The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

THE DEY OF ALGIERS.

Extract of a letter from an officer in Lord Nelson's fleet, dated off Algiers, Jan. 18, 1804.

"On the night of the 15th. the Superb commanded by capt. Keats, anchored off Algiers, having Mr. Falcon the consul-general on board, and a letter from Lord Nelson to the Dey, demanding that Mr. Falcon should again be received as consul there, and that all the Maltese who have been lately captured by the Dey's cruizers should be liberated and given up as British subjects. On the following morning, at day break, a salute was fired from the fort, which, however, capt. Keats did not return, but sent a lieutenant on shore with a letter, to request an audience of the Dey, which was accordingly granted. Capt. Keats, accompanied by Mr. Scott, chaplain to Lord Nelson, who speaks the Arabic fluently, and who acted as interpreter there, waited upon the Dey, and presented Lord Nelson's letter, with a suitable and spirited remonstrance on the occasion.

Throughout the interview, which lasted nearly an hour, the Dey's conduct was very violent and outrageous, and it concluded with his positively refusing to receive either Mr. Falcon back again, or to give up any of the Maltese in his possession.

"On the 17th in the morning, our fleet of ten sail of the line came in sight of Algiers, when capt. Keats again went on shore to wait upon the Dey, who however refused to see him, he being then busily employed on the batteries, and after waiting for nearly two hours, capt. Keats returned on board, and our fleet entering the bay, capt. Keats went on board the Victory, and communicated to Lord Nelson all that had passed with the Dey.

"Under these circumstances his Lordship did not think it advisable to attempt further intercourse with the Dey, or to make use of any threat he was not prepared to realize, as though we could easily in a few hours have destroyed his whole fleet, which was then lying in the Mole, and have knocked down the town about their ears, we might have crippled some of our ships in such a manner as to render them unable to resume the blockade of Toulon at this season of the year, which was deemed a much more important object at the present moment. We therefore to day left Algiers, on our way to Toulon again.

"The whole squadron were more disappointed than I can possibly express, at not being permitted to humble the Dey, and extirpate for a time this nest of pirates. Two hours would have done the business completely, and I trust. we shall one day make the experiment. I am perfectly convinced from my own observation, and it it was also the opinion of the ablest officers in the fleet, that four sail of the line would certainly destroy all their works, and all their navy in one morning, with very little loss-- They have indeed a great, number of guns mounted on their principal battery, which defends, the Mole where their fleet is laid up, and it has a formidable appearance from the bay : but, it is so injudiciously constructed, that a line of battle ships can anchor upon each flank of it, within half pistol shot, where not. a gun could be brought to bear upon them, and in which situation they would lay the whole works in ruins. This work is the sole defence of the town from the Sea Side, except an old wall without a single gun mounted upon it, and which a few broadsides would crumble into dust.

"The garrison does not amount to above four thousand soldiers (if they can be called such who have neither discipline or courage, and who particularly dread the English : not only from our naval skill, but from an ancient prophetic tradition they have amongst them, and which they all firmly believe, "That Algiers is to be taken and destroyed by the English on a Sunday." The prophecy may be easily fulfilled by us whenever we choose, and we must shortly take some decided steps to humble the Dey, unless we are content to pay him tribute, like most of the other European powers. No Consul now can ever be sent back with honor or safety, til satisfaction is obtained for the insults we have received.

"The Dey of Algiers is entirely guided by some Jewish merchants residing at Algiers."