Captain Rutherford (who commands the Swiftsure), on hearing of thisdaring outrage, could with difficulty refrain from making instantreprisals: but unwilling to embroil the two nations, he sailed withoutdelay, and arrived in the course of a few hours in this bay. Two daysafter Mr. Wickes, the Lieutenant, joined the Swiftsure. He reports,that, after a most painful march, he was taken before GovernorAsh-Ash, who released him, immediately, and promised to punish theCaptain of the fort for the insult; a promise which, I am prettyconfident, he never performed.

Such an act will naturally inspire you with horror, and induce you toconsider the Moors as a ferocious, barbarous set of people: but,believe me, it could only have been perpetrated under the governmentof _Ash-Ash_. At any other port of Barbary, a British officer willmeet with a most kind and hospitable reception, and every mark ofrespect due to him. The Emperor has given Ash-Ash positive orders torespect the English, and not to take the part of the French, directlyor indirectly; but, as I observed in a former letter, I conceive thisMoor to be completely under French influence.