But the character which Rais Hammida had established by long service, and so many bold and successful enterprises, could never raise him to a level with the most insignificant Turk in the estimation of this legitimate government. His talents forced him into the confidence of the dey, and caused him to be selected for the conduct of every naval enterprise; but he was frequently subjected to the most mortifying insults and indignities, even from the lowest of the Turkish soldiers. "One instance of this," says the gentleman who furnished us with the greater part of this article, "came to my "knowledge. The country-seat, or garden as it is called in ‘Algiers, of Rais Hammida, joined that which I occupied. "The ground between our houses was much broken and over"run with brushwood. Some carbiles (labourers) in the em"ployment of Rais Hammida, came one day on that part of "the ground which belonged to my garden, and cut some of "the brushwood, to burn a lime-kiln for him. They were seen "by my janizary, or Turkish soldier, who had the care of the "garden, who obliged them to bring all the brush they had "cut into my enclosure, and then dismissed each with a severe "bastinado. This was in the winter season when I resided in "town; but my janizary soon informed me of what he had done, "for which I reprimanded him severely, as the ground was "useless, and what they had taken was useless to me. He "justified himself on the plea of their not having first obtained "permission to cut the wood. A few days after I met Rais "Hammida, who complained very bitterly to me of the con"duct of my janizary. I told him I disapproved of the act, "and had reprimanded him very severely for what he had "done. But, said I, Rais Hammida, why do you not take "Sidi Alli to task for this act? You have my full permission to "do so as far as it depends on me. Ah! senior consul, re

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plied he, don't you know Sidi Alli, although a poor soldier, "and far inferior to me in every other respect, is a Turk, and "that here on shore I dare not reprimand him, though I feel "myself, and am known to be so much his superior. A not born in the dominions of the grand signior."

I was

Such is the nature of despotism every where. Its imbecility forces it to employ the talents of men of inferior rank, whose genius is absolutely necesary to the support of the miserable pageant who occupies the throne, and who, while availing himself of their exertions, still takes care to let them know, that he considers the accidental distinction of birth as far superior to those endowments which are emphatically the gift of the Creator.

After being long the terror of the Mediterranean, Rais Hammida, at last, had the ill luck to fall in with the American squadron under commodore Decatur. Finding it impossible to escape, he determined to defend his ship in such a manner as to justify the reputation he had acquired. His ship was taken; but Rais Hammida was killed before she surrendered, and it is said died as he had lived, without ever having struck his flag to an enemy. In his person, he was of a middle size, well-formed and active, with an intelligent countenance, and keen expressive eye. His manners were easy and agreeable, and his disposition partook much of that of a sailor all over the world. In his various cruises he acquired very considerable wealth, but seemed to have little regard for money, which he spent in the luxurious indulgencies of the most dissipated Mahometans. Although a bold and successful freebooter, according to the modes of thinking among civilized nations, he was never accused of committing a cruel or ungenerous action, but was liberal and courteous to his prisoners, so far as accorded with the customs of the country which he had adopted. From all that is known of Rais Hammida, it seems extremely probable, that had his talents been properly cultivated, and his services engaged by a government that knew how to appreciate them, he would have acquired an extensive fame, and risen to the highest honours of his profession. Still, under every disadvantage of situation, he did arise to great distinction, in that sea which was the theatre of his exploits, and will probably long he remembered by the nations hordering on the Mediterranean.

17

Correspondence between commodore Decatur, and the marquis Cercello, minister to the king of the Two Sicilies.

THE occasion of this correspondence, must be grateful to the feelings, and gratifying to the pride of our countrymen.. It is honourable to our national character, and peculiarly honourable to the gallant officer who thus remembered the debt of gratitude our country owed, and in paying it, discharged at the same time a debt of humanity, by freeing the captives from their chains. The days of chivalry, though past in the old, seem yet to subsist in the new world, which still furnishes gallant spirits who go forth, to assert not only the freedom of their countrymen, but also that of strangers. Copy of a letter from commodore Decatur to his excellency the marquis Cercello, secretary of state and minister of foreign affairs to his majesty the king of Naples.

