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HISTORICAL CHRONICLE.

INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE FROM THE LONDON GAZETTES.

Admiralty Office, Sept. 24. Rear-adm. Sir David Milne has arrived at this Office with the original dispatches of Lord Exmouth, relative to bis attack on Algiers, the duplicates of which have already appeared in the Gazette Extraordinary of the 15th instant. He is also the bearer of dispatches from his Lordship, detailing his further proceedings, of which the following is the substance:

On the 28th of August, Treaties of Peace were signed by the Dey with his Majesty, and with his Majesty the King of the Netherlands. On the same day also was signed an additional article, or declaration, for the abolition of Christian Slavery, to the following effect:

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Declaration of his Most Serene Highness Omar, Bashaw, Dey and Governor of the Warlike City and Kingdom of Algiers, made and concluded with the Right Hon. Edward Baron Exmouth, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Admiral of the Blue Squadron of his Britannic Majesty's Fleet, and Commander in Chief of his said Majesty's ships and vessels employed in the Mediterranean.

"In consideration of the deep interest manifested by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent of England for the termination of Christian slavery, his Highness the Dey of Algiers, in token of his sincefe desire to maintain inviolable his friendly relations with Great Britain, and to manifest his amicable disposition and high respect towards the Powers of Europe, declares, that, in the event of future wars with any European Power, not any of the prisoners shall be consigned to slavery, but treated with all humanity, as prisoners of war, until regularly exchanged, according to European practice in like cases, and that at the termination of hostilities they shall be restored to their respective countries without ransom; and the practice of condemning Christian prisoners of war to slavery is hereby formally and for ever renounced.

"Done in duplicate, in the warlike city of Algiers, in the presence of Almighty God, the 28th day of August, in the year of Jesus Christ, 1816, and in the year of the Hegira, 1231, and the 6th day of the moon Shawal. (Signed)

(The Dey's seal.) EXMOUTH, (L. S.) H. M'DOUELL, (L.S.)" The Dey also, in presence of his Divau, apologized to the British Consul for the personal restraint which had been imposed upon him during the late transactions; and he also paid to the Consul a sum of

3000 dollars, as a remuneration for depredations committed on his residence after his imprisonment. After the treaties and article before- mentioned had been negociated; and that the Dey had refunded 382,500 dollars, which he had lately received from the Governments of Naples and Sardinia, and had released 1083 Christian slaves who were at Algiers, it came to the knowledge of Lord Exmouth, that two Spaniards, the one a merchant, and the other the Vice- Consul of that Nation, had not been released, but were still held by the Dey in very severe custody, on pretence that they were prisoners for debt. The inquiries which his Lordship felt himself called on to make inte these cases, satisfied him that the confinement of the Vice-Consul was groundless and unjustifiable; and he therefore thought himself authorized to demand his release, under the articles of the agreement for the deliverance of all Christian prisoners. It appeared that the merchant was confiued for an alleged debt, ou the score of a contract with the Algerine Government; but the circumstance under which the contract was stated to have been forced on the individual, and the great severity of the confinement which he suffered, determined his Lordship to make an effort in his favour also. This his Lordship did, by requesting his release from the Dey, offering himself to guarantee to the Dey the payment of any sum of money which the merchant should be found to owe to his Highness. The Dey having rejected this demand and offer, his Lordship, still unwilling to have recourse to extremities, and the renewal of hostilities, proposed that the Spaniards should be released from irons, and the miserable dungeons in which they were confined; and that they should be placed in the custody of the Spanish Consul, or, at least, that the Consul should be permitted to afford them such assistance and accommodation as was suitable to their rank in life. These propositions the Dey also positively refused; and Lord Exmouth then felt that the private and pecuniary nature of the transactions for which these persons were confined must be considered as a pretence for the continuance of a cruel and oppressive system of slavery, the total and bona fide abolition of which his instructions directed him to insist upon. He, therefore, acquainted the Dey, that, his Highness having rejected all the fair and equitable conditions proposed to him on this point, his Lordship had determined to insist on the unconditional release of

the

the two Spaniards. He therefore desired an answer, Yes, or No; and, in the event of the latter, stated, that he would immediately recommence hostilities; and his Lordship made preparations for that purpose. These measures had the desired effect, and the two persons were released from a long and severe captivity; so that no Christian prisoner remained at Algiers at his Lordship's departure, which took place on the evening of the 3d instant, with all the ships under his orders.

