projects of the viceroys inclining them to had no sooner rendered the ancient ruins hableague with native chiefs, led to a dis- itable, than they turned their attention to nasolution of the Arabian power in Northern val affairs. Building row-boats, carrying from Africa. Consequently, when the dawn of modern history begins to throw a clearer light upon the scene, we find the territory divided into a number of petty sovereignties.

fourteen to twenty-six oars, they boldly put to sea, and incited by feelings of the deadliest enmity, revenged themselves on the hated Spaniard, at the same time that they plundered for The Saracens in Africa intermixing with the a livelihood. Crossing the narrow channel barbarous native tribes, never reached the which separates the two continents, and lying high position in the arts of peace and civiliza- off out of sight of the Spanish coast during the tion attained by their brethren, the conquer- day, they landed at night—not as strangers, ors of Spain. The devastating instinct of but on the shores of their native land, where Islamism seems to have yielded to a more be- every bay and creek, every path and pass, nign influence, as soon as it entered Europe. every village and homestead, were as well When Spain was thoroughly subdued, the known to them as to the Christian Spaniard. natives were permitted, with but few restric- In the morning, mangled bodies and burning tions, the full enjoyment of their own laws and houses testified that the Moriscos had been religion; and the Arabs, enjoying almost there; while all portable plunder, every cappeaceable possession for nearly three centuries tured Christian not too old or too young to be after the conquest, devoted their fiery energies a slave, was in the row-boat speeding swiftly to the acquisition of knowledge. Enriched to the African coast. The harassed Spaniards by a fertile soil and prosperous commerce, kept watch and ward, winter and summer, they blended the acquirements and refinements from sunrise to sunset, and sometimes sucof intellectual culture with Arabian luxury ceeded in cutting off small parties of the piand magnificence; the palaces of their princes ratical invaders; yet such was the audacity were radiant with splendor, their colleges of the Moriscos, and so well were their incur famous for learning, their libraries overflowing sions planned, that frequently they plundered with books, their agricultural and manufac- villages miles in the interior. Then ensued turing processes conducted with scientific the hasty flight and hot pursuit; the freebootaccuracy, when all the rest of Europe was ers retreating to the boats, driving before them, buried in midnight barbarism. To those hal- at the lance's point, unfortunate captives, laden cyon days of comparative peace succeeded with the plunder of their own dwellings; the four centuries of bitter conflict between the pursuers, horse and foot, following into the invaders and the invaded, exhibiting one of very water, and firing on the retiring rowthe grandest romances of military history on boats till their long oars swept them out of record. It was long doubtful on which side gunshot. The Barbary Moors soon joined the the honors of victory would descend. At last, Moriscos in those exciting and profitable adthe ardor and audacity of the Mussulman ventures; and thus originated the atrocious succumbed to the patriotic courage of the practice, which being subsequently recognized Christian, and the reluctant Moor was com-in treaties made by the various European pelled to abandon the lovely region he had powers, became, according to the laws of narendered classical by the exercise of his pecu- tions, a legally organized system of Christian liar taste and genius. slavery.

Immediately after the fall of Granada, in 1492, about 100,000 Spanish Moors passed over into Africa with their unfortunate king Bobadil. Some ruined and deserted cities on the sea-coast, the remains of Carthaginian and Roman power and enterprize, were allotted to the exiles; for, though of the same religion, and almost of the same race and language as the people they sought refuge amongst, yet they were strangers in a strange land; the African Moors termed them Tigarins (Andalusians); they dwelt and intermarried together, and were long known to Europeans, in the lingua franca of the Mediterranean, by the appellation of Moriscos. At the period of this forced migration, the Barbary Moors knew nothing of navigation; what little commerce they had was carried on by the ships of Cadiz, Genoa, and Ragusa. But the Moriscos, confined to the sea-coast, and debarred from agriculture,

