Alexandria Daily Advertiser

LONDON, June 7.

EMBASSY TO ALGIERS.

Having been favored with the following account of the late embassy, which terminated in the re-establishment of a good understanding between the Dey and Regency of Algiers, written by a gentleman on board his majesty's ship Superb, we hasten to lay it before our readers.

On the 28th of December last having received on board Mr. Cartwright, lately from England, we parted from our squadron, then off cape San Sebastian, and at day-break on the 3d of January arrived off Algiers. The rev. Dr. Scott, chaplain of the Victory, & the rev. Mr. Evans, of the Superb, both conversant in the Italian language, went ashore with lieutenant Butler, early in the forenoon, and were soon conducted into the presence of the Dey. After the usual salutation of shaking hands, a privilege allowed to none but British subjects, Dr. Scott proceeded to read to him Lord Nelson's letter which was in Italian: it was further explained, either in the Turkish or in the Morisco language, by Mr. Busnach, a very opulent merchant, chief of the Jewish inhabitants, and possessed of great influence at Algiers.---His highness the Dey expressed his satisfaction in the strongest terms at our having brought with us a consul; but on hearing that part of the letter which stated the conditions on which he could ever be landed, he not only vehemently protested that he would never comply with them, but even advanced in opposition a claim on his part, which as far as I can learn was never intimated on when we were there in Jan. & June last year. Mr. Evans on this, returned on board, in order to communicate to captain Keats the result of the audience and on the following morning we went ashore again, with further instructions, but all tending invariably, (if we may judge from the final issue of the embassy) to the unconditional attainment of the demands already delivered in. Dr. Scott, in the mean time had been actively and usefully engaged in impressing on the minds of the ministers, that nothing less than an absolute compliance with the ultimatum proposed could insure a continuance of that amity which had so long prevailed, between his Britannic majesty and the kingdom of Algiers.

On the 7th captain Keats landed and had an audience of the Dey. I am inclined to believe it was a tempestuous one, but that it finally had a good effect. On the morrow he returned to the charge; and after a long and violent consultation, in full Divan, it was at length determined that his demands ought to be complied with. That night he was under the necessity of remaining on shore. Here I must observe, that Mr. Mountford, secretary to col. Lear, the American consul then at Malta respecting their affairs with Tripoli, had on the third made an offer of his house and table as long as the Superb should remain off Algiers: his friendly and hospitable invitation was gladly and thankfully received, it appearing by no means politically advisable to open the English house. Our terms having now been fully acknowledged to be equitable and honorable, and a perfect compliance with them having been promised, no further cause or complaint seemed to exist: but a serious and unexpected obstacle intervened, at the very moment when the principal and primary object of the embassy was about to be attended to by us. The consequence was that captain Keats after a spirited remonstrance, instantly returned on board. Nearly at that time, having by means of signals made by one of our boats ashore received favorable intelligence, and the wind also favoring us, we came to an anchor and was saluted with twenty one guns, which compliment we immediately returned. On the morning of the 8th of January all impediments were removed, and the indispensable demand first proposed being now unconditionally acceded to, and carried into effect, Mr. Cartwright landed about noon and was received with the usual marks of distinction, but with unusual joy, for the inhabitants, Turks, Moors, and Jews, dread above all things a war with England. He was presented by captain Keats to the Dey who received him in a friendly and gracious manner. The English consular house was then thrown open, and thus was Mr. Cartwright most honorably established at Algiers.

On the 11th, having taken in a plentiful supply of fresh provisions, vegetables, &c. captain Keats had his audience of leave, and, in the evening, we left the Bay. The wind proving favorable, we joined our brave commander in chief and the squadron at their anchorage in Madalena Bay, Sardinia, early on the 15th of January.

I cannot conclude without expressing my full conviction that this happy termination of our differences with Algiers is to be attributed to the zeal, judgment, and intrepidity of capt. Keats, the whole tenor of whose conduct was such as to extort professions of respect and esteem even from the ministers he treated with, at the very moment that they were reluctantly complying with his demands. Calling to mind the very tenacious & irritable disposition of the dey biassed by pecuniary considerations, inflamed also by the sly insinuations and artful intrigues of a designing faction, at the head of which is the representative of Bonaparte, powerful at the time, but whose strength is now no more, if you consider these, I say and the many other obstacles we had to contend against, you will admit that we have accomplished a task Herculean.

The Superb, you will remember, is the ship that, in the awful and memorable night of the 12th of July, 1801 (having been sent ahead by the admiral, the gallant sir James Saumarez) singly opened her fire on the rear of the combined enemy, and caused the destruction of the Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo, of 112 guns each; after which she chased, fought, and captured El St. Antonio, of equal force with herself. There we had an opportunity of maintaining the honor of the British flag, and we have now been the means of hoisting it again at Algiers with increased respect and dignity. After an absence of nearly four years, we now naturally look with anxious hopes to that happy period which will recall us to the bosom of our friends and relatives, to our dear firesides, in the favored abode of happiness and liberty.