1823 Jan. 13 J.B. to Quincy Adams for Trip

Now as to Algiers. In relation to that country in addition to the general

information furnished by Hassuna I am in possession of some particular

information furnished by an intelligent native Mohammed Ben Hamdan Khoja. After

a stay of 3 or 4 years in this country, he has within these few weeks returned

to Algiers possessing in a high degree the confidence of his Sovereign and being

as I think I see reason to believe in an eminent degree deserving of it, he has

made large purchases in this country, in various articles, chiefly I believe

military stores: amongst other things a first rate mechanician of my

acquaintance has made for him and dispatched to Algiers a system of machinery

having for its object, the removal of obstructions such as sandbanks in the port

of Algiers. It has not been however from that Mechanician but from Hassuna that

I have made acquaintance with this Algerine: I regret much it had not been made

earlier. Had I been as fully apprized of the character of the man as I am now, I

should have taken the earliest opportunity of adding an acquaintance with this

man with that of Hassuna. He has had with him his only son a youth of about 18

who for 3 years, he has been keeping at a Boarding School at Brixton a few miles

from London at the enormous expence of 208áœá or guineas pr ann. for board,

lodging and instruction alone: a sum that wd. suffice for keeping for the

complete maintenance of half a dozen men in any of those countries, in a

condition enabling them to live in the highest company. To my no small regret

unexpected circumstances concurred in preventing