In 1509, Ferdinand the Catholic, anxious to stop the Morisco depredations on the Spanish coast, sent a considerable force, under the celebrated Cardinal Ximines, to invade Barbary. During this expedition, the Spaniards released 300 captives, and took possession of Oran and a few other unimportant places on the coast. One of those was a small island, about a mile from the main, lying exactly opposite the town since known as Algiers, but previously so little recognized by history, that it is not certain when it received the name. In all probability, it acquired the high-sounding appellation of Al Ghezire (The Invincible) at a subsequent period. Carefully fortifying this insulated rock, the Spaniards, by the superiority of their artillery, held possession of it for several years, as a sort of outpost, and a curb upon the piratical tendencies of the native powers. One of these extraordinary adventurers,

who, rising from nothing, carve out kingdoms barossa (Redbeard), so long the terror of the for themselves with the edge of their sabres, Mediterranean. Taking his prizes to Tunis, and gleaming at intervals on an astonished one of the small states that had once been part world, vanish into utter darkness, like comets of the great Saracen empire in Barbary, in their erratic orbits, appeared at this time, Aroudje was well received by the king, who and changed the destinies of the greater part allowed him to use the island and fort of Goof Northern Africa. The son of a poor Greek leta as a naval depôt, on condition of paying a potter, in the island of Mitylene, worked with certain percentage on all prizes. Adding daily his father till a younger brother was able to to his wealth and fleet, the daring sea-rover take his place in assisting to support the fam- had no lack of followers: Turkish and Moorish ily; then, going on board a Turkish war-ves. adventurers eagerly enrolled themselves under sel, he signified his desire to become a Mussul- his fortunate banner. man, and enter the service. His offer was The precarious position of the petty Baraccepted; he received the Turkish name of bary States, threatened by the Berbers and Aroudje-his previous appellation is un- Bedouins of the interior on the land-side, and known-and in a short time his fierce intre- menaced by the Spaniards on the sea-board, pidity and nautical skill raised him to the was highly favorable to the ambitious aspiracommand of a vessel belonging to the sultan. tions of the potter's son. The district of Jijil Intrusted with a considerable sum of money, to being attacked by famine, he seized the cornpay the Turkish garrisons in the Morea, he sail- ships of Sicily, and distributed the grain freely ed from Constantinople, and having passed the and without price among the starving inhabiDardanelles, he mustered his crew, and de- tants, who gratefully proclaimed him their king; clared his intentions of renouncing allegiance and in a few years his army equalled in magto the Porte. He told them that, if they would nitude his still increasing fleet. The fort built stand by him, he would lead them to the west- by the Spaniards on the island off Algiers was ern waters of the Mediterranean, where prizes a great annoyance to Eutemi, the Moorish king of all nations might be captured in abundance, of that little state. Unwisely, he applied to where there were no knights of Rhodes to con- Barbarossa for aid to evict the Spaniard, and tend against, and where they would be com- eagerly was the request granted. With 5,000 pletely out of the power of the sultan. A men, the pirate chief marched to Algiers, where project so much in unison with the predilec- the people hailed him as a deliverer; Eutemi tions of the rude crew was received with en- was murdered, and Aroudje proclaimed king. thusiastic acclamations of assent. Aroudje then The throne thus usurped by audacity, he estabsteered for his native island of Mitylene, where lished by policy: profusely liberal to his friends, he landed, and gave a large sum of money to ferociously cruel to his enemies, he was loved his mother and sisters; and being joined by and dreaded by all his subjects. His reign, his brother, who, becoming a Mohammedan, however, was short, being defeated and killed assumed the name of Hayraddin, he weighed in battle by the Spaniards, only two years afanchor, and turned his prow to the westward. ter he ascended the throne. In such estimaArriving off the island of Elba, he fell in with tion was this victory held, that the head, shirt two portly argosies under papal colors. Piracy of mail, and gold-embroidered vest of the slain in these western seas having previously been warrior were carried on a lance, in triumphant carried on in the Morisco row-boats only, the procession, through the principal cities of Spain, Christians were not alarmed, but believing and then deposited as sacred trophies in the Aroudje to be an honest trader, permitted him church of St. Jerome at Cordova. Hayradto run alongside, as he seemed to wish to com- din, who is styled by the old historians Barbamunicate some information. They were quickly rossa II., succeeded his brother, but, feeling his undeceived. Boarding the nearest one, he im- position insecure, he tendered the sovereignty mediately took possession of her, and then of Algiers to the Grand Seignior, on condition dressing his men in the clothes of the captured of being appointed viceroy and receiving a crew, he bore down upon her unsuspecting contingent of troops. Sultan Selim, gladly consort. She was captured also, with scarcely accepting the offer, sent a firman creating a blow and Aroudje found himself in possession of two ships, each much larger than his own, with cargoes of great value, and some hundreds of prisoners. The fame of this bold action resounded from the southern shores of Piracy upon all Christian nations was still Europe to the opposite coast of Africa. Such vigorously carried on from Tunis and other captives as were ransomed, when describing ports of Barbary; but the harbor of Algiers the appearance of Aroudje, did not fail to re- being commanded by the island-fort in possescount the ferocious aspect of his huge red beard, sion of the Spaniards, was deprived of that so unusual an appendage to a native of the nefarious source of wealth. This island was south, and thus he obtained the name of Bar-long the "Castle Dangerous" of the Spanish

