a kingdom of Africa, now one of the states of Barbary.—According to the latest and best computations, it extends 460 miles in length from east to west; but is very unequal in breadth, some places being scarcely 40 miles broad, and others upward of 100. It lies between Long. 0° 16' and 9° 16' W. and extends from Lat. 36° 55' to 44° 50' N.—It is bounded on the north by the Mediterranean, on the east by the river Zaine, the ancient Tufca, which divides it from Tunis; on the west by the Mulvya, and the mountains of Trava, which separate it from Morocco; and on the south by the Sahara, Zaara, or Numidian desert.

The kingdom of Algiers is at present divided into Division of three provinces or districts, viz. the caftern, western, the king- and southern. The eastern or Levantine government, which is by far the most considerable of the three, and is also called Beylick, contains the towns of Bona, Constantina, Gigeri, Bujejah, Steflia, Tebeif, Zamoura, Bifcarra, and Necanzz, in all which the Turks have their garrisons; besides which, it includes the two ancient kingdoms of Cuco and Labez, though independent of the Algerine government, to whose forces their country is inaccessible; so that they still live under their own cheyks chosen by each of their adowars or hordes. To these we may add a French factory at Callo, under the direction of the company of the French Bastion.—The western government hath the towns of Oran, Tremeecen, Moftagan, Tenez, and Secrely with its cattle and garrison.—The southern government hath neither town, village, nor even a house, all the inhabitants living in tents, which obliges the dcy and his forces to be always encamped.

The inhabitants along the sea coasts are a mixture of different nations; but chiefly Moors and Morefcos driven out of Catalonia, Arragon, and other parts of Spain. Here are also great numbers of Turks, who come from the Levant to seek their fortune; as well as multitudes of Jews and Christians taken at sea, who are brought hither to be sold for slaves. The Berebers are some of the most ancient inhabitants of the country; and are supposed to be descended from the ancient Sabeans, who came hither from Arabia Felix under the conduct of one of their princes. Others believe them to be some of the Canaanites driven out of Palestine by Joshua. These are dispersed all over Barbary, and divided into a multitude of tribes under their respective chiefs: most of them inhabit the mountainous parts; some range from place to place, and live in tents, or portable huts; others in scattered villages: they have, nevertheless, kept themselves for the most part from intermixing with other nations. The Berebers are reckoned the richest of all, go better clothed, and carry on a much larger traffic of cattle, hides, wax, honey, iron, and other commodities. They have also some artificers in iron, and some manufacturers in the weaving branch.—The name of Bereber is supposed to have been originally given them on account of their being first settled in some desert place. Upon their increasing in process of time, they divided themselves into five tribes, probably on account of religious differences, called the Zinhabigians, Muhammedins, Zenetzi, Hoares, and Gomeres; and these having produced 600 families, subdivided themselves into a great number of petty tribes.—To these we may add the Zwawahs, by European authors called Azagues, or Affagues, who are likewise dispersed over most parts of Barbary and Numidia. Great numbers of these inhabit the mountainous parts of Cuco, Labez, &c., leading a wandering pastoral life. But the most numerous inhabitants are the Moors and Arabians. The former are very stout and warlike, and skilful horsemen; but so addicted to robbing, that one cannot safely travel along the country at a distance from the towns without a guard, or at least a marabout or saint for a safeguard. For as they look upon themselves to be the original proprietors of the country, and not only as dispossessed by the rest of the inhabitants, but reduced by them to the lowest state of poverty, they make no scruple to plunder all they meet by way of reprisal. The inhabitants in general have a pretty fair complexion; they are robust and well proportioned. People of distinction wear their beard; they have rich clothes made of silk, embroidered with flowers of gold, and turbans enriched with jewels. The Turks, who compose the military force, have great privileges, pay no taxes, are never publicly punished, and rarely in private. The lowest folder dominics over the most distinguished Moors at pleasure. If he finds them better mounted than himself, he exchanges horses without ceremony. The Turks alone have the privilege of carrying firearms. Many good qualities, however, distinguishing them in spite of this excess of deformity. They never game for money, not even for trifles; and they never profane the name of the Deity. They soon forget their private quarrels: and after the first paroxysm of resentment is over, it is infamy for a Turk to keep in remembrance the injuries he has received. In this respect certainly they are less barbarous than other nations that boast of their civilization. See Moors.

The climate of Algiers is in most places so temperate, that there is a constant verdure; the leaves of the trees being neither parched up by heat in summer, nor nipped by the winter's cold. They begin to bud in February; in April the fruit appears in its full bigness, and is commonly ripe in May. The soil, however, is excessively various; some places being very hot, dry, and barren, on which account they are generally suffered to lie uncultivated by the inhabitants, who are very negligent. These barren places, especially such as lie on the southern side, and are at a great distance from the sea, harbour vast numbers of wild animals, as lions, tigers, buffaloes, wild boars, stags, porcupines, monkeys, ostriches, &c. On account of their barrenness, they have but few towns, and those thinly peopled; though some of them are so advantageously situated for trading with Bilbulgerid and Negroland, as to drive a considerable traffic with them.

The most considerable rivers of Algiers are, (1.) the River Ziz, which runs across the province of Tremecen and the desert of Anguid, falling into the Mediterranean near the town of Tabecrita, where it has the name of Sirut. (2.) The Haregol, supposed the Sign of Ptolemy, comes down from the great Atlas, crosses the desert of Anguid, and falls into the sea about five leagues from Oran. (3.) The Mina, supposed the Chlematis of Ptolemy, a large river, which runs through the plains of Bathala, and falls into the sea near the town of Arzew. This river hath lately received the name of Cena, who rebuilt the town of Barthalaw after it had been destroyed. (4.) The Shellif, Zilfe, or Zilfi, descending from the Mount Guanexeris, runs through some great deserts, the lake Tutteri, the frontiers of Tremecen, and Tenez, falling into the sea a little above the city of Moftagan. (5.) The Celef, supposed to be the Carthenea of the ancients, falls into the sea about three leagues west of Algiers, after a short course of 18 or 20 leagues. (6.) The Hued-alquivir, supposed to be the Natabata or Nejaba of the ancients, and called by the Europeans Zinganir, runs down with a swift course through some high mountains of Cuco, and falls into the sea near Bujejah. Whilst the city of Bujejah was in the hands of the Christians, the mouth of this river was so choked up with sand, that no vessel could come up into it: but in accident. Algiers, very soon after it was taken by the Moors, the great rains swelled it to such a degree, that all the sand and mud was carried off; so that galleys and other vessels have ever since entered it with ease, where they lie safe from storms, and all winds but that which blows from the north. (7.) Suf-Gemar, or Suf-Gimmar al Rummi, supposed to be the Amygdala of Ptolemy, hath its source in Mount Auras, on the confines of Atlas; thence runs through some barren plains, and the fruitful ones of Conitanta, where its stream is greatly increased by some other rivers it receives; from thence running northward, along the ridges of some high mountains, it falls into the sea a little east of Gigeri. (8.) The Ladag or Ludag, runs down from Mount Atlas through a part of Conitanta, and falls into the sea a little eastward of Bona. (9.) Guadi, or Guadel Barbar, springs from the head of Orbus, or Urbs, in Tripoli, runs through Bujeyah, and falls into the sea near Tabarca.

The Algerine kingdom made formerly a considerable part of the Mauritania Tingitana (see Mauritania), which was reduced to a Roman province by Julius Caesar, and from him also called Mauritania Caesariensis.—In the general account of Africa, it has been noticed, that the Romans were driven out of that continent by the Vandals; these by Belisarius, the Greek emperor Justinian's general; and the Greeks in their turn by the Saracens. This last revolution happened about the middle of the seventh century; and the Arabs continued masters of the country, dividing it into a great number of petty kingdoms or states, under chiefs of their own choosing, till the year 1551. This year, one Abuheber-len-Omar, or, as the Spanish authors call him, Abu Texefien, an Arab of the Zinagian tribe, being provoked at the tyranny of those despots, gathered, by the help of his marabouts or saints, a most powerful army of malecontents, in the southern provinces of Numidia and Libya. His followers were nicknamed Marabites or Morabites; by the Spaniards Almoravides; probably from their being assembled principally by the saints who were also called Morabites. The caliph of Kayem's forces were at this time taken up with quelling other revolts in Syria, Mesopotamia, &c. and the Arabs in Spain engaged in the most bloody wars; so that Texefien having nothing to fear from them, had all the succors he could wish against the Arabian cheyks or petty tyrants, whom he defeated in many battles, and at last drove them not only out of Numidia and Libya, but out of all the western parts, reducing the whole province of Tingitana under his dominion.

