File:Algiers.jpg

BPLDC no.: 08_04_000351

Page Title: Algiers

Collection: Tupper Scrapbooks Collection

Album: Volume 1: Algeria.

Call no.: 4098B.104 v1 (p. 27)

Creator: Tupper, William Vaughn

Genre: Scrapbooks

Extent: 1 page ; 33 x 39 cm.

Description: Scrapbook page contains a brief description of the streets of Algiers, followed by a lengthy history of the area.

Transcription: Algiers is divided into three quarters, the old town consisting of narrow and tortuous streets winding around and up the steep hill on the summit of which stands the citadel palace, the robber stronghold, the new town of shops, hotels and homes of the bourgeoisie, and finally the aristocratic suburb of Mustapha Superieure where the Governor General, the English Consul, and swell Frenchmen and Englishmen have villas. It is a charming winter resort. Algiers was an Arab settlement on the site of an unimportant Roman town, became a place of refuge for the Jews when driven out of Europe and for the Moors expelled from Spain. They soon became pirates and the Mediterranean Sea became tributary to them. Ships of foreign nations were captured plundered and their crews sold into slavery, towns on the southern coast of Europe were ravaged and their inhabitants carried off for a ransom. Baba-Aroudj-Barbarossa was for a time King of Algiers. Nation after nation made war upon the Barbary Pirates and ended by paying ransom for prisoners taken and tribute for future exemption. In the 17th century there were at one time 20,000 white Christian slaves working in Algiers and their prizes amounted to 20,000,000 francs. Cervantes was at one time a prisoner & slave here. In 1793 the United States of America agreed to pay these pirates as ransom money $721,000 and an annual tribute of $22,000. In 1815 these treaties were annulled by Captains Bainbridge & Decatur who caugh [i.e. caught] the Algerians napping, unprotected, their fleet absent, cruising. England has the honor of breaking up this nest of robbers. In 1816 Lord Exmouth with about 20 ships of all classes, at the battle of Algiers sank 33 out of 37 Algerian gun boats, their frigates were burnt or blown up, the fortifications were battered down and 7,000 Algerians killed. The Dey acceded to Lord Exmouths demands: Release of All Captives. Abolition of Christian Slavery Forever.

Notes: Page description supplied by cataloger, derived from captions and/or annotated information.

BPL Department: Print Department

Rights: No known restrictions.

Flickr data on 2011-08-15:

• Camera: Sinar AG Sinarback 54 FW, Sinar m
• License: CC BY 2.0
• User: Boston Public Library BPL