Hayraddin pacha, and a force of 2,000 janizaries. From that period, the Ottoman supremacy over the Moorish and Morisco inhabitants of Algiers was firmly established.

service; nor was it till 1530 that, betrayed by Italy, Portugal, and Genoa, furnished their a discontented soldier, it fell into the hands of bravest veterans and best appointed ships; the Hayraddin. Don Martin, the Spanish gov- Knights of St. John supplied a few vessels, ernor, who had long and nobly defended the small, yet formidable from the well-known isolated rock, was brought a wounded captive before the truculent pacha. "I respect you," said Hayraddin, "as a brave man and a good soldier. Whatever favor you may ask of me I will grant, on condition that you will accede to whatever I may request."

"Agreed," replied Don Martin. "Cut off the head of the base Spaniard who betrayed his countrymen."

The wretch was immediately brought in, and decapitated on the spot.

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'Now," rejoined Hayraddin, “my request is, that you become a Mussulman, and take command of my army.”

valor of the chevaliers who served in them; the pope contributed his blessing; and the immense armament, inspired with all the enthusiasm of the Crusades, but directed to a more rational and legitimate object, rendezvoused at Cagliaria convenient harbor in Sardinia.

Hayraddin, aware of the object and destination of this vast armament, energetically prepared to give it a suitable reception. Night and day the miserable Christian slaves, rivetting their own fetters, were employed in erecting new, and strengthening old fortifications ; and as a last resource, in case of defeat, the shrewd pacha sent eighteen sail of his best Never!" exclaimed the chivalrous Don ships to Bona. In July, 1537, the emperor's Martin; and immediately, at a signal from the fleet was descried from the towers of Tunis ; enraged pacha, a dozen yataghans leaped from and Hayraddin made the last dispositions for their sheaths, and the faithful Christian was defence by placing his treasure, seraglio, and cut to pieces on the floor of the presence-slaves in the citadel, under a strong guard, with the intention of retreating thither if the

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chamber.

