously massacred. Lord Exmouth was at Algiers when
this took place; but as Bona is two hundred miles to the eastward, and
he sailed as soon as he had agreed with the Dey, he did not hear of it
until he arrived in England; and thus it devol