Texefien was succeeded by his son Yusuf or Joseph, a brave and warlike prince. In the beginning of his reign, he laid the foundation of the city of Morocco, which he designed to make the capital of his empire. While that city was building, he sent some of his marabouts ambassadors to Tremezen (now a province of Algiers), at that time inhabited by a powerful and insolent sect of Mahometans called Zeneti. The design of this embassy was to bring them back to what he called the true faith; but the Zeneti, despising his offers, assembled at Amat, or Amfa, their capital, murdered the ambassadors, and invaded Joseph's dominions with an army of 50,000 men.

The king hearing of their infamous proceedings, speedily mustered his army, and led it by long marches into their country, destroying all with fire and sword; while the Zeneti, instead of opposing his progress, retired as fast as possible towards Fez, in hopes of receiving assistance from thence. In this they were miserably deceived: the Fezzans marched out against them in a hostile manner, and coming up with the unhappy Zeneti, encumbered with their families and baggage, and ready to expire with hunger and weariness, they cut them all to pieces, except a small number who were mostly drowned in attempting to swim across a river, and some others who in their flight perished by falling from the high adjacent rocks. In the mean time Joseph reduced their country to a mere desert: which was, however, soon peopled by a numerous colony of Fezzans, who settled there under the protection of the reigning kings. In this war it is computed that near a million of the Zeneti, men, women, and children, lost their lives.

The restless and ambitious temper of Joseph did not let him remain long at peace. He quickly declared war against the Fezzans, reduced them to become his tributaries, and extended his conquests all along the Mediterranean. He next attacked some Arabian cheyks, who had not yet submitted to his jurisdiction; and pursued them with such fury, that neither the Libyan deserts, nor ridges of the most craggy rocks, could shelter them from his arms. He attacked them in such of their retreats, castles, and fortresses, as were till then deemed impregnable; and at last subdued them, to the great grief of the other African nations, who were greatly annoyed by the ravages committed by his numerous forces.

Thus was founded the empire of the Morabites: which, however, was of no long duration; that race being in the 12th century driven out by Mohavedin, a marabout. This race of priests was expelled by Ab-Sharifs of dulac governor of Fez; and he, in the 13th century, stripped of his new conquests by the sharifs of Hafzen, who, the descendants of those Arabian princes whom Abu-Texefien had formerly expelled.

The better to secure their new dominions, the sharifs divided them into several little kingdoms or provinces; and among the rest the present kingdom of Algiers was divided into four, namely, Tremezen, Tenez, Algiers Proper, and Bujeyah. The four first monarchs laid so good a foundation for a lasting balance of power between their little kingdoms, that they continued for some centuries in mutual peace and amity; but at length the king of Tremezen having ventured to violate some of their articles, Abdul-Farez, king of Tenez, declared war against him, and obliged him to become his tributary. This king dying soon after, and having divided his kingdom among his three sons, new discords arose; which Spain taking advantage of, a powerful fleet and army was sent against Barbary, under the count of Navarre, in 1505. This com-Algerine-commander soon made himself master of the important cities of Oran, Bujeyah, and some others; which so alarmed the Algerines, that they put themselves under the protection of Selim Eutemi, a noble and warlike Arabian prince. He came to their assistance with a great number of his bravest subjects, bringing with him his wife Zaphira, and a son then about 12 years old. This, however, was not sufficient to prevent the Spaniards. niards from landing a number of forces near Algiers that same year, and obliging that metropolis to become tributary to Spain. Nor could Prince Selim hinder them from building a strong fort on a small island opposite to the city, which terrified their corsairs from failing either in or out of the harbour.

To this galling yoke the Algerines were obliged to submit till the year 1516; when, hearing of the death of Ferdinand king of Spain, they sent an embassy to Aruch Barbarossa, who was at this time no less dreaded for his valour than his surprising success, and was then sent on a cruise with a squadron of galleys and barks. The purport of the embassy was, that he should come and free them from the Spanish yoke; for which they agreed to pay him a gratuity answerable to so great a service. Upon this Barbarossa immediately dispatched 18 galleys and 30 barks to the assistance of the Algerines: while he himself advanced towards the city with 800 Turks, 3000 Jigelites, and 2000 Moorish volunteers. Instead of taking the nearest road to Algiers, he directed his course towards Sharifel, where Haffan, another famed corsair, had settled himself. Him he surprised, and obliged to surrender; not without a previous promise of friendship: but no sooner had Barbarossa got him in his power, than he cut off his head; and obliged all Haffan's Turks to follow him in his new expedition.

On Barbarossa's approach to Algiers, he was met by Prince Eutemi, attended by all the people of that metropolis, great and small; who looked for deliverance from this abandoned villain, whom they accounted invincible. He was conducted into the city amidst the acclamations of the people, and lodged in one of the noblest apartments of Prince Eutemi's palace, where he was treated with the greatest marks of distinction. Elated beyond measure with this kind reception, Barbarossa formed a design of becoming king of Algiers; and fearing some opposition from the inhabitants, on account of the excellent he suffered his soldiers to commit, murdered Prince Eutemi, and caused himself to be proclaimed king; his Turks and Moors crying out as he rode along the streets, "Long live King Aruch Barbarossa, the invincible king of Algiers, the chosen of God to deliver the people from the oppression of the Christians; and destruction to all that shall oppose, or refuse to own him for their lawful sovereign." These last threatening words to intimidated the inhabitants, already apprehensive of a general massacre, that he was immediately acknowledged king. The unhappy princess Zaphira, it is said, poisoned herself, to avoid the brutality of this new king, whom she unsuccessfully endeavoured to stab with a dagger.

Barbarossa was no sooner seated on the throne, than he treated his subjects with such cruelty, that they used to shut up their houses and hide themselves when he appeared in public. In consequence of this, a plot was soon formed against him; but being discovered, he caused twenty of the principal conspirators to be beheaded, their bodies to be buried in a dunghill, and laid a heavy fine on those who survived. This so terrified the Algerines, that they never afterwards durst attempt any thing against either Barbarossa or his liege lords.

In the mean time, the son of Prince Eutemi having fled to Oran, and put himself under the protection of the marquis of Gomarez, laid before that nobleman a plan for putting the city of Algiers into the hands of the king of Spain. Upon this, young Selim Eutemi was sent to Spain, to lay his plan before Cardinal Ximenes; who having approved of it, sent a fleet with 10,000 land forces, under the command of Don Francisco, or, as others call him, Don Diego de Vera, to drive out the Turks, and restore the young prince. But the fleet was no sooner come within sight of land, than it was dispersed by a storm, and the greatest part of the ships dashed against the rocks. Most of the Spaniards were drowned; and the few who escaped to shore were either killed by the Turks or made slaves.

Though Barbarossa had nothing to boast on this occasion, his pride and insolence were now swelled to such a degree, that he imagined himself invincible, and that the very elements conspired to make him so. The Arabians were so much alarmed at his success, that they implored the assistance of Hamid el Abdes king of Tenez, to drive the Turks out of Algiers. That prince readily undertook to do what was in his power for this purpose, provided they agreed to settle the kingdom on himself and his descendants. This proposal being accepted, he immediately set out at the head of 10,000 Moors; and, upon his entering the Algerine dominions, was joined by all the Arabians in the country. Barbarossa engaged him, with only 1000 Turkish musqueteers and 500 Granada Moors; totally defeated his numerous army; pursued him to the very gates of his capital, which he easily made himself master of; and having given it up to be plundered by the Turks, obliged the inhabitants to acknowledge him as their sovereign. This victory, however, was chiefly owing to the advantage which his troops had from their fire-arms; the enemy having no other weapons than arrows and javelins.