The island, so long a source of danger and city and port were taken. annoyance to the Algerines, was now made Charles, after landing his troops, commenced their safest defence, Hayraddin conceiving the a simultaneous attack by land and sea. Haybold idea of uniting it to the mainland by a raddin, with much inferior force, yet greater mole and breakwater. This really great un-advantage of position, conducted the defence dertaking, which still evinces the engineering with skill and determination. But in the heat and mechanical skill of its promoters, was the of the conflict, the Christian slaves, distracted work of thousands of wretched Christian slaves, who labored at it incessantly for three years before it was completed. Thus the Algerines obtained a commodious harbor for their shipping, secure against all storms, and at that time impregnable to all enemies.

with suspense, and excited to phrenzy by the thunder of the cannonade, burst their bonds, overpowered their guards, and turned the guns of the citadel upon their Moslem masters. Hayraddin, then seeing that the day was irrecoverably lost, fled with the remnant of his army to In 1532, the people of Tunis rebelling, de- the ships at Bona. Charles reinstated the deposed their king, and invited the willing Hay-posed king of Tunis as his vassal, and on conraddin to become their ruler. With this in-dition that for the future, all Christians brought crease of power, his boldness increased also. as captives to Tunis should be liberated withOut of his many daring exploits at this period, out ransom. With 20,000 Christians released we need mention only one: Hearing that Julian Gonzago, the wife of Vespasian Colonna, Count of Fondi, was the most beautiful woman in Europe, Hayraddin made a descent in the night on the town of Fondi; scaling the walls, the fierce Moslems plundered the town and carried off numbers of the inhabitants into slavery. Fortunately, the countess escaped to the fields in her night-dress, and thus evaded the clutches of the pirate, who, to revenge his disappointment, ravaged the whole Neapolitan coast before he returned to Tunis.

from slavery by the power of his arms- the noblest trophy conqueror ever bore Charles returned in triumph to Europe. Not only did he restore these unfortunate captives to liberty, but he furnished all of them with suitable apparel and the means of returning to their respective countries. Such munificence spread the fame of Charles over all the world; for though it entailed on him immense expense, he had personally gained nothing by the conquest of Tunis: disinterestedly he had fought for the honor of the Christian name, for ChrisThe eyes of all Europe were now turned tian security and welfare. Yet we regret to imploringly to the only power considered ca- have to add one fact, highly characteristic of pable of contending with this "monstrous the age: when Charles left Africa, he also carScourge of Christendom." The emperor ried off 10,000 Mohammedans to be slaves for Charles V. eagerly responded to the appeal, life, chained to the oars in the galleys of Spain, and summoned forth the united strength of his Italy, and Malta. vast dominions to equip the most powerful We must now return to Hayraddin, the armada that had ever ploughed the waves of second Barbarossa, whom we left in full retreat the Mediterranean: the Low Countries, Spain, to Bona, where he had sagaciously sent his

ships to be out of harm's way at Tunis. As tion with the fleet, before sufficient stores and

soon as he arrived at Bona, he embarked his men and put to sea.

"Let us go to the Levant," said his officers, "and beg assistance from the sultan."

camp equipage could be landed, Charles and his army were left with scanty provision, and exposed to torrents of rain. A night passed in this miserable condition. The next day, "To the Levant, did you say?" exclaimed the tempest increased. The next night, the the incensed pirate. "Am I a man to show troops, exhausted by want of food and expomy back?" Must I fly for refuge to Constan- sure to the elements, were unable to lie down, tinople? Depend upon it, I am far more the ground being knee-deep in mud. Hassan likely to attack the emperor's dominions in was too vigilant a warrior not to take advanFlanders. Cease your prating; follow me and tage of this state of affairs. Before daybreak, obey orders." Steering for Minorca, he soon ap-on the second morning, with a strong body of peared off the well fortified harbor of Port Ma- horse and foot, he sallied out upon the Chrishon. The incautious Minorcans, believing the pi- tian camp. Weak from hunger and want of rates utterly exterminated, and that the gallant rest, benumbed by exposure to the cold and fleet entering their harbor was returning from rain, their powder wet and their matches exthe conquest of Tunis, ran to the port to greet tinguished, the advanced division of Charles's and welcome the supposed victors. Not a gun army were easily defeated by Hassan's fresh was loaded, not a battery manned, when Hay- and vigorous troops. The main body advanced raddin, swooping like an eagle on its prey, to the rescue; and, after a sharp contest, Hassacked the town, carried off an immense booty san's small detachment was repulsed and in money and military stores, and with 6,000 driven back into the city. The Knights of captive Minorcans, returned in triumph to Al-Malta, among whom a chivalrous emulation giers. This was his last exploit that falls withIn our province to relate. Earnesly solicited by the sultan, he relinquished the pachalic to take supreme command of the Ottoman fleet. After a life spent in stratagem and war, he died at an advanced age; and still along the Christian shores of the Mediterranean, mothers frighten their unruly children with the name of Barbarossa.

