Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-04-26


1t consisted os six men of war and twelve
ships hired OF the merchants, under the
command ~ Sir Robert Manseli. then vice
ADMIRAL of England. On the 27,h Novem-
Der he anchored before the town of hlgiers
ana saiuted, without receiving single gun
IN answer. The next dag the admiral sent
white Aag, 10 inform the viceroy Of the
cause OF his coming The admiral receiv-
eo Tor answer that the grand seigner had
gwen orders TO use the English with res
pect, aud TO furnish them with such provi"
SONS as they wanted. The algerines, how
ever. refused To- dismiss the officer who car
ned the Hag Of truce, unless an English cou.'
sal was left at Algicrs. The admiral per-
suaded an English sailor toput on asnit
OF good clothes and pass for consul. The
cheat not being discovered, they sent forty
English slaves on board the admiral, and
promised him satisfaction. rs to the other
demands. Upon which he sailed for the
spanish coast. But it was only to prepare
LOT another attempt upon Aigiers.
In May, after receiving fresh supplies
from England, they sailed from the island
OF Majorca, and upon the 2lst snchored be
fore Aieiers. Two ships were filled with
combusti5les and prepared with graphing
irons, besides three smaller vessels which
were purchased at A!icant, and vessel
nled with sunpowjer. With these they
meant to set fire 70 all the Algerinc shipping
IN the mole. On the oath fresh gale from
the south west favored their design, the
ships advanced towards the mole, but when
within musket shot of the mole head it grew
SO Calm that tbey could not enter. 1t was
bright moon light, and finding themselves
discovered, they resolved to proceed. A
christian slave deserted from the Algerincs,
and informed the English that the shipping
III The mole was all deserted by the Turks.
hey entered the mole with their fire ships,
out performed little or Uothins, ane retired
with the loss of six men. In the month of
. June they had returned to England,
Upwards of forty years after this, viz. in
1c6l, the English fitted out strong force
nhder the command of the earl of Sandwich,
In order to deter the Algerines from search
ing English ships. They arrived before the
city July 90, and sent capt. Sprang on shore
with orders to bring of the British consul,
which was done. Mr. Brown, the consul,
brought off the answer Of the Dey to the
British demand, viz. Thai the govern.
ment OF Algiers would consent to no peace.
without the night ofsearehing British ehi.hs :"
And Immediately threw a boon across the
entrance of the mole, and erected several
new works for their defence The cannon
aiding commenced on both sides. and after
the town had received much damage, the
wind proved contrary. and the British were
Obliged to come OF
The next attempt of the English was
more successful.
This conduct ofthe English. feeble and
treacherous, only stimulated the Algernes
to continuance Of hostilities. In 1870 a
squadron was sent into the Mediterranean
under q rms nd DcC 4
to silence the pretensious OF the Agerine
he continued to cruise several days before
the city OF Algiers, and negociatiou was
carried on, till the Admiral. finding that the
Aigerines would net consent TO reasonable
terms, he sailed with six trigaIes and three
hre ships towards the har5or of Bnpia.
wnere ne learnt there were assembled a.
considerable number of Corsairs. He ar
rived before the harbor with the loss of two
OF his hre ships but not discouraged, he
broke the boom at the entrance of the har.
Dor, under FIRE of the castle, drove the ship
ping on shore, burnt seven &c their men of
war, mounting from "a to 81 guns, aud des.
troyed three prizes. Near 1ordeIlis he fell
in with another of their ships of war, and
destroyed her.
These and other losses, caused such po-
pular disturbances in Aigiers, that they
'''". $3.50 nc ICY dijtt CotCiuueQ peace
to the satisfaction ofthe English on the 9Th
day OF December. This expedition made
strong and lasting impression on their fears.
and the English commerce was left unno-
Tested.
We have now seen the pride of Spanish
armadas. and the dupicity of English ne.
gociation, and we are brought in the course
OF our narrative, to the scien iic and mas
terly conduct OF Lewis XIV. In 1851, This
monarch formed the design to curb the in
science OF the Algerines. Colbe,,, his poiF1e
minister, introduced to the notice of the
King, young man Of genius, named Ber-
nard Regnaud, and who was afterwards of
1nhaite service in the Improvement of the
art OF ship-building. This man proposed q
new scheme for building vessels that should
sdalit OF a discharge Of bombs The King
looked upon his proposal as an indefe asjbe |
one, as It was the first attempt of the kind. |
But Regnadd. acquiring the favor of Col
bert, that minister prevailed upon the king |
TO le' him try the experiment. And accor. |
dinghy rive vessels were constructed under |
the direction of RegDaud. These new con.
.structed vessels, urder The direction If Du-
quesne, sailed on this expedition, and ON the |
2sth Of October, 1851, they appeared be. |
fore Algiers and bombarded the town. The |
result answered the most sanguine expecta |
tons, nearly two thirds of the town being !
destroyed
In 1852, Lewis equipped another Aeet. |
and aPaD botnbarded tte Mo-. ,,,k.. - |