No sooner was Barbarossa become master of the kingdom of Tenez, than he received an embassy from the inhabitants of Tremecen; inviting him to come to their assistance against their then reigning prince, with whom they were dissatisfied on account of his having dethroned his nephew, and forced him to fly to Oran; offering him even the sovereignty, in case he accepted of their proposal. The king of Tremecen, not suspecting the treachery of his subjects, met the tyrant with an army of 6000 horse and 3000 foot: but Barbarossa's artillery gave him such an advantage, that the king was at length forced to retire into the capital; which he had no sooner entered, than his head was cut off, and sent to Barbarossa, with a fresh invitation to come and take possession of the kingdom. On his approach he was met with by the inhabitants, whom he received with complaisance, and many fair promises: but beginning to tyrannize as usual, his new subjects soon convinced him that they were not so passive as the inhabitants of Algiers. Apprehending, therefore, that his reign might prove uneasy and precarious, he entered into an alliance with the king of Fez; after which, he took care to secure the rest of the cities in his new kingdom, by garrisoning them with his own troops. Some of these, however, revolted soon after; upon which he sent one of his corsairs, named Escander, a man no less cruel than himself, to reduce them. The Tremecenians now began to re- pent in good earnest of having invited such a ty- rant to their assistance; and held consultations on the most proper means of driving him away, and bringing back their lawful prince Abuchen Men; but their ca- bals being discovered, a great number of the conspira- tors were massacred in the most cruel manner. The prince had the good luck to escape to Oran, and was taken under the protection of the marquis of Gomarez, who sent immediate advice of it to Charles V., then lately arrived in Spain, with a powerful fleet and army. That monarch immediately ordered the young king a succour of 10,000 men, under the command of the go- vernor of Oran; who, under the guidance of Abu- chen Men, began his march towards Tremecen; and in their way they were joined by Prince Selim, with a great number of Arabs and Moors. The first thing they resolved upon was, to attack the important for- tress of Calau, situated between Tremecen and Algiers, and commanded by the corsair Escander at the head of about 300 Turks. They invested it closely on all sides, in hopes Barbarossa would come out of Treme- cen to its relief, which would give the Tremecenians an opportunity of keeping him out. That tyrant, how- ever, kept close in his capital, being embarrassed by his fears of a revolt, and the politic delays of the king of Fez, who had not sent the auxiliaries he promised. The garrison of Calau, in the meantime, made a brave defence; and, in a sally they made at night, cut off near 300 Spaniards. This encouraged them to ven- ture a second time; but they were now repulsed with great loss, and Escander himself wounded: soon after which, they surrendered upon honourable terms; but were all massacred by the Arabians, except 16, who clung close to the stirrups of the king and of the Spa- nish general.

Barbarossa being now informed that Abuchen Men, with his Arabs, accompanied by the Spaniards, were in full march to lay siege to Tremecen, thought pro- per to come out, at the head of 1500 Turks and 5000 Moorish horse, in order to break his way through the enemy; but he had not proceeded far from the city, before his council advised him to return and fortify himself in it. This advice was now too late; the inha- bitants being resolved to keep him out, and open their gates to their own lawful prince as soon as he appeared. In this distress Barbarossa saw no way left but to retire to the citadel, and there to defend himself till he could find an opportunity of stealing out with his men and all his treasure. Here he defended himself vigo- rously; but his provisions failing him, he took advan- tage of a subterraneous back way, which he had caused to be dug up for that purpose; and, taking his im- mense treasure with him, stole away as secretly as he could. His flight, however, was soon discovered; and he was closely pursued, that to amuse, as he hoped, the enemy, he caused a great deal of his money, plate, jewels, &c. to be scattered all the way, thinking they would not fail to stop their pursuit to gather it up. This strategy, however, failed, through the vigilance of the Spanish commander, who being himself at the head of the pursuers, obliged them to march on, till he was come up close to him on the banks of the Huerva, about eight leagues from Tremecen. Barbarossa had just crossed the river, with his vanguard, when the Spa- niards came up with his rear on the other side, and cut them all off; and then crossing the water, overtook him at a small distance from it. Here a bloody engagement ensued, in which the Turks fought like as many lions; but, being at length overpowered by numbers, they were all cut to pieces, and Barbarossa among the rest, by the Spaniards. In the 44th year of his age, and four years after he had raised himself to the royal title of Jigal and the adja- cent country; two years after he had acquired the sov- ereignty of Algiers, and scarcely a twelvemonth after the reduction of Tremecen. His head was carried to Tremecen on the point of a spear; and Abuchen Men proclaimed king, to the joy of all the inhabitants. A few days after the fight, the king of Fez made his ap- pearance at the head of 20,000 horse, near the field of battle; but hearing of Barbarossa's defeat and death, marched off with all possible speed, to avoid being at- tacked by the enemy.

The news of Barbarossa's death spread the utmost Succeeded consternation among the Turks at Algiers; however, Hayra- din caused his brother Hayradin to be immediately proclaimed king. The Spanish commander now sent back the emperor's forces, without making any at- tempt upon Algiers; by which he lost the opportunity of driving the Turks out of that country; while Hay- radin, justly dreading the consequences of the tyranny of his officers, sought the protection of the Grand Sig- nior. This was readily granted, and himself appointed bashaw or viceroy of Algiers; by which means he re- ceived such considerable reinforcements, that the un- happy Algerines durst not make the least complaint; and such numbers of Turks resorted to him, that he was not only capable of keeping the Moors and Arabs in subjection at home, but of annoying the Christians at sea. His first step was to take the Spanish fort above mentioned, which was a great nuisance to his metropo- lis. The Spaniards held out to the last extremity; but fort. being all slain or wounded, Hayradin easily became master of the place.

Hayradin next set about building a strong mole for the safety of his ships. In this he employed 30,000 Christian slaves, whom he obliged to work without in- termission for three years; in which time the work was completed. He then caused the fort he had taken from the Spaniards to be repaired, and placed a strong garri- son in it, to prevent any foreign vessels from entering the harbour without giving an account of themselves. By these two important works, Hayradin soon became dreaded not only by the Arabs and Moors, but also by the maritime Christian powers, especially the Spaniards. The viceroy failed not to acquaint the Grand Signior with his success, and obtained from him a fresh supply of money, by which he was enabled to build a stronger fort, and to erect batteries on all places that might fa- vour the landing of an enemy. All these have since received greater improvements from time to time, as of- ten as there was occasion for them.

In the mean time the sultan, either out of a sense of Succeeded the great services Hayradin had done, or perhaps out by Italian jealousy left he should make himself independent, Aga. raided Hayradin to the dignity of baihaw of the em- pire, and appointed Haffan Aga, a Sardinian renega- de, an intrepid warrior, and an experienced officer, to succeed him as baihaw of Algiers. Haffan had no sooner taken possession of his new government, than he began to pursue his ravages on the Spanish coast with greater greater fury than ever; extending them to the ecclesiastical state, and other parts of Italy. But Pope Paul III., being alarmed at this, exhorted the emperor Charles V. to send a powerful fleet to suppress those frequent and cruel piracies; and that nothing might be wanting to render the enterprise successful, a bull was published by his holiness, wherein a plenary abolution of sins, and the crown of martyrdom, were promised to all those who either fell in battle or were made slaves; the emperor on his part needed no spur; and therefore set sail at the head of a powerful fleet, consisting of 120 ships and 20 galleys, having on board 30,000 chosen troops, and an immense quantity of money, arms, ammunition, &c. In this expedition many young nobility and gentry attended as volunteers, and among them many knights of Malta, so remarkable for their valour against the enemies of Christianity. Even ladies of birth and character attended Charles in his expedition, and the wives and daughters of the officers and soldiers followed them with a design to settle in Barbary after the conquest was finished. All these meeting with a favourable wind, soon appeared before Algiers; every ship displaying the Spanish colours on the stern, and another at the head, with a crucifix to serve them for a pilot.

By this prodigious armament, the Algerines were thrown into the utmost consternation. The city was surrounded only by a wall with scarce any outworks. The whole garrison consisted of 800 Turks and 6000 Moors, without fire-arms, and poorly disciplined and accoutred; the rest of their forces being dispersed in the other provinces of the kingdom, to levy the usual tribute on the Arabs and Moors. The Spaniards landed without opposition, and immediately built a fort, under the cannon of which they encamped, and diverted the course of a spring which supplied the city with water. Being now reduced to the utmost distress, Hafsan received a summons to surrender at discretion, on pain of being put to the sword with all the garrison. The herald was ordered to extol the vast power of the emperor both by sea and land, and to exhort him to return to the Christian religion. But to this Hafsan only replied, that he must be a madman who would pretend to advise an enemy, and that the advised must still act more madly who would take counsel of such an adviser. He was, however, on the point of surrendering the city, when advice was brought him that the forces belonging to the western government were in full march towards the place. Upon which it was resolved to defend it to the utmost. Charles, in the meantime, resolving upon a general assault, kept a constant firing upon the town; which, from the weak defence made by the garrison, he looked upon as already in his hands. But while the dewan, or Algerine senate, were deliberating on the most proper means of obtaining an honourable capitulation, a mad prophet, attended by a multitude of people, entered the assembly, and foretold the speedy destruction of the Spaniards before the end of the moon, exhorting the inhabitants to hold out till that time. This prediction was soon accomplished in a very surprising and unexpected manner: for, on the 28th of October 1541, a dreadful storm of wind, rain, and hail, arose from the north, accompanied with violent shocks of earthquakes, and a dismal and universal darkness both by sea and land; so that the sun, moon, and elements, seemed to combine together for the destruction of the Spaniards. In that one night, some say in less than half an hour, 86 ships and 15 galleys Spanish were destroyed, with all their crews and military stores, by which the army on shore was deprived of all means of subsisting in these parts. Their camp also, which spread itself along the plain under the fort, was laid quite under water by the torrents which descended from the neighbouring hills. Many of the troops, by trying to remove into some better situation, were cut in pieces by the Moors and Arabs; while several galleys and other vessels, endeavouring to gain some neighbouring creeks along the coasts, were immediately plundered, and their crews massacred, by the inhabitants.

