tion on the part of the Dey, a treaty was concluded, relative to the abolition of Christian slavery. His Lordship then sailed for Tunis and Tripoli, at which places he negotiated matters with similar success.
Having thus fulfilled the objects of his mission, the noble Admiral returned to England in the month of June 1816, and found, on his arrival, that in consequence of renewed aggressions on the part of the Algerines, subsequent to his departure from their coast, government had determined to inflict a signal chastisement on that regency; for which purpose they had selected him as commander of the expedition.
His Lordship embarked on board the Queen Charlotte, of 108 guns, at Portsmouth, on the 20th July; but from the continuance of adverse winds and calms, the land to the westward of Algiers was not made before the 26th August. The next morning at day-break the British fleet, and six Dutch frigates by which it was accompanied, were advanced in sight of the city, though not so near as was intended. As the ships were becalmed, Lord Exmouth despatched a boat under cover of the Severn, with a flag of truce, and the demands he had to make, in the name of the Prince Regent, on the Dey of Algiers.
After a delay of three hours, during which the sea-breeze had enabled the fleet to reach the bay, the boat was seen returning with a signal flying, that no answer had been received. The Commander-in-Chief instantly made the signal to know if the ships were all ready, which being answered in the affirmative, the Queen Charlotte bore up, followed by the fleet, for their appointed stations; the flag, leading in the prescribed order, was anchored at the entrance of the Mole, at about fifty yards distance, and the other ships took their stations with admirable precision.
The battle commenced at a quarter before three P.M., by a shot fired from the shore at the Queen Charlotte, who was then lashing to the main-mast of a brig, fast to the shore in the mouth of the Mole, and two at the ships to the northward then following, which were promptly returned, and a fire as animated and well supported as was ever witnessed kept up until nine o’clock, without intermission, and which did not cease altogether until half past eleven; when many of the