existed with respect to which of them would first stick his dagger in the gate of Algiers, rashly following the retreating Hassan, led the army up to the city, where they were mowed down in hundreds by the fire from the walls. Retreating in confusion from this false position, they were again charged by Hassan's impetuous cavalry; and the Knights of Malta, to save the whole army from destruction, drew Hassan Aga, a Sardinian renegade, was next up in a body to cover the rear. Conspicuous appointed to the vice-royalty. A corsair from by their scarlet upper garments, embroidered his youth, he was well fitted for the office, and with a white cross, they served for a short time during his rule the piratical depredations in- as a rallying-point; but it was not till Charles, creased in number and audacity. The continu- armed with sword and buckler, joined his ous line of watch-towers that engirdle the troops, and stimulated them to fresh exertions southern coast of Spain, and have so pictur- by fighting in their ranks, that the Algerines esque an effect at the present day, were built were compelled to return to their strongholds. as a defence against Hassan's cruisers. Once In this desperate conflict, the Knights of Malta more all Europe turned to the emperor Charles were nearly all killed. Only one of them, for relief and protection. Pope Paul III. wrote Ponce de Salignac, the standard-bearer, had a letter, imploring him to "reduce Algiers, reached and stuck his dagger in the gate; but, which, since the conquest of Tunis, has been pierced with innumerable wounds, he did not the common receptacle of all the freebooters, live to enjoy the honor of the foolhardy feat. and to exterminate that lawless race, the im- Another night of tempest and privation folplacable enemies of the Christian faith." lowed this discouraging battle; hundreds of the Moved by such entreaties, and thirsting for debilitated troops were blown down by the vioglory, Charles equipped a fleet equal in mag-lence of the wind, and smothered in the mud. nitude to that with which he had conquered When the day broke, Charles saw 200 of his Tunis. A navy of 500 ships, an army of 27,000 war-ships and transports, containing 8,000 men, picked men, and 150 Knights of Malta, with driven on shore, and such of their crews as noblemen and gentlemen volunteers of all na- were not swallowed up by the waves, led off tions, many of them English, sailed on this into captivity by the exulting enemy. The great expedition. To oppose such a powerful rest of the fleet sought shelter under a headforce, Hassan had only 800 Turks and 5,000 land four miles off, and thither Charles folMoors and Moriscos. On arriving at Algiers, lowed them; but his famished troops, continuCharles summoned the pacha to surrender, ally harassed by the enemy, were two days in but received a most contemptuous reply. The retreating that short distance. With great diftroops were immediately disembarked, though ficulty Charles, and a small remnant of his with great difficulty, owing to stormy weather; once powerful army, reached the ships, and and the increasing gale cutting off communica-made sail from the inhospitable coast. So

many captives were taken, and such was their ing-grounds. In 1631, the town of Baltimore, enfeebled condition, that numbers were sold in Ireland, was plundered by Morat Rais, a by the captors for an onion each. "Do you re- Flemish renegade, and 237 men, women, and member the day when your countryman was sold children, "even to the babe in the cradle," for an onion?" was for years afterwards a favor- carried off into captivity. Aware of the strong ite taunt of the Algerine to the Spaniard. En- family affections of the Irish, we can well beriched with slaves, valuable military and naval lieve Pierre Dan, a Redemptionist monk, who stores, treasure, horses, costly trappings all saw those poor creatures in Algiers. He says: brought to their own doors- the pride of the" It was one of the most pitiable of sights to Algerines knew no bounds; and they sneer- see them exposed for sale. There was not a ingly said that Charles brought them this immense plunder to save them the trouble of going to fetch it. Hassan generously refused to take any part of the spoil, saying that the honor of defeating the most powerful of Christian princes, was quite sufficient for his share.