His Lordship states, that Rear-admiral Sir C. Penrose had joined in the Ister on the 28th, and that he had employed the Rear-adm. in his discussions with the Dey relative to the Spaniards; and his Lordship gives the highest praise to the prudence, firmness, and ability with which Sir C. Penrose conducted himself on this occasion.

His Lordship's last letters are dated from Gibraltar the 12th inst. and announce his intention very shortly to sail on his return to England. The refunded ransoms have been sent to the Neapolitan and Sardinian Governments; and the slaves released have been forwarded in British transports to their respective countries.

***The following additional Particulars of the glorious Battle of Algiers, may not be uninteresting to our Readers:

"A Copy of the Minutes of the Battle of Algiers, from the log-book of his Majesty's ship Leander, Captain Edward Chetham, C. B.:,

"At day-light on the 27th of August, 1816, in company with the fleet, observed the city of Algiers, bearing W. S. W. About 8 A. M. light airs, inclining to calm, Admiral and squadron in company, observed a French frigate working out of the Bay. His Majesty's ship Severn boisted a flag of truce, and dispatched a boat towards the city, At ten exercised at quarters, and loaded the guns; hoisted out all the boats, and prepared them for service. At noon the French frigate joined; her Captain went on board the Commander-in-Chief, where he remained a short time, and returned to his ship. Observed the Severn's boat, with the truce, pulling out from the city. At 2. 30. Lord Exmouth made the signal general, you ready?' which was immediately answered, Ready.' He then made the signal for the fleet to bear up-bore up Leander, within her own length of the Commander-in-Chief, standing in for the Mole-beat to quarters-made every preparation for anchoring-observed the enemy's batteries crowded with men, and their gun-boats prepared to board. At 2. 40. the boat employed as a truce returned to the Queen Charlotte-clewed up

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our sails, following the motions of the Commander-in-Chief, who, at 2. 45. anchored abreast of the Mole, and within half-pistol-shot. At 2. 47. Leander anchored in her station, close a-head of the Queen Charlotte, in five fathoms water, when the enemy opened a most tremendous fire, which was instantly returned by the broadsides of the Queen Charlotte and Leander, the fleet anchoring in the stations assigned them, and opening a vigorous fire. Observed the effect of our fire had totally destroyed the enemy's gunboats and row-galleys, and defeated their intention of boarding. The battle now raged with great fury, officers and men falling very fast, and masts, yards, and rigging cutting in all directions. At three observed the enemy's colours shot away in some of their batteries, which were very soon re-hoisted, and their fire obsti

nate.

At

At 3. 50. an Officer of the Hebrus came from the Commander-in-Chief, with orders to cease firing, to allow the enemy's frigate moored across the Mole to be set on fire, which was done in a gallant style by a boat from the Queen Charlotte. 3. 55. a vigorous firing was recommenced on both sides. Our flat boats throwing rockets with good effect, some magazines were observed to explode. At 4. 10. the enemy's frigate burning with great rapi dity, and drifting near us, the Commander-in-Chief sent an Officer to direct us to haul out clear of her. At 4. 15. the Commander-in-Chief made the signal for barges and pinnaces. Sent out boats to the Queen Charlotte, under the command of Lieutenant Monk. At 4, 30. Lieu Monk returned with orders from the Commander-in-Chief to keep the boats in readiness to assist the Leander. Perceiving the ship on fire to be drifting past us, kept our station. At 30 minutes past six, observed the city on fire in several places, and the Mole-head and some other batteries near us almost demolished; the enemy were remounting their guns, and we continuing a smart cannonading. At seven, found the batteries abreast of us to slacken, but were greatly cut up from batteries on the starboard bow. Run a hawser. to Severn, and hove our broad-side to bear on them. At 25 minutes past seven, the whole of the enemy's ships in the Mole were observed to be on fire-our masts, yards, sails, and rigging, at this period, so entirely cut to pieces, as to prevent us, if necessary, setting a sail on the ship-officers and men falling fast, and a great proportion already killed and wounded; but our fire continued with unabated fury enemy's fire considerably slackened ships on fire drifting near us hauled on our spring fast to Severn, but found it shot away; made it fast again, and cut the small bower, to haul out of

