Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-10-22
MISCELLANEOUS.

O'cr which we gaze ana sign.
-
MISCELLANEOUS.
The following is letter, which has
been received by a Noble Lord, high
in Office. from the British Consul at Al
giers, r. N. st. John, Esq.
"algiers July, 7. My Dear Lord
AS you may like to have a correct
accoant of the strange events which
have been passing here, I write to say
that the French landed on the 18th
June, and advanced gradually till the
4th of July, when their batteries OPEN
ed on the Imperial Fort, upon which
the town depended. In six hours it
was SO knocked about that the Turks
abandoned and blew it up. Before
this took place, General de Bourmont
had sent TO request me to communicate,
IN my own.namc, with the Dey, respec-
ting some prisoners of War in Algiers,
saying also that he was DESTROYS Of see
ing me at his Head Quarters. felt it
my duty to decline both these requests.
After the Fort had been blown up in
the afternoon, the Dey sent for me.
found him in terrible state-the
whsle town in an uproar, all crying out
to me. as passed, to save them. At
the cntreaty of the Dey | went from
him to General de BoIrmont. with a
message desiring him to send in his con-
di'ions. The General received me
with all possible civility, and assured
that il the Forts and Palace were put
into his hands by the next morning,
the lives, property, and religion Of the
inhabitants, should be respected. The
Dey Of eoWs e acceded to these propo-
sale; and, indeed, had he refused, the
Batteries were already to recommsnce.
and general slaughter would probably
have followed, if the town had been
stormed by the troops.
"During the night of the 4th, the
town was in great confusion, from the
Dey being unable to persuade the peo-
pie that their lives and property would
he respected. He at length sent for
me, and told me, UNLESS you, as the
English Consul. assure them Of their
safety, they will not be induced to
yield, and the consequence must be
dreadful; but if you will do so, they
will believe your word, and be satisi-
ed
:" Immediately went among fhe peo-
pie, and gave them the desired assu-
rance, which at once satisfied them,
and restored order. then sent for
the French prisoners out Of the prison.
There were 100, including two cap
talns. which latter l took with me to
General de Bourmont, leaving the re-
mainder in the British Consulate
The hour fixed for the entry of the
French army was ten o'clock, but the
General. at my request, gave the Dey
two hours more TO remove his property
to his private house, where he now re-
mains. General Bourmont's Quar-
tiers are at the Palace, where think
he must have found above $50 millions
of francs.
Yesterday 1.-THE 6th) the Dey de-
sired to see me, and requested that
would procure him the means of quit
ting Algiers with his suite, consisting
OF 81 persons; and also asked as a IA,
vor, that | would take The management
OF his property in Algiers for the pre-.
sent. Iof course consented to both his
requests, and General de Bourmont has
promised him every facility for reno
wing to Leghorn, which is the place he
has chosen for his residence. The Ge-
neral has also restored him consider.
able part of his property, treating him
at the same time with much kindnes.
and;attsntion.
trust Government will think
have kept up the national honour in ha-
wing exerted myself with success, both
in protecting the Dey from his own ir-
rItated subjects in the first instance, and
by obtaining the assurance Of his safe
conveyance to Leghorn. In Justice to
the Dey it should be known, that, du-
Iing government Of many years, he
mas never committed single act OF
wanton cruelty or injustice.
In my interview with the Dey, at.
ter the French had entered the town. 7
had omitted to take off my sword, con-
trary to the usual custom observed in
his presence and on my explaining
that 1t was no want oil respect to him.
but only because there were so manv
officers in the streets, and / should be
remarked II without it, he replied, that
so far from being offended he would