The next morning Charles beheld the sea covered with the fragments of so many ships, and the bodies of Algiers men, horses, and other creatures, swimming on the waves; at which he was so disheartened, that abandoning his tents, artillery, and all his heavy baggage, to the enemy, he marched at the head of his army, though in no small disorder, towards Cape Malabax, in order to reembark in those few vessels which had weathered the storm. But Hafsan, who had caused his motions to be watched, allowed him just time to get to the shore, when he fell out and attacked the Spaniards in the midst of their hurry and confusion to get into their ships, killing great numbers, and bringing away a still greater number of captives; after which he returned in triumph to Algiers, where he celebrated with great rejoicings his happy deliverance from such distress and danger.

Soon after this, the prophet Yulfs, who had foretold the destruction of the Spaniards, was not only declared prophet the deliverer of his country, but had a considerable reward. Gratitude decreed him, with the liberty of exercising his prophetic function unmolested. It was not long, however, before the marabouts, and some interpreters of the law, made a strong opposition against him; remonstrating to the bashaw, how ridiculous and scandalous it was to their nation, to ascribe the deliverance of it to a poor fortune-teller, which had been obtained by the fervent prayers of an eminent saint of their own profession. But though the bashaw and his down seem, out of policy, to give into this last notion, yet the impression which Yulfs's predictions and their late accomplishment had made upon the minds of the common people, proved too strong to be eradicated; and the spirit of divination and conjuring has since got into such credit among them, that not only their great statesmen, but their priests, marabouts, and fanteens, have applied themselves to that study, and dignified it with the name of Mahomet's Revelations.

The unhappy Spaniards had scarcely reached their fresh calyps, when they were attacked by a fresh storm, in mitts of which several more of them perished; one ship in particular, containing 700 soldiers, besides sailors, sunk in the emperor's sight, without a possibility of saving a single man. At length, with much labour, they reached the port of Buzyah, at that time possessed by the Spaniards, whither Hafsan king of Tunis soon after repaired with a supply of provisions for the emperor, who received him graciously, with fresh assurances of his favour and protection. Here he dismissed the few remains of the Maltese knights and their forces, who embarked in three flattered galleys, and with much difficulty difficulty and danger reached their own country. Charles himself stood no longer than till the 16th of November, when he set sail for Carthagena, and reached it on the 25th of the same month. In this unfortunate expedition upwards of 120 ships and galleys were lost, above 300 colonels and other land and sea officers, 8000 soldiers and marines, besides those destroyed by the enemy on the reembarkation, or drowned in the last storm. The number of prisoners was so great, that the Algerines sold some of them, by way of contempt, for an onion per head.

Hassan, elated with this victory, in which he had very little share, undertook an expedition against the king of Tremeceen, who, being now deprived of the assistance of the Spaniards, was forced to procure a peace, by paying a vast sum of money, and becoming tributary to him. The bashaw returned to Algiers, laden with riches; and soon after died of a fever, in the 66th year of his age.

From this time the Spaniards were never able to annoy the Algerines in any considerable degree. In 1555, they lost the city of Bujeyah, which was taken by Salha Rais, Hassan's successor; who next year set out on a new expedition, which he kept a secret, but was suspected to be intended against Oran; but he was scarcely got four leagues from Algiers, when the plague, which at that time raged violently in the city, broke out in his groin, and carried him off in 24 hours.

Immediately after his death the Algerine soldiery chose a Corican renegade, Hassan Corfo, in his room, till they should receive farther orders from the Porte. He did not accept of the bashawship without a good deal of difficulty; but immediately prosecuted the intended expedition against Oran, despatching a messenger to acquaint the Porte with what had happened. They had hardly begun their hostilities against the place, when orders came from the Porte, expressly forbidding Hassan Corfo to begin the siege, or, if he had begun it, enjoining him to raise it immediately. This news was received with great grief by the whole fleet and army, as they thought themselves sure of success, the garrison being at that time very weak. Nevertheless, as they dared not disobey, the siege was immediately raised.

Corfo had hardly enjoyed his dignity four months, before news came, that eight galleys were bringing a new bashaw to succeed him; one Tekelli, a principal Turk of the Grand Signior's court; upon which the Algerines unanimously resolved not to admit him. By the treachery of the Levantine soldiers, however, he was admitted at last, and the unfortunate Corfo thrown over a wall in which a number of iron hooks were fixed; one of which catching the ribs of his right side, he hung three days in the most exquisite torture before he expired.

Tekelli had no sooner entered upon his new government, than he behaved with such cruelty and rapaciousness, that he was assassinated even under the dome of a faint, by Yulef Calabres, the favourite renegade of Hassan Corfo; who for this service was unanimously chosen bashaw, but died of the plague five days after his election.

Yulef was succeeded by Hassan the son of Hayradin, who had been formerly recalled from his bashawship, when he was succeeded by Salha Rais; and now had the good fortune to get himself reinstated in his employment. Immediately on his arrival, he engaged in a war with the Arabs, by whom he was defeated with great loss. The next year, the Spaniards undertook an expedition against Moflagan, under the command of the count d'Alcandela; but were utterly defeated, the commander himself killed, and 12,000 men taken prisoners. This disaster was owing to the inconsiderate rashness, or rather madness, of the commander; which was so great, that, after finding it impossible to rally his scattered forces, he rushed sword in hand into the thickest of the enemy's ranks, at the head of a small number of men, crying out, "St Jogo! St Jago! the victory is ours, the enemy is defeated;" soon after which he was thrown from his horse, and trampled to death.

Hassan having had the misfortune to disoblige his subjects, by allowing the mountaineers of Cucu to buy ammunition at Algiers, was sent in irons to Constanza-Hassan sent to Constantinople, while the aga of the janizaries, and general in irons to the land forces, supplied his place. Hassan easily found means to clear himself; but a new bashaw was appointed, called Achmet; who had no sooner arrived than he sent the two deputy bashaws to Constantinople, where their heads were struck off.—Achmet was a man of such infatuated avarice, that, upon his arrival at Algiers, all ranks of people came in crowds to make him presents; which he the more greedily accepted, as he had bought his dignity with the money he had amassed while head gardener to the sultan. He enjoyed it, however, only four months; and after his death, the state was governed other four months by his lieutenant; when Hassan was a third time sent viceroy to Algiers, Reinstituted, where he was received with the greatest demonstrations of joy.

The first enterprise in which Hassan engaged, was Siege of the siege of Marfalquivar, situated near the city Oran, Marfalquivar, which he designed to invest immediately after. The army employed in this siege consisted of 26,000 foot and 12,000 horse, besides which he had a fleet consisting of 32 galleys and galliots, together with three French vessels laden with biscuit, oil, and other provisions. The city was defended by Don Martin de Cordova, brother of the count de Alcandela, who had been taken prisoner in the battle where that nobleman was killed, but had obtained his liberty from the Algerines with immense sums, and now made a most gallant defence against the Turks. The city was attacked with the utmost fury by sea and land, so that several breaches were made in the walls. The Turkish standards were several times planted on the walls, and as often dislodged; but the place must have in the end submitted, had not Hassan been obliged to raise the siege in haste, on the news that the famed Genoese admiral Doria was approaching with considerable succours from Italy. The fleet accordingly arrived soon after; but missing the Algerine galleys, bore away for Penon de Velez, where they were shamefully repulsed by a handful of Turks who garrisoned that place; which, however, was taken the following year.

