" And after that, our seamen, every time an Algerine frigate took fire, or any of the batteries were destroyed, gave a loud cheer. I began to have more courage, and jumped up now and then, to the lower deck, to see what was going on; so, for the rest of the action, employed myself in passing the empty powder boxes to the magazine; because I found it more agreeable than watching; the doctor. " 1 observed with much astonishment, that during all the time Of the battle, not one seaman appeared fatigued, nor lamented the dreadful continuation of the fight; but on the contrary, the longer it lasted, the more cheerful and pleasant they were. " Notwithstanding, during the greater part of the battle, the firing was most tremendous on our side, particularly from this ship, the firing of which was kept up with equal fury, which did not cease, though bis Lordship in several instances wished to cease firing for a short time, in order to make his observations; and it was with great difficulty he could make the seamen stop for a few minutes.
'• Several of the a'uns were so hot that they could not use them again; some of them being heated to such a degree, that when fired, they recoiled with their carriages with such force, that the trucks ploughed into the deck, and some were dismounted and rendered useless. "At eleven o'clock, P. ML, his Lordship having observed the destruction of the whole Algerine navy, and the strong;est parts of their batteries, with the city, made a signal to the fleet to move out of the line of the batteries; and thus with a favorable breeze we cut our cables, and as well as the whole squadron, made sail. Our tiring ceased at about half past eleven, when the action was over.
Mr. Stair, (the gunner,) came out from the magazine and said that he was about seventy years old, and that in his life he had been in more than twenty actions; but that he never knew or heard of any action that had consumed so great a quantity of powder as this. "After the ships had hauled out without any danger, (although the Aljxerines began to throw shells from the hig-her castles.) I went on to the poop to see his Lordship, and to observe the effect of our shot on the enemy's batteries, and to behold the destruction of their navy, which, at this time, with the storehouse within the mole, was burning very rapidlv. The blaze illuminated all the bav.
The town, with the environs, were almost as clear as in daytime; the view of which was awful and beautiful. Nine friffates, with a great number of gunboats, with other vessels, being all in flames, and carried bv the wind to different directions in the bay. " 1 observed with great surprise, how. in these nine hour's time, our shot had effected such horrible destruction in their batteries. Instead of walls, I saw nothing but heaps of rubbish, and a number of people dragging the dead bodies out. When I met his Lordship on the poop, his voice was quite hoarse, and he had two slight wounds; one on his cheek and the other on the leg. " On the morning; after the battle, Wednesday, 28th August Admiral Lord Exmouth wrote the following letter to the Dey:— To His Highness, the Dey of Algiers: Sir, — For your atrocities at Bona on defenceless Christians, and your unbecoming disregard to the demand I made yestcrday, in the name of the Prince Eegent of England, the fleet, under ray orders has given you a signal chastisement, by the total destruction of your navy, storehouses and arsenal, with half your batteries.
As England does not war for the destruction of cities, I am unwilling to visit your personal cruelties upon the inoffensive inhabitants of the country; and I therefore offer you the same terms of peace, which I conveyed to you yesterday, in my sovereign's name. Without the acceptance of these terms you can have no peace with England. If you receive this offer as you ought, you will fire three guns: and I shall consider your not making this signal as a refusal, and I shall renew my operation at my own convenience. I offer you the above terms, provided neither the British Consul nor the officers and men so wickedly seized by you, from the boats of a British ship-of-war, have met with any cruel treatment, or any of the Christian slaves in your power; and I repeat my demand, that the Consul, officers and men, may be sent off to me, conformably to ancient treaties. (Signed,) EXMOUTH.