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About The Friend and monitor. (Washington, Ga.) 1815-18?? | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1815)
FOREIGN NEWS. Hamburgh*] Dec. 23. Extract of a letter from Vienna , dated December 15. In the difcuflions with regard to Saxony, we hear that a counter de claration will shortly be made by Ruflia and Pruflia. There is talk here of anew or ganization of the Saxon Landwehr of Pruflia, who generally speaking, means to make no changes in the administration of Saxony, but merely to regulate the fyftcm of home defence on a more equitable and easy footing. It has been re marked that the young Saxon vol unteers who joined the Pruflian co lors in such numbers during the late war, generally prefer remain ing in the Pruflian service, and that very few of/tf>em return to civil pursuits. 0 The king of Wurtemburg has delivered in an energetic protest against the projeft of giving the fortrefs Men(z to Bavaria.—Simi lar protests are expe&ed from other German houses. Extract of another letter from Vien na, same date . It is understood that Austria has offered in the event of the Vistula being declared the boundary of the Ruffian Empire in Poland, to give up to Pruflia the Polilh provinces of Cracow and Sandomer, lying on the left bank of the Viflula and for merly belonging to Western Gal lacia. Ghent, Dec. 29. The day before yesterday the constituted authorities of this city paid a visit in a body to the English and American legations, to congrat ulate them on the cessation of the differences between the two na tions, by the conclusion • of an ad vantageous peace. * The American Qjinifters gave yesterday evening a diplomatic supper in their hotel; the greatest cordiality prevailed at it between them and the Engliffi ministers, who, in a few days, w ill give in their turn an entertainment to the American legation. The departure of the ministers of the two nations will take place shortly. A Liverpool paper fays—“ The fall which has taken place in the value of American produce during the present week, is less considera ble than has been expe&ed, on ac count of the small stock of the chief American staples which now remain in the market. The effecls of the American pacification have been very promptly felt in the port. A vessel is already announ ced to fail, for one of the ports in the United States.” Washington City, March 7. Tbs Algerine near. —It is proba ble that many of our readers may not bear in mind the fa&s on which the recent declaration of war a gainst Algiers is predicated. We have therefore obtained for their in formation the report made on the fubjeft by Mr. Gallon of the house of reprefentaties, chairman of the committee to whomitwasrecommit ted in secret fitting. The docu ments accompanying the report, which are too long, and perhas not proper for present publication, are” so conclusive as to leave no doubt on the mind of any one who hears or reads them, of the impoflibility of re-eftablilhing peace with the dey of Algiers, unless by coercion, except under th§ moft base and hu miliating conditions. Our read ers may judge of the inveterate hoftiiity of that barbarian tyrant towards us, growing merely out of the moft sordid cupidity and natu ral ferocity and cruelty of temper, by two or three facts, collected from a momentary glance at the document* accompanying the re port of the colnmittee. A person was entrusted, as from the American merchants in S/ in, with the talk of endeavoring to procure the liberation of the eleven or twelve of our citizens captive in Algiers, for whom he was autho rized to give a ranfotn not exceed ing 3000 dollars per man. To every attempt, of this kind, the dey replied “that not for two millions of dollars would he sell his Ameri can slaves !” In reply to an application, in the moft confidential manner, to one of the dey’s ministers, to know the terms which the dey expected to extort from the United States (by keeping our citizens fiaves) in the event of a treaty with them, it ap pears, that “it was a fettled,.point with the dey, from which he could by no means swerve, than in the fir ft place, for the privilege of pass ing the streights of Gibralter , two millions of dollars , would be required of the American government , and that then the stipulations of the late treaty might be renewed (the old tributary treaty) after paying up all arrears of tribute, ” &c. See. National Intelligencer. THE REPORT. The committee to whom has been referred the bill “ for the pro te&ion of the commerce of the U. States against the Algerine cruifers,* with in(lrufliis to enquire and re port in detail the fa&s upon which the measure contemplated by the bill is predicated, report, ‘That in the month of July, 1812, the dey of Algiers, taking offence, or pretending to take offence, at the quality and quantity of a shipment of military (lores made by the Uni ted States in pursuance of the (tip* ulation in the treaty of 1795, & re fufimr to receive the (lores, extort cd from the American consul-gen eral at Algiers, by threats of per sonal imprisonment, and of redu cing to (lavery all Americans in his power, a sum of money claimed as the arrearages of treaty.ftipulations, and denied by the United States to be due ; and then compelled the consul and all citizens of the Uni ted States at Algiers abruptly to quit his dominions. It further appears to the com mittee, that on the 25th of August following, the American brig Ed win of Salem, owned by Nathaniel Silsbee of that place, • while on a voyage from Malta to Gibraltar, was taken by an Algerine corsair, and carried into Algiers as prize. The commander of the brig, capt. George Cambell Smith, and the crew, ten in number, have ever since been detained in captivity, with the exception of two of them, whose release has been effedled un der circumftanees not indicating any change of hostile temper on ; the of the dey. It also ap- ! pears, that a veil'd, failing under a Spanish flag has been condemned in Algiers as laying a falfe claim to that flag, and concealing her true chara&er. In this vessel was taken a Mr. Pollard, who