In 1567, Hassan was again recalled to Constantinople, where he died three years after. He was succeeded by Mahomet, who gained the love of the Algerines by several public-spirited actions. He incorporated the janizaries and Levantine Turks together, and by that means put an end to their dissensions, which laid laid the foundation of the Algerine independency on the Porte. He likewise added some considerable fortifications to the city and castle, which he deemed to render impregnable. But while he was thus studying the interest of Algiers, one John Gafcon, a bold Spanish adventurer, formed a design of surprising the whole Algerine navy in the bay, and setting them on fire in the night-time, when they lay defenceless, and in their first sleep. For this he had not only the permission of King Philip II., but was furnished by him with proper vessels, mariners, and fireworks, for the execution of his plot. With these he set sail for Algiers in the most proper season, viz. the beginning of October, when most, if not all the ships lay at anchor there, and easily sailed near enough undetected, to view their manner of riding, in order to catch them unawares, at a time when the greater part of their crews were dispersed in their quarters. He came accordingly, unperceived by any, to the very mole-gate, and dispersed his men with their fire-works; but to their great surprise, they found them so ill mixed, that they could not with all their art make them take fire. In the mean time, Gafcon took it into his head, by way of bravado, to go to the mole-gate, and give three loud knocks at it with the pommel of his dagger, and to leave it fixed in the gate by its point, that the Algerines might have cause to remember him. This he had the good fortune to do without meeting with any disturbance or opposition; but it was not so with his men; for no sooner did they find their endeavours unsuccessful, than they made such a bustle as quickly alarmed the guard posted on the adjacent bastion, from which the uproar quickly spread itself through the whole garrison. Gafcon now finding himself in the utmost danger, failed away with all possible haste; but he was pursued, overtaken, and brought back a prisoner to Mahomet: who no sooner got him into his power, than he immediately caused a gibbet of considerable height to be erected on the spot where Gafcon had landed, ordering him to be hoisted up, and hung by the feet to a hook, that he might die in exquisite torture; and to show his resentment and contempt of the king his master, he ordered his commissary to be tied to his toes. He had not, however, hung long in this state, when the captain who took him, accompanied by a number of other corsairs, interceded so strongly in his behalf, that he was taken down, and put under the care of some Christian surgeons; but two days after, some Moors reporting that it was the common talk and belief in Spain, that the Algerines durst not hurt a hair of Gafcon's head, &c. the unfortunate Spaniard was hoisted up by a pulley to the top of the execution-wall, and let down again upon the hook, which in his fall caught him by the belly, and gave him such a wound, that he expired without a groan.

Thus ended the expedition of John Gafcon, which has procured him a place among the Spanish martyrs; while, on the other hand, the Algerines look upon his disappointment to have been miraculous, and owing to the efficacious protection of the powerful saint Sidi Oulededdah, whose prayers had before raised such a terrible storm against the Spanish fleet.

Mahomet, being soon after recalled, was succeeded by the famous renegade Ochali, who reduced the kingdom of Tunis; which, however, remained subject to the viceroy of Algiers only till the year 1586, when a bashaw of Tunis was appointed by the Porte.

The kingdom of Algiers continued to be governed, till the beginning of the seventeenth century, by viceroys or bashaws appointed by the Porte; concerning whom we find nothing very remarkable, further than that their avarice and tyranny were intolerable both to the Algerines and the Turks themselves. At last the Turkish janizaries and militia becoming powerful enough to suppress the tyranny of these bashaws, and the people being almost exhausted by the heavy taxes laid upon them, the former resolved to depose these petty tyrants, and set up some officer of their own at the head of the realm. The better to succeed in this attempt, the militia sent a deputation of some of their chief members to the Porte, to complain of the avarice and oppression of these bashaws, who sunk both the revenue of the state, and the money remitted to it from Constantinople, into their own coffers, which should have been employed in keeping up and paying the soldiery; by which means they were in continual danger of being overpowered by the Arabians and Moors, who, if ever so little assisted by any Christian power, would hardly fail of driving all the Turks out of the kingdom. They represented to the Grand Vizier how much more honourable as well as easier and cheaper, it would be for the Grand Signior to permit them to choose their own dey, or governor, from among themselves, whose interest it would then be to see that the revenue of the kingdom was rightly applied in keeping up its forces complete, and in supplying all other exigencies of the state, without any further charge or trouble to the Porte than that of allowing them its protection. On their part, they engaged always to acknowledge the Grand Signior as their sovereigns, and to pay them their usual allegiance and tribute, to respect their bashaws, and even to lodge and maintain them and their retinue, in a manner suitable to their dignity, at their own charge. The bashaws, however, were, for the future, to be excluded from afflicting at any but general douwans, unless invited to it; and from having the liberty of voting in them, unless when their advice was asked, or the interest of the Porte was likely to suffer by their silence. All other concerns, which related to the government of Algiers, were to be wholly left under the direction of the dey and his douwan.

These proposals having been accepted by the Porte, Algerines the deputies returned highly satisfied; and having notified their new privileges, the great douwan immediately proceeded to the election of a dey from among themselves. They compiled a new set of laws, and made several regulations for the better support and maintenance of this new form of government, to the observation of which they obliged all their subjects to swear; and the militia, navy, commerce, &c. were all settled pretty nearly on the footing upon which they now are, and which shall be afterwards described; though the subsequent alterations that frequently happened between the bashaws and deys, the one endeavouring to recover their former power, and the other to curtail it, caused such frequent complaints and discontentants at the Ottoman court, as made them frequently repent their compliance. In the year 1601, the Spaniards, under the command of Doria the Genoese admiral, made another attempt upon Algiers, in which they were more fortunate than usual, their fleet being only driven back by contrary winds, so that they came off without loss. In 1609, the Moors being expelled from Spain, flocked in great numbers to Algiers; and as many of them were very able sailors, they undoubtedly contributed to make the Algerine fleet so formidable as it became soon after; though it is probable the frequent attempts made on their city would also induce them to increase their fleet. In 1616, their fleet consisted of 40 sail of ships between 200 and 400 tons, their admiral 300 tons. It was divided into two squadrons, one of 18 sail, before the port of Malaga; and the other at the cape of Santa Maria, between Lisbon and Seville; both of which attacked all Christian ships, both English and French, with whom they pretended to be in friendship, as well as Spaniards and Portuguese, with whom they were at war.

The Algerines were now become very formidable to the European powers. The Spaniards, who were most in danger, and least able to cope with them, solicited the alliance of England, the pope, and other states. The French, however, were the first who dared to show their resentment of the perfidious behaviour of these miscreants; and in 1617, M. Beaulieu was sent against them with a fleet of 50 men of war, who defeated their fleet, took two of their vessels, while their admiral sunk his own ship and crew, rather than fall into his enemies' hands.

In 1620, a squadron of English men of war was sent against Algiers, under the conduct of Sir Robert Mansfield; but of this expedition we have no other account than that it returned without doing anything; and the Algerines, becoming more and more insolent, openly defied all the European powers, the Dutch only excepted; to whom, in 1625, they sent a proposal directed to the prince of Orange, that in case they would fit out 20 sail of ships the following year, upon any good service against the Spaniards, they would join them with 60 sail of their own.

The next year, the Couloies, or Cologlies (the children of such Turks as had been permitted to marry at Algiers), who were enrolled in the militia, having seized on the citadel, had well nigh made themselves masters of the city; but were attacked by the Turks and renegadoes, who defeated them with terrible slaughter. Many of them were put to death; and their heads thrown in heaps upon the city walls, without the eastern gate. Part of the citadel was blown up; and the remaining Couloies were dismissed from the militia, to which they were not again admitted till long after.

In 1623, the Algerines and other states of Barbary threw off their dependence on the Porte altogether, and set up for themselves. What gave occasion to this was the 25 years truce which Sultan Murad IV. was obliged to make with the emperor Ferdinand II., to prevent his being overmatched by carrying on a war against him and the sultan of Persia at the same time. As this put a stop to the piratical trade of the Algerines, they proceeded as above mentioned, and resolved, that whoever desired to be at peace with them, must distinctly and separately, apply to their government.

No sooner was this resolution taken, than the Algerines began to make prizes of several merchant ships belonging to powers at peace with the Porte. Nay, having seized a Dutch ship and palaere at Scanderoon, they ventured on shore; and finding the town abandoned by the Turkish aga and inhabitants, they plundered all the magazines and warehouses, and set them on fire.—About this time Louis XIII. undertook to build a fort on their coasts, instead of one formerly built by the Marilians, and which they had demolished. This, after some difficulty, he accomplished; and it was called the Bastion of France; but the situation being afterwards found inconvenient, the French purchased the port of La Calle, and obtained liberty to trade with the Arabians and Moors. The Ottoman court, in the mean time, was so much embarrassed with the Persian war, that there was no leisure to check the Algerine piracies. This gave an opportunity to the vizier and other courtiers to compound matters with the Algerines, and to get a share of their prizes, which were very considerable. However, for form's sake, a severe reprimand, accompanied with threats, was sent them; to which they replied, "that these depredations deserved to be indulged to them, seeing they were the only bulwark against the Christian powers, especially against the Spaniards, the sworn enemies of the Mollem name;" adding, "if they should pay a punctilious regard to all that could purchase peace, or liberty to trade with the Ottoman empire, they would have nothing to do but set fire to all their shipping, and turn camel-drivers for a livelihood."

