GEORGE II, (1683-1760). King of Great Britain.
Document Signed twice ("George R" at the head and "GR" at the end), instructions "for Our Trusty & Welbeloved Nicholas Haddock Esqr Rear Admiral of the Red Squadron of Our Fleet; & Commander in Chief of Our Ships emplployed on the Coasts of Spain", orderi
As well as enslaving the Minorcans,"who had gone to Algiers upon their lawfull Occasions", it is stated that the Dey was also holding captive some British subjects who had been "forced into the Service of the Crown of Spain" and had escaped. Algiers, theoretically a province of the Ottoman Empire, was in fact an independent territory whose hereditary rulers had the title of Dey. The Deys were for centuries a source of trouble to European governments because of their enthusiasm for piracy and their liking for white slaves. These orders make it clear that the British government was employing a mixture of force and bribery to release the captives; Haddock, with his ships,was to appear as intimidating possible, and at the same time bring "several Curiositys & other Goods for a Present to the Dey."
Admiral Nicholas Haddock (1686-1746) was appointed Commander-in-Chief in the Meditteranean in May 1738. On the outbreak of war with Spain in 1739 he blockaded Barcelona and Cadiz and secured many rich prizes, including two treasure ships rumoured to be worth two million dollars. We have not been able to discover whether he succeeded in the mission for which he here receives instructions.
Some wear along folds. Slight splitting at the edges of the horizontal folds has been professionally repaired.
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