MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT. 308 as premier; the Grand Rais, or admiral, who commands all the naval forces; the Caia of the Dey's palace, whose place he frequently supplies; the Aga of the camp; Commander in Chief of the army; the Coggia of horse, head general of cavalry; and Aga Baston, whose office is far from being the least consequential, as already mentioned. There are also four hojas, or secretaries of state; the oldest of whom superintends all the public accounts and expenditure, paying the military, &c. The second keeps a registry of imposts; the third notes all receipts into the treasury, and sums paid out of it; while the fourth is required to register the decrees, and public acts of his master with foreign powers. The last named officers are generally seated on the Dey's right hand, when in the hall of justice; and are thus in readiness to note the orders and decrees which may be given. The hojas seldom speak in the divan, but their advice is given very freely in private, and generally has great influence with his highness. Whenever a European consul goes to complain or enforce any claims at the Pascialick, the fourth hojas reads the article in question, which must be literally followed. If the claim is properly invalidated satisfaction is given on the contrary, should the affair rest on doubtful conjecture, or insufficient proof, it is rejected, and the subject is not renewed any more. In addition to the foregoing, there are eighty inferior hojas, each of whom has a particular charge. Some collect the tax on houses, others serve out the soldiers' bread, preside at the custom-house to receive duties, superintend military depots; two are stationed at the marine gate of the city, some are always near the Dey's person, while others constantly attend the ministers, and accompany the naval and military expeditions. Beside the above, there are also some other important officers of state, such as the Grand Doletro, or lord chief justice, whose seal is affixed to all treaties. The Mezovard, a species of lord mayor, who looks after the internal peace of the capital, going round the city every night: his report is regularly made to the Dey. He is chief inspector of prostitutes, from each of whom he exacts a tax; 304 MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT. and also superintends the butchers, who must all be Moors. The Checkebeld is charged with the repairs of the city and public works: it is also at this officer's house that the Moorish women are punished; and he is responsible for the care and custody of those captives whose rank or rather fortune may be sufficient to exempt them from working. Another officer, called the Pitremelgi, claims and takes possession of whatever belongs to the public or Dey, either by death or other cause: he must on this account be informed of all deaths; and in order that they cannot be concealed from his knowledge, his permit is necessary, before any corpse can be taken to the burying ground, there being a subaltern stationed at each gate to receive these written permissions. The Dragoman, or interpreter of the palace, is generally a Turk, and obliged to be well versed in the Arabic; after explaining the contents of all letters to the Dey, he is to deliver his highness a Turkish translation of them. He also seals all dispatches, and other documents before his master, who never signs any papers himself, but has a seal with his name engraven on it, applied by the Dragoman. The Rais, or captain of the port, is obliged to visit all vessels previous to their sailing, to see that no slave is concealed on board: he decides any disputes that may arise amongst the ships in the mole, and reconnoitres along the coast every evening before sun-set. These ministers are not regularly paid; but as they do not serve for honour, it is natural enough for them to adopt other modes of levying contributions on the public: it is this which makes all the Dey's officers the very emblems of venality and extortion. Independent of gratuitous presents, and these are never refused, there are regular charges made in all transactions with public offices, called Usanza, equivalent to old established custom; and, as amongst the beggars, a douceur once given by any stranger, is sure to be levied on all those who come after him. Unlike the more conscientious ministers of other countries, there is not the least fear of prosecution against those who present a statesman of Barbary with a compliment either in money or jewels. He neither hesitates to receive the prof MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT. 305 fered favour, or is apprehensive of being thought indiscreet for his condescension. Like a lady who once praised a ring which she saw on a gentleman's finger. "It is at your service," said he. "I accept it," was her reply; upon which he rejoined, “Ah, madam! you are going to banish