How indeed can it be possible for people, so full of barbarous prejudices, to pursue any study, or encourage improvements, with their slavery and indolence! Letters expire when variety and activity does not give rise to an incessant renewal of ideas. It is true, I occasionally conversed with the secretary of state, Rais Hamida, and one of the Cadis; with the latter of whom, I might be said to have contracted a kind of friendship. I was also introduced to the Dey; but his gloomy aspect was both terrifying and repulsive. "Looks of affability should ornament the front of kings;" but that of his highness, was never adorned with a sentiment of joy or pity. An Arabic poet compares the prince to a sea, "which should be avoided while ruffled by storms; but when tranquil, you may fish in it for pearls."

I always felt a secret horror in walking through the narrow, dark, and filthy streets of this shocking city. The heart is oppressed, and the very soul shut up, as it were, in its tortuous windings: respiration itself was attended with difficulty and pain. When I reflected on the reign of barbarism and servitude which surrounded me; a contrast between meanness and servility; of trembling and degradation; of haughty despotism and cruel bondage; and considered the circumstance of being encompassed on every side, with suspicion, jealousy, and hatred; that I was every instant liable to insult, chains, and even assassination: all contributed to oppress the mind, and embitter the feelings, absolutely destroying the power of thought. I knew that there was still a possibility of the tyrant's changing his mind with respect to my liberty, particularly as he expressed feelings of regret, at having given me up so easily; it was thus that Sylla repented having left Cæsar alive, if great things may be compared to small. So I was neither secure nor tranquil: like the philosopher, who, living under the reign of a certain tyrant, every morning, when he awoke, put his hand up to feel whether his head was on his shoulders!

Christian Slavery in ALGIERS.-Its physical and moral Effects.-Observations on the Ransom and Liberation effected by the Expedition under LORD ExMOUTH.-Remarks on the various Accounts of BARBARY that have been hitherto published. -Object and Motives of the Author in laying his Account before the Public, &c.

THOSE who have ever been at Algiers, and witnessed, the fate to which Christians, falling into the hands of the barbarians, are condemned, cannot form any idea of that greatest calamity which fortune has in store for humanity; or into what an abyss of sorrow and wretchedness, their fellow creatures, thus situated, have been plunged. Even myself, who saw and proved it to a certain degree, in my own person, am at a loss for language equal to a description of what Christians feel and suffer, when precipitated into this dreadful situation.

No sooner is any one declared a slave, than he is instantly stripped of his clothes, and covered with a species of sack-cloth; he is also generally left without shoes or stockings, and often obliged to work bare-headed, in the scorching rays of an African sun. Many suffer their beard to grow, as a sign of mourning and desolation; while their general state of filth is not to be conceived. Some of these wretched beings are destined to make ropes and sails for the squadron: these are constantly superintended by keepers, who, carry whips; and frequently extort money from their victims, as the price of somewhat less rigour in the execution of their duty; others belong to the Dey's household; and many are employed by the rich Moors, who may have bought them at market, in the lowest drudgery of domestic employment. Some, like the beasts of burthen, are

employed in carrying stones and wood for any public buildings that may be going on: these are usually in chains, and justly considered as the worst among their oppressed brethren. What a perpetuity of terrors, series of anguish, and monotonous days, must not theirs be! without a bed to lie on, raiment to cover them, or food to support nature! Two black cakes like those already alluded to, and thrown down, as if intended for dogs, is their principal daily sustenance; and, had it not been for the charity of a rich Moor, who left a legacy for that purpose, Friday, the only day they are exempted from work, would have seen them without any allowance whatever. Shut up at night in the prison, like so many malefactors, they are obliged to sleep in the open corridor, exposed to all the inclemency of the seasons. In the country they are frequently forced to lay in the open air; or, like the Troglodite of old, shelter themselves in caverns. Awoke at day-light, they are sent to work with the most. abusive threats, and thus employed, become shortly exhausted under the weight and severity of their keepers' whips.