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the way of the ships on fire. At 9.45. the fleet hauling and towing out, but from the state of the masts, sails, and rigging, found our own exertions ineffectual to haul or tow out; our hawser, which was fast to Severn, being gone, and no other ship near us. Lowered the gig, to send Lieut. Saunders (1st Lieut.) to inform Lord Exmouth of our situation; but the boat was sunk, and the jolly-boat, which that Officer and crew then embarked in, was also sunk a short distance from the ship, but the crew were picked up by the flat-boat, and proceeded to the Commander-inChief, who immediately ordered assistance to be sent to the Leander. At 10. 30. cut the stern cables, some boats towing us also, a hawser fast to Severn, with a light air off the shore which enabled us to move out slowly and clear the ships on fire. The enemy recommenced a heavy fire of musketry upon us, and some few large guns at intervals fired grape and cannister to dislodge their small-arın men.

At

11. 25. the Leander ceased firing, drawing fast out into the bay. Light breezes, and cloudy, with thunder and lightning. At midnight answered the signal for the fleet to anchor. Light breezes, and very dark weather, wind S. W. illumined by the Mole Arsenal, and Algerine Navy, in flames. Anchored with the best bower in 46 fathoms water. At day-light mustered ship's company by ship's books, and found 16 killed, and 120 wounded; found our bowsprit, fore, main, and mizen masts very badly wounded, fore and main-yards shot away-main and mizen topmasts shot away; main top sails, yard, and the standing and running rigging so completely cut up, that we had scarce a rope to make use of; our sails just as bad; employed clearing the wreck. At 9. 30. acting Captain Mitchell came on board from the Commander-in-Chief, to thank Capt. Chetham for the admirable position taken up by the Leander, and for her conduct during the conflict."

Whilst the above details show the prominent share which the Leander took in the battle, it may likewise be considered as presenting a good general view of the zeal and valour that must have been displayed by all. The subjoined letter and information from other Officers will still increase this impression:

"Leander, Motherbank, Sept. 28. "I must inform you that this ship anchored at Algiers at the moment the Queen Charlotte did; and both commenced firing together. His Highness the Dey, it would seem, was deluded by a false confidence in his means of defence, and ignorance of our naval character. He permitted us to take up our position without molestation, intending, it is since confessed, to board us from his flotilla,

whilst we were farling sails: 37 boats were all fully manned and prepared for the service; but, to their utter confusion, means had been prepared to clue them up, instead of furling them; so that we began their dreadful havoc and destruction before they could apply the few strokes of the oar which would have brought them alongside our ships. The tremendous broadsides of the Queen Charlotte and Leander pouring upon them, instantly sent them to the deep, leaving scarcely a wreck behind, but the harbour covered with people swimming from destruction. The Mole was filled with spectators on our entrance, where the terrific broadsides of the Queen Charlotte instantly spread desolation: and as crowds rushed to the great gate for succour and safety, the Leander's guns, which commanded the principal street, there carried death and destruction. Three times were the batteries on the Mole cleared, and thrice were they manned again. The Dey was every where offering pecuniary rewards to those who would stand against us; eight zequins were to be given to every man who would endeavour to extinguish the fire. At length a horde of Arabs were driven into the batteries, under the inspection of the most devoted of the Janissaries, and the gates closed upon them. I have never seen men so animated as the Leander's were: the hearty and repeated British cheers sent forth on every occasion, when the houses were tumbling about the enemy, not only animated the men on deck, but those who were most severely wounded re-echoed them. Many of the wounded returned to their quarters after being dressed, and many anecdotes could be related of their devotion to their country. All the passage they had been trained to their guns, and they were seen to take aim and fire as deliberately as if they had been exercising. Nothing but the most singular interposition of Divine Providence could have saved this ship from total destruction without a sail to set, the rigging cut to pieces, every spar injured, and the ship a perfect wreck, she was drifting on the rocks, when the wind suddenly veered round, and gave the boats an opportunity of coming to her assistance. The wounded are doing amazingly well; 76 brave fellows have been already restored to the service. I believe it is not generally known that our worthy Admiral, Milne, received a severe contusion of the thigh by a cannon shot - he suffered much pain, but his modesty, as conspicuous as his merit, prevented its be ing mentioned. It may be worthy of remark, that one of our youngsters (a midshipman) was so fatigued, that he slept most soundly for an hour, on the quarterdeck, during the heat of the action."