gallantry from the world!". I knew many of these official gentlemen: some were thrust into power by conspiracy and cabal, others had crept into place by grovelling and servility. The door which leads to fortune is small, and cannot be entered without stooping; while posts of eminence may be compared to certain trees, the tops of which none can reach except eagles or reptiles. "I was frequently in the habit of meeting the Michelacci, who certainly possessed some talent; but to a violent disposition, he added the most repulsive manners, and unconquerable obstinacy. The Cadenaggi did not enjoy either much favour or authority at court; this preying on a proud spirit, rendered him morose and melancholy: he constantly complained of illness, but did not know his disorder, it was that of suppressed ambition. The Grand Doletro had been formerly chief purveyor to the army, and from this, some idea may be formed of his legal knowledge; nor would an epigram which was applied to the counsellor of a prefect, during the domination of the French in Italy, be altogether inapplicable to this luminary of the law. Consigliere è fatto Tizio: The person appointed to be military governor of the city during my stay there, had never served a single campaign, or even joined the armies on active service. The Prince de Ligne having heard that such a one had been made a general, observed, "Rather say he was nominated!" Omar, who afterwards became Dey, was, in point of *This is from the author's collection, which is very extensive, and justly celebrated all over Italy, for brilliancy of wit, and acuteness of judgment.-Ed. R R 306 MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT. judgment and penetration, an exception to them all, if I except an old hojas, who had for some time officiated as first secretary to Ali Bassà. It often occurred to me, that this man was a renegado, but he would never confess it. During the seven years Ali reigned, the ministers were changed three or four times. The Pascialick in those days, resembled an European court, in which the intrigues of courtiers and favourites gave rise to so many changes of ministry, that an old duchess, who frequently paid her devoirs, used to stop the carriage at some distance from the door, and send her laquais forwards to enquire, if Mr. *** was still in office? The old admiral had survived two Deys, and floated over no less than four revolutions. This success in the art of keeping his place, was derived from the profound cunning and inexhaustible flexibility of his character. A slave to circumstances, the pliant tool of each ruler, and weather-cock of every blast, the winds seemed to be his only guide. But some will ask, was it his fault if they were variable? The celebrated Vicar of Bray, to whom so many modern politicians bear a very exact resemblance, when upbraided for the versatility of his genius in accepting curacies from parties of the most opposite sentiments, replied in a tone of the utmost exultation,-"So far from deserving these reproaches, I am ever equal to myself; nor is it possible for any one to have displayed such unshaken consistency.— I was Vicar of Bray at first, am so still, and will die Vicar of Bray!" CHAPTER XVI. The Divan.-Its Character as a representative Body.-By whom composed.Mode of assembling.—Discussion, and Collection of the Votes.-Revenues. -The Beys.-Their Rapacity.-Dey's Policy with regard to them.-The Caids, and their numerous Oppressions.-Account of the Chiaux, or Dey's Messengers. Their Influence on the Multitude.-Reflections on Laws and Government.--Algerine Code.-- The Cudi.-- Their Appointment and Functions. Civil Process in Barbary.-Ignorance of the Judges, and novel Mode of deciding Causes.-Remarks and Anecdotes.--Criminal Process.- Punishment inflicted for various Crimes.-Consequences of Adultery and Infidelity in the Females.-Punishment of Treason.-Debtors.-How treated.—Anecdote of Ibrahim Dey.-Effect of the Dey's Personal Administration of Justice.-Anecdote of Cheban Dey.-Defects of the Algerine Law.-Excessive Severity of some Punishments.-Police Regulations of ALGIERS.-Nightly Patroles.-Espionage and Informers.-Subterfuges of arbitrary Power.. WHEN I name the Divan of Algiers, let not the reader imagine any thing like the Chamber of Deputies in France, and still less a British Parliament. The people of Barbary have no idea whatever of national representation, or that balance of political power, and mixed government, so tempered, that it is capable of uniting liberty with order; and in which the best guarantee of popular rights is found in the royal prerogative; where, by a rational respect for the power and dignity of the crown, the surest barriers are opposed to tyranny and oppression; where the people are associated with the government, to watch over their own immediate interests, and promote the common safety; where, in fine, the tempestuous passions being |