Those destined to sink wells and clear sewers, are for whole weeks obliged to be up to their middle in water, respiring a mephitic atmosphere: others employed in quarries are threatened with constant destruction, which often comes to their relief. Some attached to the harness in which beasts of the field are also yoked, are obliged to draw nearly all the load, and never fail to receive more blows than their more favoured companion the ass or mule. Some are crushed under the falling of buildings, while others perish in the pits into which they are sent to be got rid of. It is usual for one and two hundred slaves to drop off in the year, for want of food, medical attendance, and other necessaries; and woe to those who remain if they attempt to heave a sigh or complain in the hearing of their inexorable master. The slightest offence or indiscretion, is punished with two hundred blows on the soles of the feet, or over the back; and resistance to this shocking treatment is often punished with death.

When, in marching, a poor slave is exhausted by sickness or

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fatigue, and the cruelty of his usage, he is inhumanly abandoned on the high road, to be insulted by the natives, or trod under foot by the passengers. They frequently return from the mountains with the blood trickling from their limbs, which are, together with their whole body, covered with scars and bruises. One evening towards dark, I was called to by a hoarse voice: on drawing nearer, I beheld an unhappy being stretched on the ground, foaming at the mouth, and with the blood bursting from his nose and eyes. I had scarcely stopt, struck with horror and apprehension, when, in a faint voice, the word "Christian! Christian!" was repeated. " For Heaven's sake have pity on my sufferings, and terminate an existence which I can no longer support!" "Who are you?" was my reply. "I am a slave," said the poor creature, " and we are all badly treated! An oldak of the militia who was passing this way, and happening to be near me``at the time, he exclaimed in an angry tone, dog of a Christian, how dare you stop the road when one of the faithful passes!' This was followed by a blow and a kick, which threw me down a height of several feet, and has left me in this condition."

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On another occasion the situation of a still more unfortunate slave, was equally calculated to excite my indignation and sympathy. He was sorrowfully seated under an old wall: at his feet there lay an immense load, under which he seemed to have sunk; his visage was pallid and meagre; with looks full of wildness, and eyes fixed on the ground, all expressing strong signs of premature age, brought on by grief and sufferings; raising his head, he seemed to become more agitated, and striking his breast and forehead several times, deep sighs seemed to relieve his mind from some internal paroxysm of despair. "What can be the matter, my friend?" said I, addressing myself to this unfortunate wretch. " Why all these signs of misery and distress?” "Poor Christians," he replied; "there is no help for them in this world! and their groans are not heard in Heaven. I was born in Naples, but what country have I? Nobody assists me; I am forgotten by all. I was noble, rich, and illustrious in the place of my

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birth; see how wretchedness and slavery can change the face of man. It is now eleven years since my sufferings began; during which time, I have in vain solicited the assistance of relatives and fellow creatures, but all to no purpose; there being no longer any one on whom I can place hope or reliance. To whom therefore can I turn my eyes for support? What have I done to deserve so much oppression and suffering?" After he had given vent to his feelings, I did my best to recommend patience, resignation, and hope. resignation, and hope. I also touched on: the promises of eternal reward to those who suffer here below with becoming fortitude. All this was answered with a forced smile, accompanied by a look, which spoke volumes, and proved the little use of attempting to console or reconcile man to his ill-fated sufferings. While mournfully withdrawing myself from a scene which could only add to the poignancy of my own lacerated feelings, without mitigating those of a fellow creature, already oppressed with more than he could bear; the last time of turning to the spot, saw him rolling on the ground, and with heavy sighs, lamenting his melancholy fate.

Although a price is set on each captive, that the whole may encourage a hope of freedom; yet, from the peculiar mode in which their liberation must be effected, this hope is almost unavailing. If after having obtained leave to exercise their trade, they acquire any property, they are not allowed to pay it for their ransom. Offers of this kind have always been rejected, on the ground of the Dey's being legal heir to all the property of his slaves: and frequently, in order to get possession of it a little sooner, this honorable revenue is anticipated by the owner's being dispatched.

Captivity is thus surrounded with aggravated cruelties, which seem to have no end. Their forlorn condition has been very properly compared to those spirits condemned to inhabit the house of darkness and despair: who, according to a popular writer, are constantly enquiring what hour of the day it is, and as often receive the terrific reply of eternity! It is not enough that they should groan