Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

It is given out, that a Spanish subject of some eminence, bearing the name of Vifeni Alvariz, is in disgrace at Court, on account of a misrepresentation of the fortifications of Algiers. This man was several times reconnoitring the works from the sea, and great confidence was placed in his reports as a supposed very skilful engineer. The works, however, were considerably stronger and better disposed than he had represented them: every part was equally strong on all sides, and so judiciously contrived, that very few men defended them as appeared evidently by information given; and the outworks were admirably disposed, precisely on the plan of those at Gibraltar: There is no doubt but that the Dey has availed himself, considerably, of the ingenuity and abilities of General Elliot, who is not only one of the first engineers, but one of the ablest mathematicians in Europe. This conjecture is well founded, because on every repulse of the Spaniards, the Dey testified his joy, and particularly on the destruction of the floating batteries, signalized his zeal by a very splendid illumination. And as he was too deep a politician not to know that the Court of Madrid intended him the favour of a bombardment, he consequently took every possible precaution to frustrate their design. The gallantry of Elliot animated every class of heroes: his fortitude, his judgment and talents, were a favourite theme for surrounding princes and bards.