The National Register. — London, England, 1816-08-05 00:00:00

EXPEDITION TO ALGIERS. THE importance of the Expedition which has lately sailed for Algiers will, we hope, be a sufficient excuse for our indulging a few speculations closely connected with that event. The wars of the present nations of Europe are conducted in a matter much more conformed to the dictates of humnnity, than those whose records comp ose the annals of Judea, Greece, and Rome. Though there are instance.; among the Romans of mag nanimity towards their fallen enemies, which perhaps were never equalled—and though they sometimes ap peared to glory in the character " lenis in jacentem," yet in general we cannot give them .the praise of leaving their ferocity in the field; they looked upon their captive foes rather as guilty than unfortunate. For the truth of this we need only to appeal to the brutal horrors of their triumphal games, to the deaths of Pcrses and Jugurtba. These inhumanities were not the crimes of a few ; the civil laws bear witness that they were the acts of the tvhole nation. The doctrine of their lawyers was, that the lives of the vanquished having been preserved by the victor, he had an undoubted right to that which he had spared, and that consequently the conquered were at the absolute disposal of the conqueror. This fallacious rea soning condemned the captive to a perpetual and merci less slavery. But, owing to the mild influence of Chris tianity, and the gradual extension of a well-directed phi .losaphy, this doctrine is exploded by all the States of the civilized world. Certain writers of the most extended views, building on the foundations of common reason and justice, have erected a system ofjurisprudence relating to the rights and duties and intercourse of individual States. The intrinsic merits of these works have gained for them the appellation of " The Laws of Nations." By these it is ordained, that a proclamation of war should pre cede hostility: that prisoners should be treated with kindness, and, at the end of the. war, should be restored to their country—if not previously ransomed, &c. Two of the nations professing to observe these laws are as much bound by them, as two individuals of the same country are bound by its municipal constitutions : but for one of these States to observe them, in its relations with another which disclaims them, is as ridiculous, as for an English merchant to expect his insolvent creditor in France to submit to the bankrupt Laws. This is the relation in which we stand with the Algerines ; and, if we act towards them in this way, our Expedition will be of little use. To attempt to treat with them is absurd . we should distinguish between a civilized nation and a horde of Pirates. _ The Algerines, without any of the virtues, are tainted with all the vices of barbarians. The American Indians, though n 9 savages, are more unpitying and relcanlcss. Though in war they have no discrimination either of age or :ea—yet they are bound by treaties; nay, they respect them with a punctuality which may shame a people of far higher pretensions. But Algerines arc both cruel anti treaelicrons. They appear to consider treaties merely in the light of pit-falls for those States who are so simple as to think they have any obligation. It by a hi-lad' of the most solemn compacts, they are al,le to to!ce.advantage of some unsuspecting nation which observes them, they count the infringement not a viola tion of good faith, criminal in the highest degree; but a kind of ?use de perm not only justitiable but praise m unity. Such is the nation (if it deserve the name) with which we are at war ; or rather, such are the rub bers whom we are to punil:ll. We hope their punish merit will be such as absolutely to incapacitate them, for some time at least, to do further mischief. No reason of commercial policy should any longer induce us to permit these daring corsairs to prowl along the shores of the Mediterranean, to destroy or interrupt the intercourse of nations. They should 110 longer be permitted to .cuuti- ationalt AttiOttr+ Our tiing, Ooniititution anb MONDAY, AUGUST 5, .1816. nue their trade of rapine and slanghte, or to defy from their citadels both our threats and our attacks. Yet this will still ba the case, if things are not differ ently managed from what thity have hitherto been. They must be expelled from the sea-coast, bar our Expedition will be of no permanent benefit. To say they must be exterminated, would be too much like a proposal of their own; but their removal from the spot on which they are now seated, is necessary to the safety of commerce, and to repel from ourselves tho charge of aniuiescing in their piracies. And while we are mentioning this, we are aware that we were formerly not charged with being merely accessaries, but principals. Jolsannes Boterus, in his tract " De Regno Anglin," published in the reign of Elizabeth, speaking of the revenue of the English Mo narchs, says,—" But in our times their Kings have found another mode of 'filling their coffers; namely, by the fifth part which is paid to the Crown by those who have a li cence of committing piracy on the sea-coasts of Spain, and the new world. They act, says he, like the Viceroy of Algiers, who receives Pirates 'on condition of having part of their booty." Anti Philippus Honorius, in his account of England, written about the same time, says, " Here is the Isle of Wight, the country tethet Francis Drake (I)niconis), the famous Pirate, the son of a fish erman, who infested, by his many piracies, not only