“I was, on a subsequent day, at the public quarries, and saw the Christian slaves and the mules driven promiscuously to the same labor, by their infidel masters. I at once anxiously and patiently heard the melancholy tales of their misery. I tasted of their bread, and, I most own, I tasted of sorrow. Yon will conceive, Sir, my sad surprise, when many of them referred me to our own consul, to prove that they were actually made slaves while under English passports, and for the very purpose of supplying our armies with grain!
“The second instance I shall introduce to your attention, is one in which the honor and the faith of the British nation have been most notoriously insulted by those detestable pirates.
“When the island of Ponza was added to the conquests of the British arms, the great addition of the English garrison, and our squadron, occasioned considerable anxiety for the means of maintenance of the inhabitants themselves, as well as of the necessary refreshments and supplies for their new masters and benefactors, as they called us. It was also a consideration of such moment to the commanding officer of our forces, that he encouraged the spirit of commerce, which had already shewn itself in the natives, by requesting English passports to different places, for grain, for the use of the island. These passports were not only willingly granted, but an intended support was also given them; namely, a permission to wear the British flag.
“Some of these poor unfortunate men, returning from one of their little enterprizes, were, within sight of their own island, boarded by six boats belonging to two Algerine pirates; – the colors which they vainly looked to for protection, were, by these assailants, torn in pieces and cast into the sea, and the unhappy crew were dragged to slavery. Such was the fate of poor Vicenzo Avelino, and his unoffending crew of eleven or twelve men, who surely were as much entitled to English protection as the inhabitants of any other island which wore the English colors!
“You will judge what an English officer’s feelings must have been, when surrounded by these miserable men, who, with tears, inquired, if England knew their fate? or if they were to expect any mercy from our all powerful nation ?
“I own I cannot but wish that some of those English gentlemen who travel in search of pleasure in the Mediterranean, would pay Algier a visit, even for one week; I am sure they could not fail to feel, like me, the degradation to which the Christian name is exposed, and to endeavour, on their return home, to exert their abilities and influence in a cause which no one doubts to be meritorious; but which actual inspection would make every man feel to be a solemn, religions, and moral duty.
“I should add, that on the arrival of these new slaves, our consul sent his interpreter to the bani and hospital, to find out if any of them had claims on the English protection. The infidels would not permit him to enter either place. All I have told you, and ten times more, will be con-