In the year 1635, four younger brothers of a good family in France entered into an undertaking so desperate, that perhaps the annals of knight-errantry can scarcely furnish its equal.—This was no less than to re-brothers, tort the piracies of the Algerines upon themselves; and as they indiscriminately took the ships of all nations, so were these heroes indiscriminately to take the ships belonging to Algiers; and this with a small frigate of ten guns!—In this ridiculous undertaking, 100 volunteers embarked; a Maltese commission was procured, together with an able master, and 36 mariners.—They had the good fortune, on their first setting out, to take a ship laden with wine, on the Spanish coast: with which they were so much elated, that three days after they madly encountered two large Algerine corsairs, one of 20 and the other of 24 guns, both well manned, and commanded by able officers. These two large vessels having got the small frigate between them, plied her furiously with great shot, and soon took off her mainmast: notwithstanding which, the French made so desperate a resistance, that the pirates were not able to take them, till the noise of their fire brought up five more Algerines; when the French vessel, being almost torn to pieces, was boarded and taken. The young knights-errants were punished for their temerity by a dreadful captivity, from which they redeemed themselves in 1642 at the price of 6000 dollars.

The Algerines prosecuted their piracies with immeasurable fury, to the terror and disgrace of the Europeans, until the year 1652; when a French fleet being accidentally driven to Algiers, the admiral took it into his head to demand a release of all the captives of his nation, without exception. This being refused, the Frenchman without ceremony carried off the Turkish vice-roy, roy, and his eadi or judge, who had just arrived from the Porte, with all their equipage and retinue. The Algerines, by way of reprisal, surprized the Baflion of France already mentioned, and carried off the inhabitants to the number of 600, with all their effects; which so provoked the admiral, that he sent them word that he would pay them another visit the next year with his whole fleet.

The Algerines, undismayed by the threats of the French admiral, fitted out a fleet of 16 galleys and galliots, excellently manned and equipped, under the command of Admiral Hali Pinchinin.—The chief design of this armament was against the treasure of Loretto; which, however, they were prevented by contrary winds from obtaining. On this they made a descent on Puglia in the kingdom of Naples; where they ravaged the whole territory of Neotra, carrying off a vast number of captives, and among them some nuns. From thence steering towards Dalmatia, they scouried the Adriatic; and loading themselves with immense plunder, left those coasts in the utmost consternation and resentment.

At last the Venetians, alarmed at such terrible depredations, equipped a fleet of 28 sail, under the command of Admiral Capello, with express orders to burn, sink, or take, all the Barbary corsairs he met with, either on the open seas, or even in the Grand Signior's harbours, pursuant to a late treaty of peace with the Porte. On the other hand, the captain bathaw, who had been sent out with the Turkish fleet to chastise the Florentines and Maltese cruisers off the Archipelago, understanding that the Algerine squadron was so near, sent express orders to the admiral to come to his assistance. Pinchinin readily agreed; but having first resolved on a descent upon the island of Lilla, or Liffina, belonging to the Venetians, he was overtaken by Capello, from whom he retired to Valona, a sea port belonging to the Grand Signior, whither the Venetian admiral pursued him; but the Turkish government refusing to eject the pirates according to the articles of the peace between the Ottoman court and Venice, Capello was obliged to content himself with watching them for some time. Pinchinin was soon weary of restraint, and ventured out; when an engagement immediately ensued, in which the Algerines were defeated, and five of their vessels disabled, with the loss of 1300 men, Turks, and Christian slaves; besides 1600 galley slaves who regained their liberty. Pinchinin, after this defeat, returned to Valona, where he was again watched by Capello; but the latter had not long lain at his old anchorage before he received a letter from the senate, desiring him to make no farther attempt on the pirates at that time, for fear of a rupture with the Porte. This was followed by a letter from the governor of Valona, desiring him to take care lest he incurred the sultan's displeasure by such insults. The brave Venetian was forced to comply; but resolving to take such a leave of the Algerines as he thought they deserved, observed how they had reared their tents, and drawn their booty and equipage along the shore. He then kept firing among their tents, while some well manned galliots and brigantines were ordered among their flanking, who attacked them with such bravery, that, without any great loss, they rowed out their 16 galleys, with all their cannon, stores, &c.—In this last engagement a ball from one of the Venetian galleys happening to strike a Turkish mosque, the whole action was considered as an insult upon the Grand Signior. To conceal this, Capello was ordered to sink all the Algerine ships he had taken, except the admiral; which was to be conducted to Venice, and laid up as a trophy. Capello came off with a severe reprimand; but the Venetians were obliged to buy, with 500,000 ducats, a peace from the Porte. The Grand Signior offered to repair the loss of the Algerines by building ten galleys for them, upon condition that they should continue in his service till the end of the ensuing summer; but Pinchinin, who knew how little the Algerines chole to lie under obligations to him, civilly declined the offer.

In the mean time, the news of this defeat and loss of Algiers filled Algiers with the utmost grief and confusion. The whole city was on the point of a general insurrection, when the bathaw and douwan issued a proclamation, forbidding not only complaints and utterances, under the severest penalties; but all persons whatever to take their thumbs from within their girdles, while they were deliberating upon this important point. In the meantime they applied to the Porte for an order that the Venetians settled in the Levant should make up their loss. But with this the Grand Signior refused to comply, and left them to repair their losses, as well as build new ships in the best manner they could. It was not long, however, before they had the satisfaction to see one of their corsairs land with a fresh supply of 600 slaves, whom he had brought from the coast of Iceland, whether he had been directed by a mercantile native taken on board a Danish ship.

Our pirates did not long continue in their weak and out a new defenceless state; being able, at the end of two years, feet to appear at sea with a fleet of 65 sail. The admiral Pinchinin equipped four galliots at his own expense: with which, in conjunction with the chiayah, or secretary of the bathaw of Tripoli, he made a second excursion. This final squadron, consisting of five galleys and two brigantines, fell in with an English ship of 40 guns; which, however, Pinchinin's captains refused to engage; but being afterwards reproached by him for their cowardice, they swore to attack the next Christian ship which came in their way. This happened to be a Dutch merchantman, of 28 guns, which was deeply laden, and unable to use her sails by reason of a calm. Pinchinin immediately summoned her to surrender; but receiving an ironical answer, drew up his chantman squadron in form of a half moon, that they might pour all their shot at once into their adversary. This, however, the Dutchman avoided, by means of a breeze of wind which fortunately sprung up and enabled him to turn his ship; upon which the galleys ran foul of each other. Upon this, Pinchinin ran his own galley along side of the merchantman, the upper deck of which 70 Algerines immediately took possession of, some of them cutting the rigging, and others playing the hatches with hand grenades: but the Dutchmen having secured themselves in their close quarters, began to fire at the Algerines on board, from two pieces of cannon loaded with small shot; by which they were all soon killed, or forced to submit. Pinchinin, in the mean time, made several unsuccessful attempts to relieve his men, as well as to surround the Dutchman with his other galleys; but that ship lay too deep in the water. water, that every flot did terrible execution among the pirates; so that they were obliged to remove farther off. At last the Dutch captain, having ordered his guns to be loaded with cartouches, gave them such a parting volley as killed 200 of them, and sent the rest back to Algiers in a most dismal plight.

But though Pinchinin thus returned in disgrace, the rest of the fleet quickly came back with vast numbers of slaves, and an immense quantity of rich spoils; inasmuch that the English, French, and Dutch, were obliged to cringe to the mighty Algerines, who sometimes vouchsafed to be at peace with them, but swore eternal war against Spain, Portugal, and Italy, whom they looked upon as the greatest enemies to the Mahometan name. At last Louis XIV. provoked by the grievous outrages committed by the Algerines on the coast of Provence and Languedoc, ordered, in 1681, a considerable fleet to be fitted out against them, under the marquis du Quefne, vice-admiral of France. His first expedition was against a number of Tripolitan corsairs; who had the good fortune to outwit him, and shelter themselves in the island of Scio belonging to the Turks. This did not, however, prevent him from pursuing them thither, and making such terrible fire upon them as quickly destroyed 14 of their vessels, besides battering the walls of the castle.