the shores of Spain, but the whole Empire of the Catholic King. He took upon himself the name of Drake ( Draco), which is a kind of serpent. Whence the people of' Dun kirk built a large ship, which they called the Dog (Dog gett), intimating, that by this Dog, they would hunt and perhaps seize the Drake (Draconem)." Our ma dors will be scarcely more diverted at the writer's ridi culous mistake, than at his insolence in representing the illustrious hero, Sir Francis Drake, merely as a notorious Pirate. MEETING at the CITY of LONDON T.4VER.V. A very numerous meeting took place on Monday at the City of London tavern, to take into c:)nsideration t h e pre sent distressed state of the lower dames, and the most ef fectual means of extending relief to ilacni. About halt past one o'clock the Duke of York entered'and took the chair, supported on his right by the Dukv at' Kent, and on his left by the Duke of Cambridge. ti' vra+ sortr-oailied on his entrance by the Archbishop of Cartertntry, • ließtshop of London, the Duke of Rutland, Lord slans:rs, the Coancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Wilberforce, and other distinguished in dividuals. _ _ _ His Royal highness the Duke of York immediately proceeded to open the business of the meeting by observing, that as the gentlemen then rosemOled together had done him the honour to place him in the chair, it became his iluts to state the object they were then rolled upon to consider. He should do this in a very few woo ds not merely from a conscious ness of his owe inability, hut from a belief that many were to follow him on the same subject who were fully competent to the task. The meeting had been called to consider. and as far as possible to alleviate, the present distress and sufferings of the labooring classe , - of the rominnuity. 'These distresses were, he feared, too well known to all who heard him, to requiire any de scription ; and all that he had to add to the bare statement of them was the expression alias r , infidence, that the liberality which had !wen so signally manifested In the cause of foreign distresses, would not lief:mind to by wanting when the direction of it was to be towards the comfort and relief of' our country men at home. (Laud apple, km. Mr. Carter, the secretary to the association of the year 1812, then read a part of a report drawn iy uy a committee of that society : it is stated, that the society, though with very in adequate funds, had product - 41 very extensive good by °canna nicating activity to local henevuiesice, and by furiiishing a mo del upon which country nu:etings anti the snbseriptions and efforts of particular districts might be ins mud, and brought into a state of efficient operation. 'Phi upipaliesace of the room. which was crowded beyond all example, interupttd !lie reading of the report ; aud, at the request of the Duke of Cambridge, Mr. Carter desisted. The Duke of Kent said, he regretted much that it had not been in the power of the genti , :taaa who had just sat down to gain the nth. atiou of the meeting, and he attributed it en tirely to the weakness of his lungs; becanse, if tke whole had been heard, he was sure that it would have e .evinced every body of the correctness of the c iews originally entertained by the association of , Isitt, aid of the diligence with which they haul been punned. The society had noel with lunch opposition; it had been objected to them, that their objects were not pa triotic, bin palaical. 11 , brava to stair, Ilia! the late Mr. Whitbread !tad been so perfectly satis6ei of the futility ..f these objections, that he had in the most public and candid manoer acknowledged that his first intorpssi..os had beet) errotwoh,, and he became acme in join:sag has eserdous with those of the institutiou. Much dal he lament, oecause lie knew the value of his assistant e, and row freely it watilii luaus. been alfirded, Cie react of it on this *erasion. The plaln acid ()fluid princi ple noon whirl that society was f emelt, was, died those who bad the 03t41116 Should etuilliiitito it due piopurtioii to the relief of these %VII'. had tio means at fail. Tilt I Uilditioll of the country at tlini period, the artaal calamity which pressed upon It, were such *a- t. proelluee JWCloll.4l4l4,sad ever IMMO- PIIICE 9'd. rection. At present no such consequences had taken place; and yet he would venture to state, that in many parts of the kingdom, the sufferings which it was now their object to alle viate had at no former period been exceeded. With respect to the causes of this distress, that presented a question into which it was not necessary to inquire. with a view to their im mediate purpose. immediate object was to raise a fund, in the subsequent accumulation ,and managemeut of which, many ulterior arrangemeots might be projected, and from which charity might soon emanate in a thousand directions. He doubted not that every county and every ta svii would bo quick to imitate the example of the metropolis. The associ ation M lel2 had, at least, the merit of producing this effect, and hail spread through the whole land, that spirit of actiyo benevolence which he was feebly invoking on this occasion. He trusted that it was urccssary for him to say but little more to ensure the adoption of the resolution which he should have the honour to propose. He confessed be felt gratified wheu he saw vi. great a concourse of his countrymen aseerubleil to gether for such a purpose, and additional gratification at seeing by whom they were supported. On his left, in the chair, he 1 . 