On the 8th of December, 1812, a convoy of transports were placed under my orders to proceed to Oran, on the coast of Barbary, to procure corn and bullocks for the army and navy, but heavy gales from the S.W. obliged us to run into the bay of Algiers, where we remained about a fortnight. Our consul, Mr. MacDonald, was extremely civil, and occasionally I slept at his country house, a few miles out of the town; but being unaccustomed to the noise of the jackals that came nightly to the very walls of his yard in search of food, I was frequently disturbed by them. The Dey of Algiers ordered us a daily supply of fresh provisions and vegetables. On my departure I proffered my services to take whatever his Highness might have to send to his servant, the Bey of Oran. He thanked me, through our consul, and requested me to take a stone coffin for the Bey’s son, which I delivered safe. The Dey was so much indisposed during my stay that I was unable to obtain an audience. We had a great deal of saluting--twenty-one guns on anchoring--twenty-one guns on landing; three guns whenever he sent off his present of fresh meat and vegetables, which latter was considered in the light of three salaams. After a passage of two days from Algiers, we reached the fine, safe bay of Marsalquiver, three miles from the town of Oran, where all ships anchor in winter, it being nearly land-locked. No time was lost in having an interview with the Bey, who was civil; but I had a long discussion previously with his guards, who refused me admittance to his presence unless I took off my boots, and employed menaces to enforce their demands. However, finding me obstinate, and our vice-consul, who was a Spaniard, telling them I had come from Algiers with a present from his Highness the Dey, they permitted me to pass, and I never was troubled afterwards. The Bey was a venerable-looking man, of about sixty-five years of age, thin, and of middle stature, with a fine, long, white beard, hard features, but a scowl upon his countenance that showed he could, when he thought proper, play the tiger. He promised the supplies I requested in ten days, said he wished to be on the best terms with the English, and thanked me for bringing the stone coffin for his son’s tomb; gave me coffee without sugar, and a pipe to smoke, and appeared much amused with my awkward manner of sitting cross-legged like a Turk. He was surrounded by his principal officers, in full dress, with silver-gilt swords and pistols in their girdles.