The Sun.
London, England, 1816-10-12 00:00:00

THE CRUSADE OF ISM

LORD 'VISCOUNT EXMOUTH'S VICTORY REVIP.WED
AND EXAMINED, AND ITS BRILLIANT CUNSE-

QUENCES CONSIDERED.

/he good sense of .the British Nation soon pe-
netrates the veil of calumny and misrepresenta-
tion, the dissatisfaction, therefore, which mani-
fested itself on Lord EXMOUTH'S former arrival in
England passed quickly away. His Lordsbirfs
rapid and repeated communications front the
Board of Admiralty to Portsmouth—the sudden
equipment of the Squadron—the zeal, ability, and
perseverence, displayed by the Officers—and the la-
hour bestowed to complete the Expedition—created
an interest, and we thought the Noble Admiral's
fame was rising to its meridian. Public expecta-
tion soon after became so sanguine, that those
who felt authorized to excite • that feeling to a
certain extent, found themselves called on to re-
pies' its running to extreme, by pointing out the
difficulties, dangers, and great obstacles, which.
Lord Exmouth and his bold companions in ainis
had to encounter. The Lords of the Admiralty
had a full confidence in the thunder %chic:: they
had prepared, and in the science, skill, and va-
lour, of him whom they had chosen to direct the
slot to ; but even they were anxious: '• Who then'
could read the Gazette Extraordinary of the 16th
ult. without mingled sensations of surprise, joy,
and exultation, and, having triumphed in a gene-
ral contemplation of Lord Exmouth's braye and
seaman-like battle, wish to indulge in a closer
view of the abilities his Lordship displayed upon
this memorable occasion, and hold up his chit-
racter to praiie anti fame.
While the terms dictated by the Prince Regent
of England were discussing, in the Council Chum-
her of the Dey of Algiers, the British Squadron toss
standing under the walls of the Giaour's Capital.
Can tt more:interesting picture than the anchoring
our ships by tbeireeterns be imagined standing
in succession into the Bay before the-wind; their
'sails were clued up, and their progress was ar-
rested, with their broadsides within half pistol
shot of the enemy—at once exhibiting their tiers
of guns, and avoiding the possibility of being
raked. ' The solemn silence in which this imposing
operation was executed, astonished, but did -not
paralyse, the mind of the enemy. It was natural
to suppose the British Admiral would " furl sails,"
which would for the moment take all .the prime
seamen aloft; the Turkish guns were therefore
pointed to the rigging and yards, which were in-
tended to be beaten, with the gallant fellows
upon them, into the sea, while a force was des-
tined to hoard and get possission of the decks;
but Lord .Exmouth foiled this attempt to recoier
the opportunity they had let pass of mingling bis
fleet as it stood' into the Bay; he used Spilling
lines,* and did not even lower his topsail yards.
His fire therefore opened fully upon- thcpi,; and
swept their batteries with the 'impetuosity of a
whirlwind, while their first diseharge•waS Wasted
upon the unmanned rigging of our fleet t , 'teens
for a moment observe our good and great Chief ;
see him ascend the' high part of his :ship, end
wave to the crowd to disperse ; bear him give the
word to cheer the flag they were higher to -exalt,
and emblazon with the .rays of brightest glory---
a
continued battle of nine hours—morter
gnn-boats and rocket vesseli, with the squadron
disgorging their dreadful force upon the roe-7-the
wells and Ur masses of the enemy's batteries
fwiliug down—slayea swimming from the -gun-
boatsthe Admiral's ship almost burnt 'by the
flumes in which the lin-gest Algerine frigate 'was
enveloped, but bringing up by a brig whieh ere
bad sunk—and the Chief, our valiant Chief,lhrlce
wounded; and his coat cut from his Welt ; but the
pen which bestows such praise upon -e'very' body
but himself, does not even record these ca-
sualties, which would have gazetted the name
of the Junior -Officer of his Fleet. The ene-
my was silenced. The work was complete.—
Jheland wind which . the Noble Seameu .aOti-
eipated freshened up, when be withdrew his
ships complete in number as when he went
into battle ; be anchored in the Offing; morn- ,
ing dawned, and he and his fellow labourers be-
,held the fruit of their dangerous toil,, and then
enjoyed its blessings, The Foe was fallen, and
Christian. Slavery was abolished for ever !---AVere it
requisite to add to this outline of Viscount Ex-
tuouth's conduct and character, to perfect this sie-
sip for a truly great portrait,. I would tell you,
that his Lordship's cabin, his table, and his bid,
have been from that hour given up to cotoloirt,
cherish, and sustain, the Wounded of his ship.
Cikriteirlace, Oct.lo, Ittl6. 4.
Itopei tiled on this occasion to reader the tailitest.li4eL
tet be affected by the wind, pod Gadding them ice perfect tett-
dincsi to reset, inoirOdi at a aroareat's sieve.