claims to be an American citizen, and is believed to be of Norfolk, Virginia, and who as an American citizen is kept in captivity. The government, justly iolicltous to relieve there unfortu nate captives, caused an agent (whose connection with the govern ment was not disclosed) to be sent to Algiers, with the means and with inftruflions to effeft their ran lorn, if it could be done at a price not exceeding three thousand dol lars per man. The effort did not fucceedy because of the dey’s avow ed policy to incr-eafe the number of his American (laves in order to be able to compd a renewal of his treaty with the United States on terms fluted to his rapacity. Capt. Smith, Mr. Pollard, and the master of the Edwin, are not confined nor kept at hard labor ; but the rest of the captives are fubje&ed to the well known horrors of Algerine slavery. The committee have not been apprized of any other fpecific outrages upon the persons or pro perty of American citizens besides those dated ; and they apprehend that the fewnefs of tbye is attribut able to the want of opportunity and not of inclination in the dey, to prey upon our commerce and en slave our citizens. The war with Britain has hitherto (hut the Medi terranean against American vessels, which it may be presumed will now shortly venture upon it. The committee are ail of opin ion upon the evidence which has been laid before them, that the dey of Algieis confitlers his treaty with the United States as at an end, and is waging war against them. The evidence upon which this opinion is founded, and from which are extrafled the fa£h above dated, accompanies this report, and with it is respe&fully submit ted. ALGIERS. The determination of our gov eminent to wage aclive war against the Algerines, and to pay the tri bute they demand of us in powder and ball only, will naturally excite the curiosity of our readers to pcf fefs corrett information refpe&ing the flrength and refourccs of this new enemy—an enemy whose lo cal situation, expertness at piracy and savage practice of enfiaving prisoners more than their courage has made them terrible to fome of the European governments. Algiers is a Kingdom or rather a military Aristocracy of Africa, bordering on the Mediterranean sea; and is one of the dates of Bar bary, which confifl cf Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli. The three latter have exercised four centuries a piratical trade against all Christian nations whose (hips fall in their way, unless their forbear ance be purchased by a dipulared tribute. According to the bed authori ties the Kingdom or date of Algiers is computed to be 430 miles in length and about one hundred in breadth. No edimate can be form ed of its population, which consists of a motley race of Mahomedans, Chritlians and Jews. The inhabi tants of the interior country are generally Moors & Turks. There are also many Jews and Christians, who have been taken at sea and brought hither and fold as (laves. The City of Algiers, the capital of the kingdom, is situated on the declivity of a mountain in full view of the sea. It is said to contain 15,000 houses, built of brick and (lone, and more than 100,000 in habitants. The city is fuwounded by walls on the water fide of hewn Rone and on other parts of brick, from 30 to 40 feet high ; the ditch es are 20 feet wide and (even deep. The town is completely within can non (hot from the harbour, which however is defended by strong bat teries. Without the walls of the town there are fever, forts or cas tles, all of which are well supplied with cannon. The Algerines are governed by a Dey, who is elected by the mil.- tary and poffelTes almost despotic power, tho’ he is nominally depend ent on the Grand Seignior or Sov ereign of Turkey. They have had wars with nearly ail the European powers. They dread the British, in consequence of the strength o: their fleet and the vicinity of Gib raltar, more than any other nation. The Spaniards, who are their near neighbours, have had many bloody conflicts with them, in which the Barbarians have generally had the advantage. The celebrated Charles Vth, Em peror of Germany and King of Spain, invert and Algiers in 1.541 with a powerfu nt -. of 120 (hips, and an army of 30,600 chosen troops: But a dreadful (Ur n la ving destroyed more tiun two thirds of his fleet, fit e army re: mut ed and reenibarked with prodigious loss. In 1556 the Spaniards were totally defeated by the Algerinos with the lols cf their commander and 12,000 prisoners. The French Admiral M. B au lieu was sent against them in i6jt with a fleet of 50 men of war ; ”he Algerine fleet at that tirngpirnounf ed to 40 fail of large (hips—The French Admiral defeated tlmm, took two cf their veffels', and the Algerine Admiral funk his ship & crew rather than fall into the hands of his enemy. In 1620 the British sent a strong squadron against Algiers, which however returned without effe&mg any thing. About the middle of the \ 7th century, the Algerine fleet was completely destroyed by the Vene tians in a pitched battle with the loss of 3, 000 prisoners—they foon s however, had another fleet. I he town of Algiers in i632 & 1683 was bombarded by a strong French squadron under Admiral Du quenfe until it was reduced to & heap of ruins and the pirates com pelled to sue for peace. The Spaniards attacked it In ”75’ by land and sea, but were repuifed with great loss, though they bad near 20,000 foot and 2,000 horse, 47 (hips and 346 traniporis In 1783 and 1784 they renewed their attacks, but were forced to retire without success. The Naval force of Algiers at present is said to confill of, 1 Frigate cf 50 Guns mea x do. 46 ditto 460 2 do. 44 ditto 45c eack 1 do. new 38 ditto 400 2 corvetts 24 each 500 1 do. 22 230 2 brigs 22 each 450 i xebeck 20 200 1 schooner 4 * 40 x row galley 50 6 gun boats, (loop riged, carry* ing 1 24 pounder, and one 11 inch mortar each. The heaviest cannon on board their frigates are 18 pounders. Such is the force of this nest o 5 pirates, who set at defiance the laws of nations and of humanity who now hold in iron bondage fe vers! American prisoners, tfusietf
