" The Dey with whom the treaty with the English, American and Dutch was made, was named Omar Pashaw. He was between forty-five and fifty years of age, of a short make, and about five feet six inches in height, and well shaped; but his appearance was altogether savage, and his malevolent and violent spirit, marked by an exterior coldness and apathy. He could neither read nor write; was a native of Mytilene in the Archipelago, and came from thence to Algiers as a common soldier, but being a brave one, was promoted to Bulook-Bashlike, to Beeng Bashlike the former captain of a company. The latter, captain of a thousand, afterwards, in the year 1813, at the revolution at Oran, he was created by his predecessor, Hagi All Pashaw, Aga, or chief of the Janizaries, in consequence of having distinguished himself by his bloody and ferocious cruelty, (which was not less than that of his said predecessor, of whose horrid acts we give a full account,) in the execution of the Bey of Oran, under the following shocking circumstances: " The Bey of Oran was born there, of a Turkman and an Algerine woman.
Being of rather a good character, he was elected by the inhabitants to be their governor. After some time the former Dey, Hagi Ali Pashaw, came to the throne; and being of a very bloody disposition, had committed many shocking crimes, such as beheading people without any reason, seizing property, plundering and taking away other men's wives and daughters, &c., &c, and his troops had followed the same example. At last all the inhabitants of the kingdom became tired of these horrid acts. In the vcar eighteen hundred and thirteen, the Bey of Oran being very popular, and having observed the misconduct of the Dey, consulted with his uncle, (his mother's brother, who afterwards betrayed him,) to declare himself with the people against Hagi AH Pashaw, and to drive all the Turks from the kingdom and to make their government free and hereditary like those of Tunis and Tripoli.
After his uncle had agreed with him, he wrote to the Tunisians to come to his assistance, and promised them that he would annul the annual tribute, ( paid by the Tunisian government to that of Algiers,) and would then remain a friend to them forever. These proposals were accepted by the Tunisians, who were very glad to drive the Turks out of the Barbary coast. They made their preparations, and marched from one part, and the Bey of Oran from another, towards the city of Algiers. Hagi Ali Pashaw, on hearing of this conspiracy, began to make his preparations, but being too late, had not time to oppose both armies, and was obliged to call off his troops, and to keep himself within the city, notwithstanding he and his people had lost every hope.
Observing his dangerous situation, he thought of sending a letter to the uncle of the Bey of Oran, promising him great things if he would put an end to this rebellion. The Bey unfortunately succeeded in introducing himself among the army of Oran without being discovered, and delivered the letter to the treacherous uncle, who believed the false promises of the Dey, and began to manage his nephew, (who wholly relied on him.) And instead of bringing the army of his nephew to unite with the Tunisians at the opposite place, he changed the route so as to keep one body apart from the other, and sent a private message to Hagi Ali Pashaw to come to Buch a place, (where lie intended to remain, together with the army all night,) and Beize them in the early part of the morning.
The Bey of Oran, at the same time having suspected something of his uncle's perfidious management, deemed it proper to turn back towards Oran again, and secure his uncle, who was on his guard, and fled to Algiers. "After the Bey of Oran had returned to his residence, as well as • the Tunisians, without having met each other, the Dey of Algiers sent the Aga of the Janizaries, our present Dey, with the uncle of the Bey of Oran, to blockade the city of Oran, and to bring him the head of the unfortunate Bey. " This expedition, by the instigation of the traitor's uncle, (who was afterwards beheaded,) was successful. The town was surrendered without fighting, and the Aga of the Janizaries took possession of it, when the Bey could not escape, but was arrested with all his family, except twTo of his sons who were out of town, and were lucky enough to escape to Malaga, in consequence of which the Spanish Vice Consul and the merchant before mentioned, were unjustly arrested, one after the other, as has already been explained.