The Enquirer

SICILIAN GENEROSITY.
Taken from the Reports of the London Humane Society.

Two of his Sicilian majesty's gallies being on a cruize, pursued and took an Algerine vessel of 20 guns, and 100 men; the prize was sent to Naples, and whilst lying under guard at the Mole, a young gentleman, then bathing, was seized with the cramp and immediately sunk, in the presence of numbers, who did not attempt anything for his relief. One of the Algerine sailors, who was standing on the gunwale of the prize, instantly jumped into the water and having laid hold of the body in its rise, tied one end of the handkerchief round the shoulder, the other end of which he fastened to his own, and swam with it to shore. The drowned person was recovered by proper applications; and the Marquis de Palluchi whose son was thus preserved, being introduced to the King, threw himself on his knees, and requested the liberty of the gallant Algerine.

His Sicilian majesty's reply was truly noble, "Your request, sir, said he, is both reasonable and humane; the Moor is yours, and you may dispose of him as you please. The remainder of the crew are mine, and by the laws of war perpetual slaves, but they are free from this moment. Ten righteous men would have saved Sodom from the wrath of the Almighty, and shall not one gallant and humane man, who has risked his life for an enemy, and restored to me so valuable a subject, merit the pardon of a few companions?" Next day an order was published for their release, and they departed amidst the acclamations of the populace.