Christendom; a reproach
the greater, as it is founded upon a low, selfish, illiberal maxim of
policy. All the powers that border on the Mediterranean, except France
and Tuscany, are at perpetual war with the Moors of Barbary, and for
that reason obliged to employ foreign ships for the transportation of
their merchandise. This employment naturally devolves to those nations
whose vessels are in no danger from the depredations of the barbarians;
namely, the subjects of the maritime powers, who for this puny
advantage, not only tolerate the piratical states of Barbary, but even
supply them with arms and ammunition, solicit their passes, and purchase
their forbearance with annual presents, which are, in effect, equivalent
to a tribute; whereas, by one vigorous exertion of their power, they
might destroy all their ships, lay their towns in ashes, and totally
extirpate those pernicious broods of desperate banditti. Even all the
condescension of those who disgrace themselves with the title of allies
to these miscreants, is not always sufficient to restrain them from acts
of cruelty and rapine. At this very period four cruisers from Algiers
made a capture of an English packet-boat, in her voyage from Lisbon, and
conveyed her to their city, where she was plundered of money and effects
to the amount of one hundred thousand pounds, and afterwards dismissed.
In consequence of this outrage, commodore Keppel was sent with seven
ships of war to demand satisfaction, as well as to compromise certain
differences which had arisen on account of arrears claimed of the
English by the dey of Algiers. The Mussulman frankly owned, that the
money having been divided among the captors, could not possibly be
refunded. The commodore returned to Gibraltar; and, in the sequel, an
Algerine ambassador arrived in London, with some presents of wild beasts
for his Britannic majesty. This transaction was succeeded by another
injurious affront offered by the governor or alcayde of Tetuan to
Mr. Latton, an English ambassador, sent thither to redeem the British
subjects who had been many years enslaved in the dominions of the king
of Morocco. A revolution having lately happened in this empire, Mully
Abdallah, the reigning ruffian, insisted upon the ambassador's paying a
pretended balance for the ransom of the captives, as well as depositing
a considerable sum, which had already been paid to a deceased pacha;
alleging, that as he, the emperor, received no part o