MRS. BROUGHTON'S SIX YEARS' RESIDENCE IN ALGIERS.
MR. BLANCHLEY, the father of Mrs. BROUGHTON, was Consul at Algiers from 1806 to 1812. Mrs. BLANCKLEY had the habit of journalizing, and daily wrote down every occurrence, from the be- haviour of her servants, (captured Christians or native Moors,) her visits to the other Consuls' wives or the Algerine ladies, and such like household affairs, up to earthquakes, changes of adminis- tration accompanied by the death of the Dey, or the quieting of an opposition by strangling its members. The more interesting parts of this journal are extracted in the volume before us, intermixed "inn commeiiiart.m. 1„:y- " --111"`" then a ll+" " • Jeley. web
has also added her reminiscences of Janissaries, servants, and visit- ing friends ; the economy of their farm—for the Consul farmed upon an extensive scale ; the mode of living amongst respectable natives, which children only perhaps would be permitted to see ; and such other particulars as would attract the attention of a juve- nile mind.
Looking at the nature of the contents, and the length of time which has elapsed since the observations were made, it will not be expected that this book should have much weight or novelty of matter, or much attraction as regards form : nor has it. But it is readable and real. The circumstances are many of them trivial enough, but we feel they are a transcript of actual life, written down on the impression of the moment ; and, perhaps from this very circumstance, every thing being narrated at a length only pro- portioned to its importance, no topic is dwelt upon to weariness. The daily lite at Algiers, the nature of the govermnent, and the private character of the people, are also more distinctly brought before us, in the brief and almost bald narrative of the diary, than they would have been in the more ambitious sketches of a casual resident.
In this, as in all other volumes we ever met with, that touched upon the subject, the ignorance and negligence of our public offices are conspicuous. The Dey once despatched an ambassador with a letter to England ; and the Consul was left in the position of Sir FRANCIS HEAD in Canada, without an answer, for a length of time, from the Foreign Office: It may be said that the Dey was an in- ferior potentate : but if it be worth while to carry on a diplomatic intercourse with any one, it is worth while to attend to its forms. At that time, however, the war with NAPOLEON was raging, and every ally was of consequence. The ignorance displayed in the matter of presents is extreme. On one occasion such a trifle as a watch was sent the Dey ; which he gave to his servant, in the presence of the Consul and of the British Captain who brought it—to their no small mortification. Another present, though much more expensive, seems to have been merely money wasted from sheer ignorance.
When Mr. B. &c. &c. went to the palace this morning, to present the pre- sent from our King, the Dey was in the worst possible humour, on account of not having received an answer to the letter which he wrote to the King„ and scarcely would he credit Mr. B. when be assured him that he had not received a single line from our Government. When a musical snuffbox, which cost 500/. was presented, he asked if the King took him for a child, to be pleased with tiny, tiny, tiny. He ridiculed a beautiful cestus, or clasp of brilliants and emeralds ; he also seemed to think very little of a bale of .broad-cloth, but more graciously received some instruments of death, viz. a splendidly ornamented
CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN ALGIERS.
4th March.—We were informed, before we were out of bed, that many people had taken sanctuary under the British flog ; and we indeed found the court filled with persons of all persuasions. The Agra has fled for protection to the barracks. We then ascended the terrace, and beheld those of the whole city covered by thousands of women ; we could easily distinguish the houses inhabited by :Jews, as the Jewesses were throwing themselves about in atti- tudes of the greatest despair, weeping and wringing their hands. After some time, we saw a flag similar to that of Tunis hoisted on the flag-staff of the palace. Soon afterwards, we heard the cannon lire, and immediately the green flag of Mecca replaced the red one over the palace, which announced that a new Dey had ascended the throne. It is said that Ali Pasha, who has only from pride ; but the mania will no doubt son,' " • - • reigned since the seventh of November last, died this morning by poison, that it is the login dci Cavalli who succeeds him, by name also Ali. Mr. Blanckley and the other Consuls have all been to pay their respects to the new Dey ; Mr. B., as usual, only offered to shake hands with him. And when the others tendered 1 the homage of' kissing his hand, the new Dey would not permit them to do so ; but followed the example which Mr. B had. set, by merely slinking hands with them. From this, he appears NI yet free
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I pronounce him to he, or he would never have accepted of an office which, to a certainty, will shorten his days. 5th.—I understand that a cup of coffee, containing the powder of ground diamonds, a most effectual poison, was offered to the late unfortunate Pasha, out of respect, as they said; but he refused to drink it, saying that he did not choose to be accessory to his own death. He therefore politely declined the honour which the Turks intended him, preferring rather to be led out by the Chaousses, like a culprit, to the usual place of -execution, where he was strangled. A distinction was, however, made in his case, as he was strangled at once, instead of undergoing the usual refinement of cruelty, in being twice revived by a glass of water, and only effectually executed the third time that the bowstring is applied.
brace of pistols, but peremptorily asked, " Where is the gun that belongs to them ?" No such thing had been sent.
Had the same expense been bestowed upon a suitably arranged present, the interests of country would have been advanced, instead of weakened, by the disappointment the barbarian now experiences. Had the opinion of any one versed in Oriental customs been taken, a gun, no matter of what intrinsic value, (so that it was brilliantly ornamented, and to match the pistols,) would have been sent, instead of the beautiful tiny, tiny box and the useless cestus. The result has been any thing but to influence the Dey in British favour.
Here is rather a good specimen of readiness on the part of one of this worthy's predecessors.
When the Pity granted audiences, lie invariably had several lion cubs either lying around him, or serving him as footstools. In Aehmet Pasha's time, the one upon which he bestowed that distinguished honour was kept about him to a later period than they usnally braked in the royal presence ; indeed, he was nearly full grown, and my father more than once remonstrated with Highness upon his still keeping him about his person. And this ?nes-intelligence was mutual, for this overgrown tabount had as decided an antipathy to my father as he had to him ; no sooner did. he catch a view of my father's scarlet uniform, than he would utter a loud roar, and with his tail between his legs vanish from the apartment ; and as it once happened that the Dey's feet were resting upon his back' when my father entered, his sudden withdrawal from beneath them caused his Highness to Afire lu euThate, by throwing him back upon his seat or throne. Achmet, who, when pleased, was as courteous in his manners as if he had been the sovereign of a more polished court, instantly recovered himself, and laughing heartily, said to my father, " You see even lions are afraid of the English uniform."
A DET'S JEST.
In the evening, we took a ride to the west, and saw a very fine house, which, on inquiry, we were told was the residence of a Turk, who is surnamed Bey, from a very ludicrous circumstance, though a very serious one to the pose Turk. In the time of Mohammed Paella, lte went to the palace, and requested to be made Bey of Constantino, offering the sum of twelve thousand sequins, as an equivalent for the post. The Paella agreed to the proposal ; and desired him forthwith to bring the money. which he instantly threw into the public treasury, saying, You shall be called Bey for life. You area great fool : you might to have been contented in the possession of such a sum of money, without thirsting for honours. Go home : 1 ran satisfied that this money we acquired here at the expense of my subjects, and it is now again deposited for their benefit."
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