Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-08-23
A MEMOIR.


Upon the necessity and tbe 5ractica6iHtv Of mt
ing az end to the pirdcies Of the BGr5ery
Presented at Vienna, for the consideration ofthe
Congress in August, 1914, by SIR s .diey
Smith, president of the confederation Of
knights.
Translated from the Levden Political Journal.
for the Boston Daily Advertiser.1
FIRST PART.
While the means IF ~efectjng the abolition OF
the trade in the Negroes on the western coast OF
Africa are under discussion, anil Eurnpe is at.
tempting to extend the benefits of commerce.
and of security Of person aud properly 10 the in
terror of that vast continent inhabited bv a people
Mid, industrious and capable ofe,ioviug N he
highest degree the advantages Of CIV cation, IL
IS astonishing that no attention is given 10 The
northern border OF that same country, inhab tel
by pnatical Turks, who not only op9r<ss the n
tives of their vicinity, but take them byf rec. or
purchase them as slaves, to employ them in Their
cruising vessels, TO tear from theirhones IN. hynest
laborers, the peaceful inhabitants of the shores of
Europe. This shameful piracy is not only re-
voting to humanity, but it letters in
the most injurlens manner, since no mariner can
at the present aynavigate the Mediterranean or
even the Atlantic, without fear of beng seized
by these pirates, and carried into African slave
~.
The government of Algiers is composed ofth
officers of an ortG or regt. of revol ed Iansslr:es
and soldiers, who DO not pretend even in ap-
pearance to acknowledge the authority Of the
ottoman Porte, which vet does not acknowledge
their independence. The dey is ALWAYS that one
OF the officers ofus ort1 who IS most distinglI sh-
ed for his cruelty. He maintains himself at the
head OF the regency or divan, by cnrichlng his
adhereuts; that IS by permitting all kinds of vio-
lence IN Africa, and piracies by sea against the
weaker European nations, or hose whose imme.
date vengeance he does not fear.
Even the Ottoman flag is not sufficient TO pro-
tect her Gfecian subjects, and to place them in
security against the attacks Of The Algerine cor
sairs. Lastly, h edey, either from a caprice of
cruelty, o. from the barbarous pol CIV of destroy.
ing the ofhis rivals of Tunis and T'rl.
poh, has captured the cargoes OF some vessels Of
the Archipelago, and cfEgypt loaded with corn,
which had fallen into his power.
The Pacha OF Egypt in his just anger, arrest
cd all the Algerne5 whom he found in his
states, and demanded IN van a restitution ofthe
cargoes uniustly Sc. led by the dey Of Aig,ers.
The Ottoman Porte saw with md .gnation and
anger, that q revOlted vassal dared 10 perm t .cts
the most outrageous, the most a~trOciajls against
his peaceful subjects, VIII. ch impeded a COM
mcrce which he more than ever needed, 10 pay
the troops Of The Pachas, employed on the cast
ern frontiers ofthe Ottoman empire, torres st tile
Wachabites and other numerous A abIan tribes,
who are constantly by Their inrolds threatening
tue existence of that totterlag government
On the other hand Europe IS interested IN sup
port the OttOm n government, as a recognized
sovereignty, and as a power which can RESTRAIN the
pachas and revolted beys, andprevent them from
committing praces Ike Aigers. Tins interest
Of Europe IS increased BY the NECESSITY in WI Oh
she IS often found, OF importing The corn OF the
black sea or OF the Nile, m one Of which cpui-
tries there is always an abundance, since the un-
t%avoraD.c seasons IN the north Of the Ottoman
territory, are always couuterbalanced By a good
season VI tic same year in the south, and Uice
versa.
Butifa Barbarian, calling himself an iadcpend-
ent prince, but not recognized as such by tic
Ottoman sultan, his legitimate severe, gD, can, at
viii threaten alarm, and capture the Greeks,
and the mariners OF The small European states,
who alone carry on when the
vessels of the great powers, do not find sufici-
emily profitable TO be pursued, because they can
not navigate their vessels At so small an expense;
If this audacious chief can, when he thinks f.,
Intercept the cargocs oil corndestined to Europe,
the civilized nations are by this fact, dependent
on achief Of robbers, who to insult them, can
augment theird stress, and even in a time Of scsr-
city, subject them 30 anime. .
Thus tie barbarian has a formidable means of
eXtorting money from the christian princes he
threatens them, IS he has done Sicily, with put
ting to death those Of their subjects who have
fallen into their powers his known cruelty, rcn.
derng has menacee yeJy formidable, becomes a