The foregoing list and annexed schedule exhibit in a summary view, the most correct information attainable of the naval force of Tunis, the species of armed vessels, the number of their guns and men, and the times of the year they go to sea: also the increase of the navy the last ten years. Mr. Tulin, the Swedish Consul, the oldest and perhaps best informed in the kingdom, informs me that, twenty years ago, Tunis could send out but nine cruisers. It may not be improper to note here, that the Bey receives tithes of all prizes brought into any of his ports by the privateers of his kingdom. This, in addition to the tribute of regalia from Christian nations, the prizes taken by the corsairs of the regency, and the internal duties upon commerce, produce a great revenue. But these sources are failing. But twenty cruisers have gone out this year,

The cruising ground of the corsairs of this kingdom has heretofore been in the vicinity of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily, on the coast of Genoa, Tuscany, Naples, Calabria, and in the entrance of the A driatic sea; and even as far up as Venice. Bus these coasts, having fallen under the protection of the belligerent powers, now afford no game. Their mode of attack is uniformly boarding. For this, their vessels are peculiarly constructed. Their long latteen yards drop on board the enemy, and afford a safe and easy conveyance for the men who man them for this purpose; but being always crouded with men, they throw them in from all points of the rigging, and from all quarters of the decks; having their sabres grasped between their teeth, and their loaded pistols in their belts, that they may have the free use of their hands in scaling the gunnels or netting of their enemy. In this mode of attack they are very active and very desperate. Taught by revelation that war with the Christians will guarantee the salvation of their souls, and finding so great secnlar advantages in the observance of this religious duty, their inducements to desperate fighting are

very powerful. Proper defence against them are high nettings with chains sufficiently strong to prevent their being cut away; buck shot plentifully administered from muskets or blunderbusses; and lances. But it is always best to keep them at distance, that advantage may be taken of their ignorance at manoeuvering.

The principal naval ports are Porto Farina, the Goulette, Ifax, Susa, and Biserte. Porto Farina is the rendezvous for vessels of war, no other being permitted to lay up there. It is situated about eight or nine leagues, N. N. W. from Tunis, and about six or eight miles W. by S. from the western point which forms the bay of Tunis. The harbor is secured by the walls and batteries of the town of the same name, forming an entrance of about seven feet water for the admission of the cruisers, which are obliged to anchor under the batteries, get out their guns, ballast, provisions, &c. and being careened on their sides to lessen the draft of water, to be towed in by a species of large scows, called pontoons. Vessels of any size may anchor within gun shot of the walls. The town is said to contain about one hundred thousand inhabitants; has a governor, (Mahomet Coggea) and police; and is the magazine and arsenal of the naval and military stores of the kingdom. The governor owns the most cruisers of any man in the kingdom; more than the Regency.

The bay of Tunis is formed by capes Fauna or Plain island, and Bon; and is thirty miles deep. The harbor at the Goulette, nine or ten miles E. by S. from Tunis, is an immense bason, having cape Carthage (N. E. point of the peninsula of the ancient city) on its west, and a projection of the main land a little north of the mouth of Bagrada, so noted for Regulus's serpent, on the east. It is defended by an enormous stone castle feet high, mounting

guns, and by barbet batteries below; under cover of which, at a small distance, merchant vessels may ride in four or five fathom water. At a little

further distance vessels of war of any draft have good anchoring ground in water from six to twenty fathom. It is a safe and beautiful harbor. Within this bason, divided from it by a garter of land about six miles in length, and secured by the castle of the Goulette, is a stagnant lake thirty miles in circumference, reaching quite to the suburbs of Tunis, whose deepest water is not more than six feet, which receives through a canal, immediately under the walls of the castle, the sandals, or lighters with merchandize from the vessels at anchor in the bay. In the same manner all vessels receive from the city their provisions and lading, riding at anchor; for there is not a wharf, which I have seen, on all the coast. In this lake the half gallies lay up in winter. Its waters are so stagnant that, as the boats pass across it, a green, putrid wake is seen in their path, and a sickly, most offensive smell fills the air at some distance. The putrid miasmata from this lake may be, perhaps, among other causes of the plague in Tunis. It has been said to inundate the ruins of Carthage. This is erroneous. I have repeatedly visited those

