Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

the return of Algerian captives enslaved in Christian countries; 70 the religious
Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives, better known
as the Mathurins, gained prominence with activities related to redemption of
Christian captives at Algiers. 71
Certain treaties with Algiers were advantageous to Christian captives;
they provided either for non-enslavement or for specific cases whereby escaped
slaves were not to be returned to their masters which permitted them recovery
of their freedom. Treaties between Algiers and England, for example, provided
for such cases. Clause XI of the Treaty of Peace and Commerce of 1682, which
remained effective until 1816, specified that Christian slaves, regardless of
their country of origin, who escaped to visiting English warships would be free;
but it also specified that prior notice had to be made about such visits (either by
the consul or commander of the warship) so that the owners of Christian slaves,
would make secure their slaves to prevent them from escaping on board
English warships. That clause stipulated:
That when any of His said Majesty’s ships of war shall appear before
Algiers, upon notice thereof given by the English Consul, or by the
commander of the said ships, to the chief governors of Algiers, public
proclamation shall be immediately made to secure the Christian
captives; and if, after that, any Christians whatsoever make their escape
on board any of the said ships of war, they shall not be required back
again. 72
70 Procedures, negotiations, repatriation and many other aspects about Algerian captives may be found
in Belhamissi, Captifs Algériens, pp. 81-103; for the origins of el-fekkak see also Clissold, “Ransom
Business,” p. 780.
71 For the origins, role, and activities of the Mathurins see Erwan le Fur, “La Renaissance d’un
apostolat: l’Ordre de la Trinité et la Rédemption des Captifs dans les années 1630,” Cahiers de la
Méditerranée, vol. 66, L’autre et l’image de soi, 2003. (Accessed 20 June 2008).
http:www.cdlm.revues.org/document110.html
72 Hertslet, Collection of Treaties and Conventions, p. 61.
133