knighthood.  The Pope sent him a valuable cameo.  The city of London voted him its freedom, and a sword, ornamented with diamonds, which was presented by the Lord Mayor at a banquet, appropriately given by the Ironmongers’ Company, as trustees of a considerable estate left for ransoming Christian slaves in Barbary by Mr. Betton, a member of the company, who had himself endured the miseries of slavery.  He received the freedom of the city of Oxford, and the honorary degree of D.C.L. from the University.  A society for promoting the liberation of Christian slaves, lately formed at Paris, chiefly by the exertions of Sir Sidney Smith, caused a medal to be struck to commemorate the victory.  It presents a well-executed profile of the Admiral, with a suitable inscription on the reverse.

In general, every disposition was shown in France to do justice to Lord Exmouth’s merit on this occasion.  Yet it was to be expected that the feelings so natural under the circumstances of their recent defeat, and the present occupation of their territory, would lead many to detract from the honours of the nation which had so severely humbled them.  Some illiberal reflections which appeared in the French journals, prompted the following lines by the late Lord Grenville:—­

       “These hands toil-worn, these limbs by fetters galled,
     These bodies, scarred by many a servile blow,
     These spirits, wasted by disease and woe,
     These Christian souls, by miscreant rage enthralled,
     What band of heroes now recalls to life?—­
     Gives us again to hail our native shores,
     And to each fond, despairing heart, restores
     The long-lost parent, the long-widowed wife? 
     O Britain! still to lawless power a foe,
     ’Gainst faithless pirate armed, or blood-stained Gaul! 
     Vain is the taunt which mocks thy lavish cost,
     Thy thankless toil, thy blood poured out for all,
     Thy laurels, gained in fight, in treaty lost—­
     HEAVEN STILL SHALL BLESS THE HAND WHICH LAYS THE OPPRESSOR LOW!”

A medal, most appropriate in the devices, and of the most exquisite workmanship, was executed by command of his late Majesty George IV., then Prince Regent.  The medals are of gold.  Only four were struck, one of which was presented to Lord Exmouth, and remains in the possession of his eldest surviving son.  The officers of the squadron presented to their commander a magnificent piece of plate, of 1,400 guineas value, representing the Mole of Algiers, with its fortifications.  The subscription exceeded the cost; and the surplus was paid to the Naval Charitable Society, of which Lord Exmouth was a vice-president.[14]

His venerable and excellent friend, Admiral Schank, under whose command he had fought his first action, went to Teignmouth to receive him, when he came home from this, the last of his triumphs.  The day of his return was made a general festival, and the inhabitants went out to meet him with all the arrangement and display which could manifest admiration and attachment.