After

After the final close of the negotiations had been protracted a little, by the Dey refusing to give up two Spaniards, he consented, observing to his Divan -"His foot is upon my neck, and what can I do?" His Lordship then left the Bay with his fleet: the Severn, Heron, and Mutine, had been previously sent away with the restored redemption slave-money, for the Kings of Naples and Sardinia. The Impregnable has 268 shot in her side, 50 of which are below the lower-deck ports; three 68-pounders entered her store-room (six feet under water), and wounded a woman there. She expended 16 tons and a half of powder; 120 tons of shot; 54 32-pound rockets; and 30 8-inch shells. Thirty-six of her wounded men died the morning after the battle. The enemy's

walls were from 14 to 16 feet thick, and formed of the best masonry our engineers ever examined. The Algerines were assisted by 40,000 Arabs, who since the

battle have absconded with their arms, and become a great annoyance to the city. The Dey's prime Minister was beheaded the morning after the action, because he was considered as the principal of the French party, whose influence had prevailed with the Dey to refuse the overtures of the Prince Regent, The French frigate which our feet found in the Bay, it was suspected, had landed a number of engineer officers at Algiers from France. The Minden and Granicus were intended to form a reserve; but immediately the firing commenced, they sent boats to Lord Exmouth to solicit a place in the line, and actually without orders anchored in a most effective

manner.

The skirts of Lord Exmouth's coat were carried away by grape-shot, and discovered the next day among the flags. Capt. Brace, of the Impregnable, was wounded by splinters from the main-mast,

ABSTRACT OF FOREIGN OCCURRENCES.

FRANCE.

A late Moniteur contained an Ordonnance, directing the distribution of nearly five hundred thousand pounds sterling, which the Royal Family of France allot from their personal incomes for the relief of the poor. This is sound patriotism. May it have imitators !

The Moniteur of the 21st inst. which gives a minute account of the proceedings relative to the trial of Gen. Grouchy, shews, in a striking point of view, that complexity and contradiction in the state of the French laws of which their best lawyers most loudly complain. The case appears to be this:-In 1804, a thing called a Senatusconsultum was passed, declaring that certain grand officers should be exempted from trial by Courts-martial, but should be tried by a High Imperial Court. Among these grand officers is enumerated the Colonel-general of chasseurs, to which rank Grouchy was elevated in 1809 by Buonaparte. After the King's restoration, the High Imperial Court was abolished; and the dignity of Colonels-general was reserved to the Princes of the blood; but by an ordinance of the King, the officers who previously enjoyed that rank were to take the title of First-inspectors-general; but to retain the pay, honours, and prerogatives which they then possessed. Grouchy, having been set down on Fouche's black list as a traitor, has very prudently decamped to America.

His

trial, however, was proceeded on before a Court-martial; so little did the French lawyers know their own revolutionary codes. The son of Grouchy in consequence appeared, and, on behalf of his father, objected to the jurisdiction, rely

ing on the validity of the Senatus-consultum, as having invested his father with the prerogative of not being tried by a Courtmartial. It does not appear that any auswer was attempted to this argument. The objection appears to have been left wholly to the judgment of the members of the Court-martial, who thought it valid. It certainly was highly proper, and one may even say laudable, in the son of Grouchy to take these legal and technical grounds to save his father from the effect of a sentence against him; but he would have acted prudently to confine himself to them, or at least to have added nothing but a general, statement of his father's services on those occasions which involved no political question. However, he added (or most probably the lawyer who drew up his speech, thought fit to add on this, as on the trial of Ney and all the other traitors), that the accused was a stranger to all faction, devoted solely to his country, and that all he had done (in breaking the capitulation with the Duke of Angouleme, &c.) had no other object but to prevent a civil war!