This severity seemed only to be designed as a check to the piracies of the Algerines; but, finding they still continued their outrages on the French coast, he sailed to Algiers in August 1682, cannonading and bombarding it so furiously, that the whole town was in flames in a very little time. The great mosque was battered down, and most of the houses laid in ruins, inasmuch that the inhabitants were on the point of abandoning the place; when on a sudden the wind turned about, and obliged Du Quefne to return to Toulon. The Algerines immediately made reprisals, by sending a number of galleys and galliots to the coast of Provence, where they committed the most dreadful ravages, and brought away a vast number of captives: upon which a new armament was ordered to be got ready at Toulon and Marleilles against the next year; and the Algerines, having received timely notice, put themselves into as good a state of defense as the time would allow.

In May 1683, Du Quefne with his squadron cast anchor before Algiers; where, being joined by the Marquis d'Affranville at the head of five stout vessels, it was resolved to bombard the town next day. Accordingly 100 bombs were thrown into it the first day, which did terrible execution; while the besieged made some hundred discharges of their cannon against them without doing any considerable damage. The following nights the bombs were again thrown into the city in such numbers, that the dey's palace and other great edifices were almost destroyed; some of their batteries were dismantled, and several vessels sunk in the port. The dey and Turkish bailaw, as well as the whole soldiery, alarmed at this dreadful havoc, immediately sued for peace. As a preliminary, the immediate surrender was inflicted on all Christian captives who had been taken fighting under the French flag; which being granted, 142 of them were immediately delivered up, with a promise of sending him the remainder as soon as they could be got from the different parts of the country. Accordingly Du Quefne sent his commissary-general and one of his engineers into the town; but with express orders to insist upon the delivery of all the French captives without exception, together with the effects they had taken from the French; and that Mezomorto their then admiral, and Hali Rais one of their captains, should be given as hostages.

This last demand having embarrassed the dey, he assembled the douwan, and acquainted them with it; upon which Mezomorto fell into a violent passion, and told the assembly that the cowardice of those who sat at the helm had occasioned the ruin of Algiers; but that, for his part, he would never consent to deliver up anything that had been taken from the French. He immediately acquainted the soldiery with what had passed; which so exasperated them, that they murdered the dey that very night, and on the morrow chose Mezomorto in his place. This was no sooner done, than he cancelled all the articles of peace which had been made, and hostilities were renewed with greater fury than ever.

The French admiral now kept pouring in such volleys of bombs, that in less than three days the greatest part of the city was reduced to ashes; and the fire burnt with such vehemence, that the sea was enlightened with it for more than two leagues round. Mezomorto, unmoved at all these disasters, and the vast number of the slain, whose blood ran in rivulets along the streets; or rather, growing furious and desperate, fought only how to wreak his vengeance on the enemy; and, not content with causing all the French in the city to be cruelly murdered, ordered their consul to be tied hand and foot, and fastened alive to the mouth of a mortar, from whence he was shot away against their navy.—By this piece of inhumanity Du Quefne was so exasperated, that he did not leave Algiers till he had utterly destroyed all their fortifications, shipping, almost all the lower part, and above two-thirds of the upper part of the city, by which means it became little else than a heap of ruins.

The haughty Algerines were now thoroughly convinced that they were not invincible; and therefore immediately sent an embassy into France, begging in peace the most abject terms for peace; which Louis immediately granted, to their inexplicable joy. They now began to pay some regard to other nations, and to be a little cautious how they wantonly incurred their displeasure. The first bombardment by the French had so far humbled the Algerines, that they condescended to enter into a treaty with England; which was renewed upon terms very advantageous to the latter in 1686. It is not to be supposed, however, that the natural perfidy of the Algerines would disappear on a sudden; notwithstanding this treaty, therefore, they lost no opportunity of making prizes of the English ships when they could conveniently come at them. Upon some infringements of this kind, Captain Beach drove ashore their ships and burnt seven of their frigates in 1695; which produced a renewal of the treaty five years after; but Captain Beach was not till the taking of Gibraltar and Port Mahon, that Britain could have a sufficient check upon them to enforce the observance of treaties; and these have since proved such restraints upon Algiers, that they still continue to pay a greater deference to the English than to any other European power. The present century furnishes no very remarkable events with regard to Algiers, except the taking of the famed city of Oran from the Spaniards in 1708 (which however they regained in 1737), and the expulsion of the Turkish bashaw, and uniting his office to that of dey in 1710. This introduced the form of government which still continues in Algiers.

The dey is now absolute monarch; and pays no other revenue to the Porte than that of a certain number of fine boys or youths, and some other presents, which are sent thither yearly. His own income probably rises and falls according to the opportunities he has of fleecing both natives and foreigners; whence it is variously computed by different authors. Dr Shaw computes the taxes of the whole kingdom to bring into the treasury no more than 300,000 dollars; but supposes that the eighth part of the prizes, the effects of those persons who die without children, joined to the yearly contributions raised by the government, presents from foreigners, fines and oppressions, may bring in about as much more. Both the dey and officers under him enrich themselves by the same laudable methods of rapine and fraud; which it is no wonder to find the common people practising upon one another, and especially upon strangers, seeing they themselves are impoverished by heavy taxes and the injustice of those who are in authority.

We have already hinted, that the first deys were elected by the militia, who were then called the douwan or common council. This elective body was at first composed of 800 militia officers, without whose consent the dey could do nothing; and upon some urgent occasions all the officers residing in Algiers, amounting to above 1500, were summoned to assist. But since the deys, who may be compared to the Dutch stadtholders, have become more powerful, the douwan is principally composed of 30 chiah bashaws or colonels, with now and then the mufti and cadi upon some emergencies; and, on the election of a dey, the whole foldery are allowed to come and give their votes. All the regulations of state ought to be determined by that assembly, before they pass into a law, or the dey hath power to put them in execution: but, for many years back, the douwan has been of so little account, that it is only convened out of formality, and to give assent to what the dey and his chief favourites have concerted beforehand. The method of gathering the votes in this august assembly is perfectly agreeable to the character of those who compose it. The aga, or general of the janizaries, or the president pro tempore, first proposes the question; which is immediately repeated with a loud voice by the chiah bashaws, and from them echoed again by officers called ba'halddas; from these the question is repeated from one member of the douwan to another, with strange contortions, and the most hideous growlings, if it is not to their liking. From the loudness of this growling noise, the aga is left to guess as well as he can whether the majority of the assembly are pleased or displeased with the question; and from such a preposterous method, it is not surprising that these assemblies should seldom end without some tumult or disorder. As the whole body of the militia is concerned in the election of a new dey, it is seldom carried on without blows and bloodshed: but when once the choice is made, the person elected is saluted with the words Alla Barick, "God bless you, and prosper you?" and the new dey usually caresses all the officers of the douwan who had opposed his election to be strangled, filling up their places with those who had been most zealous in promoting it. From this account of the election of the deys, it cannot be expected that their government should be at all secure; and as they arrive at the throne by tumult, disorder, and bloodshed, they are generally deprived of it by the same means, scarcely one in ten of them having the good fortune to die a natural death.

In this country it is not to be expected that justice will be administered with any degree of impartiality, &c. The Mahometan foldery, in particular, are so much favoured, that they are seldom put to death for any crime except rebellion: in which case they are either strangled with a bow string or hanged to an iron hook. In lesser offences, they are fined, or their pay stopped; and if officers, they are reduced to the station of common foldery, from whence they may gradually raise themselves to their former dignity. Women guilty of adultery, have a halter tied about their necks, with the other end fastened to a pole, by which they are held under water till they are suffocated. The bastinado is likewise inflicted for small offences; and is given either upon the belly, back, or soles of the feet, according to the pleasure of the cadi; who also appoints the number of strokes. These sometimes amount to 200 or 300, according to the indulgence the offender can obtain either by bribery or friends; and hence he often dies under this punishment for want of powerful enough advocates. But the most terrible punishments are those inflicted upon the Jews or Christians who speak against Mahomet or his religion; in which case, they must either turn Mahometans or be impaled alive. If they afterwards apostatize, they are burned or roasted alive, or else thrown down from the top of the city walls upon iron hooks, where they are caught by different parts of their body according as they happen to fall, and sometimes expire in the greatest torments; though by accident they may be put out of pain at once, as we have already related of the Spanish adventurer John Galcon. This terrible punishment, however, begins now to be disused.

