Algerian or Moroccan privateers threatening French merchant shipping according to Dutch newspapers in 1840

The newspaper Dagblad van ‘s Gravenhage dated 12 February reported that the French war brig Euryale bombarded and damaged severely the small town Churchill (1) on the African coast while there recently a pirate was fitted out and which captured a French merchant ship. Despite this bombardment fitted the citizens of that area again other privateers out. The prefect of Marseille reported by telegraph that off Cape Gates 3 Arabic privateers were sighted for which several merchant ships seek shelter by the coast batteries.

The official newspaper of the Dutch government the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 12 February paid also attention to this privateers. Spanish authorities at Almeria reported that on 23 January 3 Arabic privateers were sighted cruising south of Cape Gata chasing 3 merchant ships which took shelters below the guns of the fortress San Pedro. In the meantime ordered the French minister to send some small warships and a steamboat to these waters and the brig la Flèche already left Toulon for this purpose. Captain Belzeve who commanded the French naval force off Barcelona send in the meantime the brig la Surprise towards Cape Gata. Telegraphic tidings from Narbonne suggested later that it were not privateers but Spanish smugglers. One newspaper of Paris still believing in privateers thought it were not Algerian privateers but Moroccan. The edition dated a day earlier just reported that the consul at Barcelona on 30 January reported that 3 Arabic (Algerian) privateers were cruising east of Cape Gata (Spanish South East coast) forcing 3 merchant ships to seek shelter off fortress San Pedro. De newspaper De Avondbode dated 12 February confirmed the items published by the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 11 and 12 February.

The newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 15 February reported that immediately after tidings were received that Arabic or Algerian privateers were sighted east of Cape Gata telegraphic orders were send to Toulon to send small vessels and a steamboat and that the brig la Flèche already was underway.

The edition of the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 20 February reported that according to a tiding dated Barcelona 10 February the day before 2 ships were sighted off the coast of Majorca which were to believed privateers of the Barbary States and fishermen seek shelters in the northern harbours if the island. From Barcelona where 3 French brigs of war were lying was immediately send  the brig la Flèche. The newspaper Dagblad van ’s Gravenhage dated 26 February reported that some privateers were sighted off the Spanish coasts and the Chamois was send out to patrol against them. 

The edition of the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 31 March reported that the French cabinet still nothing made public dealing with an eventual Moroccan threat. However a letter from Toulon proposed to act anyway and send immediately an expedition to Tangier and some small war vessels to the Moroccan coasts to prevent privateers going to sea and the Moroccan emperor sending more troops to Abd-el-Kader. The best option was to capture the harbour of Tangier for which purpose one ship of the line, one frigate and 2 steam boat fitted out with Paixhans guns were enough. These ships could destroy all defence works and 1,500-1,800 men as landing troops was enough to control the city.

The edition of the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 3 April reported that although the rumours that the Moroccan emperor declared war on France wasn’t correct. The French cabinet and the merchant houses in the Mediterranean harbours however still feared for hostilities which would presumably start with fitting out of privateers. The se prefect at Toulon announced on 26 March that French warships were cruising along the Spanish coast. The corvette l’Isere which just arrived patrolled in and around the Strait of Gibraltar without seeing suspect vessels. The corvette la Bergère, the brig le Volage and the cutter le Furet were destined towards the Moroccan coasts to protect the French merchant shipping and to chase Moroccan privateers. It was estimated that Morocco could fit out about 100 small vessels able to cause extremely losses. Presumably was the reserve squadron commanded by vice admiral de Rosamel at Toulon take on board the troops for Oran and afterwards use the power of her guns in the Bay of Tangier to force the Bey of Morocco to be reasonable. The newspaper Bredasche Courant dated 5 April confirmed this item.

Note

1. Cherchell or Cherchel is part of Algeria. That same year was the town captured by France.