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"The whole, (says Lord Exmouth in his dispatch) was conducted in perfect silence, and such a thing as a cheer I never heard in any part of the line; and that the guns were well worked and directed, will be seen for many years to come, and remembered by these barbarians for ever." Not an officer nor man confined his exertions within the precise limits of his own duty all were eager to attempt services, which I found more difficult to restrain than excite." The modesty of the commander has left his own actions to be related by others; and they have met with a truly liberal encomiast in his brother-admiral of the Dutch squadron. "Till nine o'clock (says Van Capellen) Lord Exmouth remained with the Queen Charlotte in the same position, in the hottest of the fire, thereby encouraging every one not to give up the begun work until the whole was completed, and thus display. ing such perseverance, that all were animated with the same spirit. Shortly afterwards, the Queen Charlotte, by the loosening of the burning wreck, being in the greatest danger, we were, under the heaviest fire, only anxious for the fate of our noble leader; but, upon offering him the assistance of all the boats of the squadron, his reply wasThat having calculated every thing, it behoved us by no means to be alarmed for his safety, but only to continue our fire with redoubled zeal."

The loss sustained in such an action, could not but be very considerable compared to the magnitude of the armament. It amount

ed, in the English fleet, to 128 killed, and 690 wounded. Among these was a full proportion of officers, but none of high rank were in the list of killed. The Dutch numbered 13 killed, and 52 wounded: Grand total 883. A summary of the destruction incurred by the enemy, enumerates four large frigates of 44 guns; five large corvettes, from 24 to 30 guns; all the gun and mortar boats, except seven; several merchant brigs and schooners; a great number of small vessels of various descriptions; all the pontoons, lighters, &c.; the store-houses and arsenal, and a large quantity of different marine articles. Their loss in killed and wounded is computed at between 6 and 7000; but this was probably much beyond the reality.

Although the close of the combat seemed to display a determined spirit of resistance on the part of the Algerines, its events were so decisive, that they fully justified the British commander in assuming the tone of a conqueror. Accordingly, on the following day, Lord Exmouth dispatched a letter to the Dey, the tenor of which was, to represent the atrocities committed at Bona, and the disregard with which the demands made in the name of the Prince Regent had been treated, as the motives for that signal chastisement which had been inflicted upon him-to offer him the same terms of peace as before; but with the proviso, that neither the British consul, nor the detained naval officers and men, should have been treated with cruelty, and that they should be sent off to the

fleet

fleet and to require a signal for his acceding to these conditions, without which his lordship would renew his operations at his convenience. After a consideration of three hours, the token of acceptance, the firing of three guns, was heard; and a conference was held on board the flag-ship, with two persons empowered by the Dey, in the presence of the Dutch Admiral, and Admiral Milne and Captain Brisbane. On the 30th,

:

Lord Exmouth announced to his fleet the signature of peace, under a salute of 21 guns, on the following conditions: The abolition, for ever, of Christian slavery the delivery, to his Lordship's flag, of all slaves in the domninions of the Dey, to whatever nation they may belong, at noon to-morrow to deliver also, to the same flag, all money received by him for the redemption of slaves since the commencement of this year, at noon also to-morrow: reparation to be made to the British Consul for all losses he may have sustained in consequence of his confinement: a public acknowledgment to be made by the Dey, in presence of his ministers and officers, and pardon begged of the Consul, in terms dictated by the Captain of the Queen Charlotte. On Sept. 1st, his Lordship had the satisfaction of informing the secretary of the Admiralty, that all the slaves in the city of Algiers and its immediate vicinity were embarked; as also 357,000 dollars for Naples, and 25,000 for Sardinia.

After the treaties had been negociated, it came to the knowledge of Lord Exmouth, that two Spaniards, one a merchant, the

other, the Vice-consul of that nation, were still held by the Dey in rigid custody, on pretence that they were prisoners for debt. His Lordship's inquiries satisfied him, that the confinement of the Vice-consul was without just grounds; and that the merchant was confined for an alleged debt, on account of a contract with the Algerine government, which had been forced upon him, and caused him to be used with great severity. He therefore thought himself authorised to demand the release of these persons, on the article in the treaty for the liberation of all Christian prisoners; and on requesting it from the Dey, he offered himself as guarantee for any sum which the merchant should be found indebted to his Highness. This application being rejected, his Lordship proposed, that they should be freed from irons, and suffered to quit their dungeons, and be placed in the custody of the Spanish consul. The peremptory refusal of this request likewise, was considered by Lord Exmouth as bringing to issue the question of the continuance, or the total abolition, of Christian slavery, and he determined to decide it without delay. Demanding a positive answer, yes or no, respecting the release of the two Spaniards, with the assurance of immediately commencing hostilities in case of a negative, his firmness produced the desired effect, and the sufferers were discharged from their long and severe captivity. The noble Admiral, at his departure with his whole fleet on Sept. 3d, was gratified with the heart-felt triumph, that he had

not

not left a single Christian prisoner neral benefit of mankind, in

in Algiers.

