The commodore, being ahead with the signal flying at the masthead, "jwepareto anchor;1' but scarcely had the signal been run up, when a boat was discovered coming off with great speed, and a man standing up waving his hat. The signal for anchoring was annuled, and another to tack ship, hoisted in its stead. We all tacked and backed our * main yards for the boat. She soon reached the commodore; * and in the boat was Mr. Shaler, our consul, who told the commodore, as our ships were seen entering the Bay, he had received a message from the captain of the port, advising him to go himself, or send a messenger to prevent the ships from approaching within gunshot of the batteries, as the Dey had declared that he would fire upon them if they anchored within his limits.
"For," said he, "I have been deceived once, and am determined not to be deceived again." We stood out beyond gunshot range, and anchored. Exmouth's fieet had been gone only a few days, and everything was in great confusion on shore. The Dey alluded to the manner in which Lord Exmouth had brought his ships close into the mole, and commenced firing while the negotiation was pending. The particulars of this bombardment I was fortunate enough to obtain in England, and as it must be interesting, to any one, to learn that this abominable nest of Pirates have received from Lord Exmouth a severe chastisement, and also, of the subsequent total destruction of this Piratical government. It will be recollected, that a few months since, when we left Port Mahon, with the Ferdinand, that Lord Exmouth, with the Boyne, 90, and 5 ships of the line, sailed for Algiers.
After our treaty had been accepted and signed by the Dey, the British consul represented to the 1 Dey, that the treaty with the Americans was on much more favorable terms than that with his Majesty's government, and earnestly requested that certain alterations might b3 made, that England might stand on as favorable terms as any other great nation. To this the Dey replied, ihat in the treaty with the United States, he had relinquished the gunpowder, which he much regretted, and considered it unjust in the American President, to insist on withholding the powder as one of the articles of the treaty; and he therefore could not relinquish it from the British treaty. The English consul told him that his Majesty's government had many more ships, and much larger, than those of the Americans, and could bring a strong force at any time against him.
The Dey very indignantly turned away, saying, "very well, let them come; I am ready for them." And when Lord Exmouth's fleet appeared in the offing, the consul waited upon the Dey, informing him of the arrival of his Lordship, who had come for the purpose cf ransoming the Christian prisoners. The consul endeavored to draw his attention to the ships, as they could easily be seen from the castle, thinking, possibly, that their formidable appearance might have some effect in a renewal of the treaty. It was reported that some English officers while passing the Dey's palace, did not, as was customary with all who passed, lift their hats. The guard, on noticing this omission of respect, stepped out, and motioned to these gentlemen that they must touch their hats, which, on their refusing to do. a soldier raised his hand to lift the hat himself, the officer put out his arm to keep the Algerine off, when the latter with his ciincter made a blow at him, and cut off a part of his hand.
This was a commencement of hostilities, which the English account, which I now give, will fully explain. It was also reported, that when Lord Exmouth arrived at Gibraltar only a few days after the above insult, the officers and English residents of the garrison, severely censured his lordship for not resenting the insult immediately, by tiring upon the City; and on his arrival in England, much indignation was expressed towards him throughout the country, particularly by the admiralty, who ordered him to Portsmouth, and 5 1 there to select what number of ships he wanted, and go immediately back, and retrieve his own, and the honor of his country. Here follows the English account, which commences from Gibraltar bay; the fleet having been fitted with unusual dispatch, and arriving at Gibraltar bay, Wednesday, 1-ith August, 1816.