extremity, he was overtaken in attempting to make his escape, and slain, while fighting with an obstinate valour worthy of his former fame and exploits. His brother, Hayradin, who was not his inferior either in ambition or abilities, assumed the sceptre of Algiers, and displayed great talents for government. His reign being undisturbed by the Spaniards, whose arms had full occupation in the wars of Europe, he regulated with consummate prudence the interior police of his kingdom, carried on with great vigour his naval operations, and extended his conquests on the continent of Africa. But perceiving the extreme reluctance with which the Arabs and Moors submitted to his government; and apprehending that his continual depredations might at last draw upon him the arms of the Christians, he put his dominions under the protection of the Grand Seignior, and received from him a body of Turkish soldiers sufficient for his security against both domestic and foreign enemies. The fame of his exploits also induced Solyman to constitute him the admiral of the Ottoman fleet, as the only person whose valour and skill enabled him to oppose Andrew Doria, the greatest naval commander of his age. Barbarossa repaired to Constantinople, and, with an extraordinary versatility of genius, mingling the arts of a courtier with the boldness of a corsair, gained the entire confidence both of the sultan and his vizier. Here he developed a scheme which he had formed, of seizing on Tunis, the most flourishing king. dom on the African coast, and obtained all that was requisite for carrying it into execution.

The kingdom of Tunis was at that time rent by intestine divisions. Mahmed, the last king, having thirty-four sons by different wives, had appointed Muley Hascer, one of the youngest, his successor. This weak and vicious prince first poisoned his father, that he might sooner obtain possession of his inheritance; and then, for his further security, put to death all his brothers whom he could get into his power. Alraschid, one of the eldest, was so fortunate as to escape, and found a retreat among the wandering Arabs. But, perceiving their inability to afford him any effectual assistance towards ascending the throne, and dreading their natural levity, which might dispose them to deliver him up to his merciless bra

thér, as his last refuge, he fled to Algiers, and implored the protection of Barbarossa, who immediately perceiving the advantages that might be derived from supporting his title, received him with every possible demonstration of respect and friendship. Allured by promises of effectual assistance from the Turkish emperor, Alraschid was easily persuaded to accompany Barbarossa to Constantinople. But on their arrival, the treacherous corsair, regardless of his promises, proposed to the sultan a plan for annexing Tunis to the Ottoman dòminions, by using the name of the exiled prince. Solyman approved the proposal, which, though perfectly consistent with the character of its author, was highly disgraceful to that of a great monarch. A formidable armament was immediately equipped, and Alraschid flattered himself with the hope of soon entering Tunis in triumph. But at the moment when this unhappy prince was about to embark, he was arrested by the order of Solyman, and shut up in the seraglio. He was never more heard of; but his fate, though unknown to the world, is no difficult subject of conjecture.

Barbarossa sailed with a fleet of 250 vessels from Constantinople towards Africa; and after ravaging the coasts of Italy, appeared before Tunis. Having landed his troops, he declared that he came to assert the right of Alraschid, whom he pretended to have left sick on board of the admiral's galley. The fort of Goletta, which commands the harbour, was delivered up. The inhabitants of Tunis took up arms, and declared for Alraschid with such unanimity and zeal, that Muley Hascen was obliged to save himself by a precipitate flight. The gates were immediately opened to Barbarossa, as the restorer of their lawful sovereign. But when Alraschid did not appear, and when, instead of his name, that of Solyman resounded among the Turkish soldiers, the people began to suspect some treachery. Their suspicions being soon converted into certainty, the Tunisians ran furiously to arms, and invested the citadel, in which Barbarossa had placed his troops. But the corsair having foreseen such a revolution, was prepared for the attack. By a brisk discharge of artillery he dispersed the numerous, but irregular assailants, and compelled them to acknowledge Solyman as their sovereign, and himself as his vice

roy.