ruins. The exterior walls and ditches of the ancient city can be traced without the least difficulty. The walls of Byrsa, the citidal, and temple of Esculapius, may also be traced on an elevation of ground one hundred and eighty feet above the surface of the water, bordering on the sea three or four miles from the lake. The immense cisterns, thirty feet deep, covered by vast arches supported by strongly cemented pillars of stone, are still entire : but these, like many other arches of vaults, cisterns and magazines, are now subterraneous; and the Moors cultivate the surface where their superstructures once stood. It is manifest, however, that this lake covers a part of an ancient village, vestiges of which are found buried in ruins, in the vicinity of the Goulette.

Ifax, a fortified town situated 48 leagues S. S. F. from Tunis, the next very considerable port, has

a large, open harbor, but remarkably safe, being covered by an island at its entrance. It has good anchoring ground from six to ten fathoms water. The governor sends out many cruisers, as is shewn by the list.

Susa, a fortified town, 20 leagues S. S. E. from Tunis, has a good harbor, and anchoring ground of six to eight fathom water within pistol shot of the town.

Biserte, situated about 10 leagues N. W. from Tunis, has a large bay and good anchoring ground within musket shot of the castle: but the road, being quite open, is exposed to a heavy sea from the N. E. which renders it a mere shelter. Biserte has a large mole within its walls communicating with the bay without and with a large, beautful lake in its rear, by canals of about forty feet width and ten deep. Into this mole the cruisers are brought for safety in the same manner as they are got over the entrance of Port Farina.

Heather's chart of the Mediterranean gives the best points of direction for entering these ports.

The winds upon these coasts are variable at all seasons of the year. But in settled weather in the summer season there is said to be a sea breeze setting in there by day, and a land breeze setting off by night. This is probably occasioned by the greater rarefaction of air by the reflected heat from the sands on shore by day and the warm surface of the water by night.

From the foregoing list and schedule it appears that no season of the year is considered peculiarly dangerous to navigation. February has uniformly sent out fewest cruisers, but this I apprehend, may be ascribed rather to the great sensibility of these people to the cold than any other cause. This forms no impediment to the European sailor, who navigates those seas at all seasons of the year.

The country on the sea coast of this kingdom is naturally luxuriant and beautiful beyond description.

Well might the Romans consider it a luxury to have a seat here. Were it in the possession of an enlightened and enterprising people, I know not why it might not vie with the opposite continent in every thing useful, rich and elegant.

The government is absolute, heredetary monarchy; but uncommonly mild in its administration The present Bey holds the regency by usurpation. His father, Alha Bey, on the death of a brother, Mahomet Bey, took the government in trust during the minority of a nephew, Sidi Mahmoud Bey, the rightful heir. By an eminently mild and good administration he secured the love and adoration of his subjects; and by bribes and intrigues with the divan, principal officers of state and the Grand Signior, he procured the regency established in himself and descendants, to the exclusion of the heir of the right line, who is now held as a kind of hostage in the palace and maintained by the regency. Hamuda Bashaw Bey, the present regent, by possessing many of the talents of his father, and by adopting his examples in government, has established himself so firmly in the affections and confidence of his subjeets, that his rival seems to have abandoned all hopes of dispossessing him, and quietly submits to the usurpation. He enjoys however the title of Bey, a title stripped of all appendages.

It is remarkable that the Alcoran forms the only code of laws in this regency. (As this is formed in religion it will be naturally concluded that here are no lawyers, and of course very little litigation.)

The Bey, solus, forms the supreme court of judicature, and admits presentments and causes of every name and nature to be originally brought before him. Such as he finds capital or important he hears and determines; petit felonies and small traversies be sends down to a public inferior court of justice, called Sharah, in the city of Tunis, at the head of which is the Cadi or high priest.