The officer next in power to the dey is the aga of the janizaries, who is one of the eldest officers in the army, and holds his post only for two months. He is then succeeded by the chiah, or next senior officer. During the two months in which the aga enjoys his dignity, the keys of the metropolis are in his hands; all military orders are issued out in his name; and the sentence of the dey upon any offending foldery, whether capital or not, can only be executed in the court of his palace.—As soon as he has gone through this short office, he is considered as maszoul, or superannuated; receives his pay regularly, like the rest of the militia, every two moons; is exempt from all further duties, except when called by the dey to assist at the grand council, to which he hath, however, a right to come at all times, but hath no longer a vote in it. Next to the aga in dignity is the secretary of state, who registers all the public acts; and after him are the 30 chiahs or colonels, who sit next to the aga in the douwan, and in the same gallery with him. Out of this class are generally chosen those who go ambassadors to foreign reign courts, or who dispense the dey's orders throughout the realm. Next to them are 800 bouluck bahaws or eldest captains, who are promoted to that of chiah bahaws according to their seniority. The oldack bahaws or lieutenants are next; who amount to 400, and are regularly raised to the rank of captains in their turn, and to other employments in the state, according to their abilities. These, by way of distinction, wear a leather strap, hanging down to the middle of their back. One rule is strictly observed in the rotation of these troops from one degree to a higher, viz. the right of seniority; one single infringement of which would cause an infraction, and probably cost the dey his life. Other military officers of note are the veke-lards or purveyors of the army; the beys, who are the four oldest soldiers, and consequently the nearest to pre-ferment; the foulacks, who are the next in seniority to them, and are part of the dey's body-guard, always marching before him when he takes the field, and distinguished by their carbines and gilt scimitars, with a brafs gun on their caps; the kayts or Turkish soldiers, each band of whom has the government of one or more adowars or itinerant villages, and collects their taxes for the dey; and the fagiards or Turkish lance-men, 100 of whom always attend the army, and watch over the water appointed for it. To these we may add the beys or governors of the three great provinces of the realm. All the above-mentioned officers ought to compose the great douwan or council above mentioned; but only the 30 chiah bahaws have a right to sit in the gallery next after the dey; the rest are obliged to stand on the floor of the hall or council chamber, with their arms across, and as much as possible without motion; neither are they permitted to enter with their swords on, for fear of a tumult. As for those who have any matter to transact with the douwan, they must stand without, let the weather be ever so bad; and there they are commonly presented with coffee by some of the inferior officers, till they are dismissed.

It does not appear that the Algerines avail themselves of the benefit of their internal resources to the extent they might do; for their genius leads them too much to the piratical trade to mind any real advantage that might be derived from their own country. The corsairs or pirates form each a small republic, of which the rais or captain is the supreme bahaw; who, with the officers under him, form a kind of douwan, in which every matter relating to the vessel is decided in an arbitrary way. These corsairs are chiefly instrumental in importing whatever commodities are brought into the kingdom either by way of merchandise or prizes. These consist chiefly of gold and silver stuffs, damasks, cloths, spices, tin, iron, plated bras, lead, quicksilver, cordage, fail-cloth, bullets, cochineal, linen, tartar, alum, rice, sugar, soap, cotton raw and spun, copperas, aloes, brazil and logwood, vermilion, &c. Very few commodities, however, are exported from this part of the world: the oil, wax, hides, pulle, and corn produced, being but barely sufficient to supply the country; though, before the loss of Oran, the merchants have been known to ship off from one or other of the ports of Barbary several thousand tons of corn. The consumption of oil, though here in great abundance, is likewise so considerable in this kingdom, that it is seldom permitted to be shipped off for Europe. The other exports consist chiefly in ostriches feathers, copper, rugs, silk fathes, embroidered handkerchiefs, dates, and Christian slaves. Some manufactures in silk, cotton, wool, leather, &c., are carried on in this country, but mostly by the Spaniards settled here, especially about the metropolis. Carpets are also a manufacture of the country; which, though much inferior to those of Turkey both in beauty and fineness, are preferred by the people to lie upon, on account of their being both cheaper and softer. There are also at Algiers looms for velvets, taletas, and other wrought silks; and a coarse sort of linen is likewise made in most parts of the kingdom. The country furnishes no materials for ship-building. They have neither ropes, tar, sails, anchors, nor even iron. When they can procure enough of new wood to form the main timbers of a ship, they supply the rest from the materials of prizes which they have made, and thus find the secret of producing new and swift-falling vessels from the ruins of the old. Of all the states on the coast of Barbary, the Algerines are the strongest at sea.

The religion of the Algerines is chiefly distinguished from that of the Turks by a greater variety of superstitious rites. The Koran is their acknowledged rule of faith and practice; but they are not very scrupulous in the observance of it. The mufti, or high-priest; the cadi, or chief judge; and the grand marabout, are the three principal officers who preside in matters of religion. The cadi attends in the court of justice once or twice every day, to hear and determine causes; but those of superior importance are submitted to the dey himself, or, in his absence, to one of the principal officers of the regency, who sits in the gate of the palace for that express purpose. Of this custom-some traces are found in sacred history, Deut. xx. 11. 15, xxv. 7.

city, the capital of the above kingdom, is probably the ancient Icosium: by the Arabians called Algezair, or rather Al-Jezzier, or Al-Jezzrah, i.e. the island, because there was an island before the city, to which it has since been joined by a mole. It is built on the declivity of a hill by the sea-side, in the form of an amphitheatre: at sea, it looks like the top-fall of a ship. The tops of the houses are quite flat and white, and have all the appearance of a bleach-field. One house rises above another in such a manner that they do not hinder each other's prospect. The streets are so narrow, that they will hardly admit two persons to walk abreast, and the middle part is lower than the sides. When any loaded beasts, such as camels, horses, mules, or asses, pass along, you are forced to stand up close to the wall to let them pass by. There is but one broad street, which runs through the city from east to west, in which are the shops of the principal merchants, and the market for corn and other commodities. The lower part of the walls of the city is of hewn stone, and the upper part of brick; they are 30 feet high on the land side, and 40 towards the sea; the fosses or ditches are 20 feet wide, and 7 deep. There is no sweet water in the city; and though there is a tank or cistern in every house, yet they often want water, because it rains but seldom: the chief supply is from a spring on a hill, the water of which is conveyed... conveyed by pipes to above a hundred fountains, at which a bowl is fastened for the use of passengers. The common reservoir is at the end of the mole, where the ships take in their water. Every one takes his turn at these places, except the Turks, who are first, and the Jews last. There are five gates, which are open from sunrise till sun-setting; and seven forts or castles without the walls, the greatest of which is on the mole without the gate, all of which are well supplied with great guns. There are 10 large mosques and 50 small ones; three great colleges or public schools, and a great number of petty ones for children. The houses are square, and built of stone and brick, with a square court in the middle, and galleries all around. There are said to be about 100,000 inhabitants in the city, comprehending 5000 Jewish families, besides Christians. There are four fundus or public inns, such as are in Turkey; and six cazernes, or barracks, for the unmarried Turkish soldiers, which will hold 600 each. There are no inns for Christians to lodge at; but only a few tippling huts kept by slaves, for the accommodation of Greeks and the poorer sort of travellers, where anything may be had for money. Here are bagnios or public baths, in the same manner as in Turkey, at a very moderate rate. 'The women have baths of their own, where the men dare not come. Without the city there is a great number of sepulchres, as also cells or chapels, dedicated to marabouts or reputed saints, which the women visit every Friday. The Turkish soldiers are great tyrants; for they not only turn others out of the way in the streets, but will go to the farmhouses in the country for 20 days together, living at free quarters, and making use of everything, not excepting the women. The Algerines eat, as in Turkey, sitting crofs-legged round a table about four inches high, and use neither knives nor forks. Before they begin, every one says Be ifane Allah, "In the name of God." When they have done, a slave pours water on all their hands as they sit, and then they wash their mouths. Their drink is water, sherbet, and coffee. Wine is not allowed, though drank immoderately by some. The prospect of the country and sea from Algiers is very beautiful, it being built on the declivity of a mountain; but the city, though for several ages it has braved some of the greatest powers in Christendom, it is said, could make but a faint defence against a regular siege; and that three English fifty-gun ships might batter it about the ears of its inhabitants from the harbour. If so, the Spaniards must have been very deficient either in courage or conduct. They attacked it in the year 1775, by land and by sea, but were repulsed with great loss; though they had near 20,000 foot and 2000 horse, and 47 king's ships of different rates and 346 transports. In the years 1783 and 1784, they also renewed their attacks by sea to destroy the city and galleys; but after spending a quantity of ammunition, bombs, &c., were forced to retire without either its capture or extinction. The mole of the harbour is 500 paces in length, extending from the continent to a small island where there is a castle and large battery.

E. Long. 2. 12. N. Lat. 36. 49.