Having thus gained possession of the kingdom of Tunis, his next care was to put it in a proper state of defence. He strengthened the citadel, which commands the towns; and having fortified the Goletta in a regular manner, made it the principal station for his fleets, and his arsenal for military and naval stores. Being now possessed of so extensive territories, and a port so well fortified, he carried on his depredations against the Christian states to a greater extent, and with more destructive violence than before, till daily complaints of his outrages drew upon him the formidable arms of the emperor, Charles V, whose memorable expedition against Tunis has already been related. This expedition, though it considerably checked, did not annihilate the power of the African corsairs, who have, ever since that time, been more or less formidable to the Europeans on the Mediterranean. They have sometimes been chastised by the Christian powers, especially by the French under Louis XIV: and since his reign they seem to have particularly dreaded the arms of France. They have still greater reason to stand in awe of the naval power of Great Britain and of all the European flags, those of England and France are the most secure from their insults and depredations. The Spanish expedition against Algiers in 1705, and its unsuccessful termination, have already been mentioned. The piracies of Tripoli have been greatly checked by the Maltese; and the Tunisians begin to be sensible of the superior advantages of commerce. Algiers is now the focus of the piratical system, which, to the disgrace of Europe, is yet suffered to subsist.

This account of the origin of the piratical states of Barbary, is taken from Dr. Robertson's excellent Narrative, which I have closely followed. See Hist. Ch. V. vol. 3. book 1.

† See Historical View of Germany.

CHAP. IV.

Present State, political and moral.....Religion.....Government..... Laws....

Army.....Navy.....Revenues.....Commerce.....Manufactures.....Population ....Political importance.....Language.....Literature.....Polite Arts.....Edu. cation...... Manners and Customs.....National Character.

Beligion,-THE religion of all the African states on the coast of the Mediterranean is the Mahomedan; and the aversion against Christians is carried to a greater height in these than in any other Mahomedan countries.

Government.In all these states the government is despotic. The despotism of Tripoli, Tunis, and Algiers, does not reside solely in the deys, but in the soldiery, by whom they are elected, and frequently deposed. Their election is usually confirmed by the Porte; and while the Ottoman empire continued in the splendour of its greatness, they professed an implicit obedience to the grand seignior. Even the sheriff of Morocco, whom the European writers often dignify with the title of emperor, used to acknowledge his paramount sovereignty. But since the decline of the Turkish power, the allegiance of those states is merely nominal; and though we have no accurate information concerning their present relations with the Porte, we can scarcely consider them as any thing less than virtually independent.

Laws.]-Scarcely any such thing as law can be said to exist in these countries: every thing is decided by arbitrary power. In Morocco, the sovereigns frequently act the part both of judges and executioners; and the despotism of the monarch being diffused through every branch of the government, is shared by a number of inferior officers, the agents, and often the victims of tyranny.

Army. The military forces of these states are far from being numerous. But of these no modern information enables

us to pretend to exhibit any estimate approximating to truth. Those of Algiers, the most powerful of the piratical states, are not supposed to exceed 7,000 foot, many of whom serve on board the cruisers as marines; and about 2,000 Moorish horse, which, in case of emergency, may be greatly augmented. The sheriff, or emperor of Morocco, might bring into the field a considerable number of men; but the negro cavalry constitutes the chief strength of his army.* These negro slaves brought young from the interior of Africa, trained up to a military life, and knowing no other master or parent than their king, are the firmest support of his despotism. They seem to be nearly what the Mamalukes of Egypt were before they had usurped the sovereign authority. The soldiers of Algiers bear a near resemblance to the same class of men after they had seized on the government.

Naval force.]-The naval force of Algiers has already been described as not consisting of more than twenty vessels of from ten to forty guns. That of the other states is greatly inferior. The whole maritime strength of all these African states is contemptible.

Revenues. Of their revenues several vague estimates have been made; but we have no such precise and authentic information on the subject as can be entitled to attention.

Commerce. The commerce carried on between the Christian states on the northern coasts of the Mediterranean, and the territory of Tunis, is very considerable. In this trade the French have the greatest share; and in time of peace the merchants of Marseilles have, in one year, loaded 300 vessels in the kingdom of Tunis with corn, wool, olive oil, and various other commodities.† Large quantities of wool are annually exported from Tunis, most of which is shipped by the French. The importation of Barbary wool into the ports of France, chiefly into Marseilles, has always been considered as one of the most gainful articles of the French commerce. They manufactured it into cloth for the Barbary market, from which their merchants derived an immense profit. The trade of

Lempriere states the army of Morocco at 36,000, mostly negroes. Jackson on the Mediterranean commerce, p. 61.