41/1111 an illustrious relative of his, who was always forward in works of beneficence, and never forgetful of the interests of the lower orders. Near bin, sat an illustrious Duke, whose character was equally high in the country. On his right he beheld the chief dignitary of the church, to whose high and excellent qualities it was impossible for hint to do adequate justice; and around him were many, whose station in society, whose ranks as members of the legislature, and whose public character and talents, were well calculated to advance and en sure success to their common object. He could not bid 're mark likewise, that the presence of a gentleman hi,h in his Majesty's council,: (the Chancellor of the PAcheiluer) wus a satisfactory pledge that the purpose they contemp!ated had the countenance and sanction of government. lie wag sure, them that he should not plead in vain to the motional liberality; but that a remedy would be promptly offered to en evil, which he trusted would be found but temporary. If they should be foitud so happy us but to succeed in discovering new sources of employment, to sniesly the places of Heim- channels whirls had been suddenly shin up, lie should indeed despond if we did not soon restore the eamitry to that same flunnshiuY cuudi lion which hr-1 long mode her the rusty of the world. It would be imprJper for him ta trespass longer; he had dis close !itil his shale of duty, and Mid-only to read the first reso lution h was proposed t.. 7 submit to their consideration. The resoletitm was then read. and 5545 iu N111”14111:e, " Tll4l the sod-1. , • transition from a state of extensive warfare, to 4 .ymein of peace, has been productive of a stagnation of cm limyment, and a revs sion of trade, deeply adertiog many ( laser,' of the community,aud producing, iu particular districts, litany tustrocet,Ufgreat todisi luat &dress." This adilres., was received with enthusiastic appiatie. Mr. Hannan seconded the resolution, and expressed his cordial coocuurence with all the observations of tto. Was trioos mover. A Persun then addressed the meet;n_ from the lutra and of the b all,4E dud bego.ted to express his opinion, that the gloom and despondency which at present seemed to bans oser the country acre unworthy of the diameter of Eng-F.4loer. or of the glory they had acquired by the arduous strucgle which they had su successfully surmounted. When a -celebrated an cient republic was CIOSCIy lit'Sie4ed and vigorously attacked by superior forces, the ground upon which the eirmy's encamp ment WAS fixed teas sold at public Rllrtioll, and fetched as high a price as if it had then been in the quiet oeouration of its owner. Why, then, ought we to fear under the present cir cumstances? Hannibal was not at our gates. Exertions com paratively small would be entficient to extricate no from alt our difficulties. If be were allowed to refer at all to the eause of these difficulties, lie should not hesitate. to ascribe them all to a sudden and aulaokol-for reduction of the eirculatim , " medium. It mi4lit not be easy to Mid a sofficient remedy; but he was convinced that this was the single root of all the eel which now cast a transient cloud over the knil. All that they had to du at prez.amt, and all that it was,peimittedthein to do, was to confute their effints to the raitie.atiou of individual distress; and, instead of inJulgiaga spirit of unnecessary despondency, :towel er grateful it always was to an Englishman to be told that he seas ruined, look forward to the natural resources, 1111:411%, and enmity of the canopy, as the certain aud-ocerly sources of a deliverance from its present burdens. This speech was heard with a mixture of applause .and faction. •-------- Lord Cochrane then offered himself to the attention . of the me etiti:l and was received with a loud clainout ; lit Willett it was impossible to distiliguish whether timse tsbe hi es . ed or those who shouted approbation constituted flit majority. Having succeeded in gainiug a hearing, lie stated. that lie slmuld nut have trespassed on their attention, but for a par tirillar purpose width had occurred to Lis mind. Arthe the snuuuons which be 114. h-trio veil. be should have deemed it a de reliction of his duty to have abstained frow mot:ding, awl Ise ruse now became he saw tio miser indivithiai prepared to de liver his opinions. What be desired to impress upon the minds of those allWll be hail the honour to address Vat, that the pre liminary resolution w hich had Oven .read Lyanillustriuni Dok” was altnisether Minicled in fallacy. could not he treks , ascribed to any sadden transition from war to peace. Coisti it be pretended that it W 41.8 peace which had neeasi o ised the fall in the value of all agricultural produce? or could any man venture to assert that ale difficulties and 144 ii . of the manufacturing classes Lid out.. other cause than a prodigious and enormous.: burden of taxation? Ltlkd Vidavyj. Hr was h giatilieil at eeeing the Royal Duke- so active in promoting a generous and lallifiAble undertaking ; and he Lop. d to sttuold out he understood as treating them with disres:iert, whim lie repeated that the resolution wits founded ni au emit e fallacy. Bat net to content himself with a mere assertion of his own belief, he had brought official documents to prove the ourectuess of his statements; and if lie Omni.. be wrong, i.e saw the Caancetlor of the Exchequer near him, Who vs ouldhax.e the opportunity uf correcting his maim epi est 'nation. kJ noon \, A \I. ~J\r.t J`~ !it J9L No. 443.—V0L. IX. POLITICAL DISQUISITION.