Such was the termination of an enterprise, than which, perhaps, no one more truly honourable to the British navy and nation is recorded in the kingdom's annals. With an exertion of valour scarcely surpassed, it has exhibited an example of the rare moral merit, of national superiority employed for no interested purpose; but purely for the ge

putting down with a strong hand a system of rapacity and cruelty. With the generosity characteristic of Great Britain, she has performed this great public service entirely at her own expense; abandoning even the restitutions which her arms compelled to the sufferers; bargaining for no salvage or indemnity, but freely imparting what she gloriously gained.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER X.

Affairs of France.-Position of the Army of Occupation.-State of Things at Nismes.-Law of Amnesty.-Obsequies of Louis XVI. and his Queen.-Insurrectionary Movements at Lyons.-Disturbances at Tarrascon.-Plan of National Education.-Parties in the Legislature. -Declaration of the Majority in the Chamber of Deputies.—Establishment of the Duke of Berri.—Insurrection at Grenoble.-Malcontents at Paris. Tumult at Nismes.—Affair of the Abbe Vinson.—Dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies, and Convocation of a new one.Suppression of Chateaubriand's Work.—Ministerial Influence in the Election.-Anniversary in Memory of Marie Antoinette.-Opening of the Chambers, and King's Speech.-Conclusion of the Year.

N the beginning of this year, the right wing of the army of occupation in France began to extend its line further than the limits marked out by the treaty of Paris, from Charlemont to Amiens, in which last town an allied garrison was placed. This wing is stated as being composed of 25,000 English troops, 16,000 Russians, 5,000 Hanoverians, and 5,000 Belgians, all on a complete war establishment, with a proportionate reserve of artillery, always ready to march on a summons. These measures were thought to be adopted in concert with the French government, for the maintenance of order and tranquillity; and it could not be doubted, that in many parts of France, the minds of the people were inflamed by distresses and party divisions, threatening to break out into dangerous commotions. A royal ordinance, dated January 10th, gave, however, a favourable report of the state of

things at Nismes. In that town, it was said, the ordinance of November 21st had been received with respect and submission, and although the assassin of General Lagarde had not yet been apprehended, he had neither asylum nor protection there. The church of the Protestants was open, and they enjoyed all the security which was guaranteed to them by the laws. After so marked a return to order, the King would no longer postpone the revocation of the rigorous measures which had been drawn from him by necessity; he therefore by the present ordinance enjoined, that the troops in garrison, or quartered on the inhabitants of Nismes, should without delay be withdrawn, and distributed in the barracks, and in such parts of the department of the Gard as the Commander might judge necessary; and that the prefect should declare to the inhabitants of Nismes, that the King is satisfied with the zeal

with which they have concurred in the re-establishment of tranquillity and good order.

The long debated law of amnesty was at length passed, and was sanctioned by the royal assent on Jan. 12th. Its articles are stated in the following terms, in the Gazette Officielle.

Art. 1. A full and an entire Amnesty is accorded to all those who directly or indirectly took part in the rebellion and usurpation of Napoleon Buonaparte, saving the exceptions hereinafter named.

2. The ordinance of the 26th of July will continue to be executed with respect to the individuals named in the first article of that Ordinance.

3. The King can, in the space of two months from the promulgation of the present law, exile from France such of the individuals comprised in the 2d article of the said ordinance as he shall keep on it, and as shall not have been previously brought before the Tribunals; and in that case such parties shall quit France within the time fixed for them, and shall not return without the express permission of his Majesty, under pain of transportation.

The King may, in like manner, deprive them of all property and all pensions granted to them on grounds of favour.

4. The relatives of Napoleon Buonaparte, in ascending and descending line-his uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces; his brothers, their wives, and their issue; his sisters and their husbands, are excluded for ever from the kingdom. All are bound to depart therefrom in the space of one

month, under the penalties specified in the 91st article of the Penal Code. They cannot enjoy any civil right in France, nor possess any property whatsoever, any title or pension granted to them of favour; and they shall be bound to sell, within six months, all the property that they hold in France by purchase.

5. The present Amnesty is not applicable to those persons against whom prosecutions have been directed, or against whom judgments have been pronounced, prior to the promulgation of the present law; such prosecutions shall be continued, and such judgments executed conformably to the laws.

6. Are not comprised in the present Amnesty crimes or offences against individuals, at whatever period they may have been committed. The persons charged with such crimes may be always prosecuted according to the laws.

7. Those of the regicides, who, in contempt of a clemency almost boundless, voted for the Additional Act, or accepted offices or employments from the Usurper, and who, by so doing, declared themselves irreconcileable enemies of France, and of the lawful Government, are for ever excluded the realm, and are bound to quit it in the space of one month, under pain of the punishment enacted by the 33d article of the Penal Code. They cannot possess any civil right in France, nor any property, title or pension granted to them of favour.

On Jan. 20th, the anniversary service of the obsequies of Louis XVI. and his consort was celebrated at the Abbey church of St.

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