Christian in Algiers who did not shed tears at the lamentations of these captives in the slavemarket, when husband and wife, mother and child, were separated.* Is it not," indignantly adds the worthy father, “making the Almighty a bankrupt, to sell His most precious After this great victory, the Algerines, con- property in this cruel manner?" About the fident of the impregnability of their city, turn- same time, two corsairs, guided by a Danish ed their attention to increasing their power renegade, proceeded as far as Iceland, where on sea. The vessels hitherto used for warlike they captured no less than 800 persons, a few purposes in the Mediterranean were galleys, of whom were ransomed several years afterprincipally propelled by oars rowed by slaves; wards by Christian IV., king of Denmark. and in quickness of manœuvre and capability The existence of such an organized system of being propelled during a calm, were some- of piracy may well excite our wonder at the what analogous to the steam-boat of the pre-present day; but the truth is, that since the sent day, and had a decided advantage over time of the Vikings, to the latter part of the the less easily managed sailing vessels. Not last century, the high seas were never clear constructed to mount heavy ordnance, the of pirates belonging to one nation or another. system of naval tactics adopted in the galleys Besides, the commercial jealousies and almost was to close with the enemy, whenever eligi- continual wars of the European nations, preble, and then the battle was fought with small- vented them from uniting to crush the Bararms-arrows, and even stones, being used as bary rovers. The English and Dutch mainweapons of attack and defence. The Alge- tained an extensive commerce with the Algerines, however, laboring in their vocation, as rines, supplying them with gunpowder, arms, Falstaff would have said, captured many large and naval stores; and found it more profitable ships of Northern Europe, built for long voy- to pay their customers a heavy tribute for a ages and to contend with stormy seas. Equip- sort of half-peace, than to be at open war with ping these with cannon, they were enabled to them. De Witt, the famous Dutch admiral destroy the galleys before the latter could and statesman, in his Interest of Holland, thus close with them; and thus introducing a new views the question. "Although," he says, system of naval warfare, they gained a com- "our ships should be well guarded by conplete ascendancy in the waters of the Medi- voys against the Barbary pirates, yet it would terranean. Nor did they long confine their by no means be proper to free the seas from depredations to that sea. In 1574, an Alge- those freebooters-because we should thereby rine fleet surprised the tunny fishery of the be put on the same footing as the French, Duke of Medina, near Cadiz, and captured Spanish, and Italians; wherefore it is best to 200 slaves; but one of the piratical vessels leave that thorn in the sides of those nations. running ashore, a large number were retaken An English statesman, in an official paper by their countrymen. In 1585, Morat, a cele- written in 1671, amongst other objections to brated corsair, landed at night on Lancelote, the surrender of Tangier, urges the advanone of the Canary Islands, and carried off a tage of making it an open port for the Barbary large booty, with 300 prisoners; among whom pirates to sell their prizes and refit at, in the were the wife, mother, and daughter of the same manner as they were permitted to do in Spanish governor. Standing out to sea the the French ports. It is an actual fact that, in next morning, until out of gun-range, the the seventeenth century, when England and pirate hove-to, and shewing a flag of truce, France were at peace, Algerine cruisers fretreated for the ransom of his captives; and quently landed their English captives at Borafterwards, eluding by seamanship and cun- deaux whence they were marched in handning a Spanish fleet waiting to intercept him cuffs to Marseille, and there reshipped in at the mouth of the Straits, exultingly return- other vessels, and taken to Algiers. This ed to Algiers. In the following century, push

ing their piracies still further, the English At a later period, the Algerines did not sepaChannel became one of their regular cruis-rate slave-families.