Daily National Intelligencer

Extract of a letter from the Mediterranean

The Dey of Algiers is a man of good understanding, grave and deliberate in Council, and of quick penetration. He was Aga, or General of the Army, before his elevation. Whilst our ships were endeavouring to work up to the batteries, he was day and night at his post examining his defences; he was found upon the shore by the Officer who went to demand the Consul. He had only reigned a year. His immediate predecessor governed but a few months, when he was strangled; being, as he was told, to consider himself only a locum tenens, until a better person could be chosen; and the custom of the country forbade that he should live after being Dey. In fact, the Janissaries are the Governors of the country. The present force of these lawless despots at Algiers is computed at 15,000 men. They hold the Moors (the natives of the country) in complete subjection; but the Jews still more so. Whilst our squadron lay there, three Jews were burnt to death, because they were insolvent; but before they had half executed their cruelty, it was discovered that one of them was innocent of the alleged crime.

Algiers has all the appearance of a well fortified town: it is defended by about 1000 pieces of ordnance of every calibre, 300 of which are brass. The place is surrounded by a high wall, the southern side of which is adorned with men's heads, trophies of their cruelty.