The envy of the French at the greatness of the victory which we have gained at Algiers, displays itself throughout their papers in every shape which is possible for such a passion safely to assume, under circumstances like the present. Reports, all uniformly teading to depreciate the results of our expedition, dated from Italian cities or states, but evidently written at Paris, are continually inserted in them. They inform us, that the Roman slaves were so comfortable at Algiers, that they had no desire to go home to their own country-nay, that one of them

even hanged himself on the voyage! The chastisement given to the Dey is attributed to bribery, and not to the valour of the British arms. A fine flourishing speech is put into the mouth of the Dey, in which he assures his barbarous subjects that they have not been conquered; and they are represented as believing their chief, and following him, kissing his robes. The fortifications, we are also told, are rising from their ruins, and the utmost exertions are using to efface all traces of the bombardment of the town.-N. B. There is not one word of truth in all this. There is a rumour in the French papers of an intended marriage between the Duke of Kent and the Princess Amelia of Baden, sister to the Empress of Russia.

The King ordered a solemn funeral service to be celebrated to the memory of the late Queen, Marie Antoinette, on the 16th of October, the anniversary of her death. He desired that no address or funeral oration be delivered; but that the letter written by her Majesty to the Princess Elizabeth, a few hours previous to her execution, should be read from the pulpit. The chapel of the Conciergerie, the prison in which the late Queen of France was confined, has been restored, and a communication made between it and the chamber in which Marie Autoinette spent the last days of her life. A simple monument, with the subjoined inscription, detailing the sufferings of the unfortunate Queen, has been erected in the Chapel; and the inauguration of the expiatory monument was to take place on the 16th inst. the anniversary of her death.

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Widow of LOUIS XVI. who, when her Husband had been murdered,

and she had been bereft of her Children, was thrown into prison,

where she remained for the space of
seventy-six days,

in misery and wretchedness;
but,

supported by conscious virtue, proved herself alike superior to fortune, in chains as upon the throne. Being at length condemned to die by the most profligate of mankind, in the hour of death she left here a monument of piety, of fortitude, and of every virtue, Oct. 16, MDCCXCIII. The monarchy being at length restored, ber Prison was converted into a Sanctuary, in the year of our Lord MDCCCXVI. and the 22d of the reign of Louis XVIII. under the inspection of the Prefect and Municipal Authorities,

the Count de Cazes being Minister of Police.

Whoever thou art,

Stranger,

that treadest this sacred ground, Admire! supplicate! and adore! The Viscount Chateaubriand has lately published a pamphlet addressed to the King, on the subject of the dissolution of the Chamber, and its infiuence on the state of the political parties in France; censuring the measure, as hostile to the King's interests, aud dangerous to the security of France. His Majesty and his Ministers were displeased with the author's freedom of remark; and 2000 copies of the work were seized at the priuter's, under pretence of some omission in point of form in the publication. But this was a mere pretext; as on another edition of the work being published, the prescribed form having previously been observed, the whole impression was seized at the requisition of M. Bellart, the Procureur General of the Royal Court. M. Chateaubriand has also been degraded from his rank of State Counsellor, by an Ordonance of the King.

Louis XVIII, appears to have exerted himself with more than usual energy to convince the people at large that he is sincere in his present professions of attachment to the Charter.-At the audiences which he gave to the Presidents of the Electoral Colleges before they commenced their operations, he thus addressed M. Raves, President of the College for Bourdeaux:-"Too many agitatious have unfortunately disturbed France; she wants. rest; and to be able to enjoy it she wants Deputies attached to my person, to Legitimacy, and the Charter, but, above all, moderate and prudent. Your Depart-, ment has already given me strong proofs of affection and fidelity, of which I expect a new pledge in the choice which your Electors are on the eve of making. Tell them, that it is an old man who calls upou them to make his last days happy through the felicity of his children."

Until the meeting of the Legislature, the French journals are not likely to excite much interest. The opening of the Chambers is fixed for the 4th of next month, and most of the Deputies have already repaired to the capital. Notwithstanding all the exertions of the Ultra-Royalists, the Ministerial, which is also the popular side, is expected to have a decided majority. If that is the case, the patriotic views of the King will be carried into effect without difficulty, and the repose of France will insure the tranquillity of Europe.

French papers of the 18th instant. contain a list of the Members elected; from which it appears, that 168 belonged

to

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