Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-09-28
From the Democratic Press.
SKETCHES of THE BARBARy
STATES.
No. III.

ShE1 NItEO oE hs - AS&AAsA/<AAsA
STATES.
No. III.
Hamutfa Pacha commenced his ADM
nistration under the most favorable cir.
Ieumstances-He was at that period not
more than twenty FIVE years Of age, end
had already accustomed himseltto the
discharge, Of public duties, and had made
lbimself familiar with all. the necessar,
forms and pursuits of goyernment-He
Twas active and accounted brave officer
l-shrewd and comprehensive. possessing
geniusy Judgment and invention and was
remarkable for the prsnptness and deci.
lsion with which he managed public al
fairs. The energy and vigor of his adj
|mini stration, afforded to the Tunisian.
the best assurance Of tranquility and du'
ring a reign of upwards of thirty t"6
years that kingdom was preserved iron
Revolutions orinterual connections OF any
consequence.
The activity and eager desire OF the
Bey to acquire fame and wealth socn LED
HIM to organise his army aad navy, the
former with view of hecking the lhfiu
ence of the Afgerines, aad the latter 70
craise against the commerce of the Chris
titan states in the Mediterranean. The
first effort Of any note was made by a
descent on the Island of st. Pierre near
SARDINIA. by small squadron which sue.
jceeded in surprising the place and carry
ling away near one thousand OF its de.
lfenceless inhabitants into slavery. These
unfortunate creatures remained many
years in bondage, some we're released by
ransom aud exchange, but many of them
who were far advanced in life ended
Their days in that dreadful state Of igno'
jimmy. ,.
Notwithstanding the great efforts of
the Bey to insure the tranquility OF his
Kingdom b. an excess of vigilance, he
was not wholly exempt from partial in
!surrections, aud one which occurred to-
wards the close of his reign was marked
BY very alarming circumstances. In the
army which Cos listed OF 10000 men
were near 600O Turkish soldiers who had
left the territories of the Grand Signidr,
;and had enlisted at different periods in
the runisian Army. Iaese men com
posed the worst class of troops belonging
to the forces of the Ottoman Empire. q
had been dismissed from the service
without any provision being made fol-
them, and they accordingly joined the
troops on the Balbary coast, and were
prepared for any scenes OF tumult and
disorder. The knowledge Of the Greek
I&Turkish language Afforded ample occa.
sion forthe soldiers to organize their piars
without mourning any suspicion oil Their
intentions by the natives, whoonly spoke
the Arabic, according y.near 5000 I'ur-
kish soldiers arranged a, p all to destroy
the Bev and his officcps. seize upon tile
government and change its form by e.
lecting one of their Chiefs on the same
principal as that of Alters.
The plan however, was defeated by
The rapacity Of the Turks, who rushed
into the city, seized the fortress of the
Gaspa, and without waiting until all the
strong places had been secured, fell to
plundsring, breaking open shops and
committing every species OF excess and
cruelty. This afforded time to the Bey
whose Palace, strongly fortified, was a
league from Tunis, to colIec, sufficient
force capable of manning the out bate
riss, which soon commenced a brisk
cannona.le on the GaGpa The Turks
finding themselves b,+skly handled, and
having no order or regularity, soon het
from the ramparts-many tried to es.
cape, bat were overtaken by the cavalry
and destroyed. ond the revolution termi
mated BY the destruction of the greatest
portion of the insurgents.
The city Of Tunis is said to contain
near one hundred and twenty thousant
inhabitants. OF these near thirty thou
sand are Jews-the rest with the ex
ception Of aboat one thousand Greek, Ar
menian and European Christians, are al
Mahometans. The police of the city i.
Extremely we'll regulated and ever,
branch of trade, commerce or manuiac.
lures has chief OF Imon to whom all
disputes are referred Appeals from theil
decision are beard by the Bey, who at
tends daily IN the Hall of Justice, to de
eide on such civil and criminal cases a.
may be brought before him, and where
his immediate interest is not concerned
he decides justly. All places under go,
!vernment are bought, aud the hignes,
Fiddler without reference to talents or
qualification is the successful candidate.