U. S. Ship Guerriere, Naples, September 8th, 1815. SIR,-I have the honour to inform your excellency, that

in my late negociation with the bashaw of Tripoli, I demanded and obtained the release of eight Neapolitan captives, subjects of his majesty the king of the Two Sicilies. These I have landed at Messina! It affords me great pleasure to have had it in my power, by this small service, to evince to his majesty the grateful sense entertained by my government of the aid formerly rendered to us by his majesty, during our war with Tripoli.

With the greatest respect and consideration, I have the honour to be, your excellency's most obedient servant, STEPHEN DECATUR,

His excellency the marquis Cercello,

secretary of state, &c. &c.

Naples, 12th Sept. 1815.

SIR,-Having laid before the king, my master, the paper which you have directed me, dated the 8th inst. in which you were pleased to acquaint me, that in your last negociation with the bey of Tripoli, you had freed from the slavery of

that regency eight subjects of his majesty, whom you had also set on shore at Messina: his majesty has ordered me to acknowledge this peculiar favour, as the act of your generosity, which you have been pleased to call a return for the trifling assistance which the squadron of your nation formerly received from his royal government during the war with Tripoli.

In doing myself the pleasure of manifesting this sentiment of my king, and of assuring you in his name, that the brave American nation will always find in his majesty's ports the best reception-I beg you will receive the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.

MARQUIS CERCELLO,

Secretary of state and minister of foreign affairs."

Commodore Decatur, commander of the

squadron of the U. S. of America.

Letter from captain John M. Gamble of the marines, detailing the occurrences which took place at Nooaheevah after the departure of captain Porter, and his subsequent capture by the Cherub.

SIR,

New-York, August 1815.

I have the honour to inform you, that on the 12th of December, 1813, the day on which the Essex frigate, and Essex Junior, took their departure from Nooaheevah, I was left in port Anna Maria bay, with eighteen men under my command, and six prisoners of war, in charge of the establishment on shore, together with the prize-ships Greenwich, Seringapatam, and Sir Andrew Hammond, with orders from captain Porter to remain five and a half calendar months at that place -at the expiration of which time, should he not return, or send me further instructions how to act, I was, if possible, to man two of the ships, and after taking every article of value out of the other, and burning that ship, to repair to the port of Valparaiso-where, in the event of my not finding the frigate or additional orders, I was authorized to dispose of one of the

ships, to the best advantage, taking on board the other all the men under my charge, as well as the prize-crews of the dif ferent ships then in that port, and proceed to the United States.

After receiving those instructions, my first object was, agreeably to the wish of captain Porter, to fill the ship NewZealander with oil from the other ships; and on the 28th of the same month she took her departure for the United States, with a cargo of nineteen hundred and fifty barrels, and well found in every respect for so long a voyage.

With regret, sir, I have to inform you, the frigate had not got clear of the Marquesas, before we discovered in the natives a hostile disposition towards us, and in a few days they became so insolent, that I found it absolutely necessary, not only for the security of the ships and property on shore, but for our personal safety, to land my men and regain by force of arms the many articles they had in the most daring manner stolen from the encampment; and what was of still greater importance, to prevent, if possible, their putting threats into execution, which might have been attended with the most serious consequences on our part, from duty requiring my men to be so much separated.

I, however, had the satisfaction to accomplish my wish without firing a musket, and from that time lived in perfect amity with them, until the 7th May following, when my distressed situation placed me in their power.

Before mentioning the lamentable events of that day, and the two succeeding ones, I shall give you a brief account of a few preceding occurrences which were sources of great uneasiness to me.

The first was the death of John Witter (a faithful old marine) who was unfortunately drowned in the surf on the after noon of the 28th February, and the desertion of four of my men; the one Isaac Coffin (black man) had deserted from the Essex the day before she sailed out of the bay, and was then a prisoner for attempting the second time to make his escape