Re. Sovereign Order of Malta. Naval Battles-2. Battles with the pirates of Algeria and Tunisia.

[Anatol]

THE CAPTURE of PORCOSPINO 1721.
The 4-tari stamp depicts an encounter between the Knights of Malta and North African pirates. According to the stamp's inscription, the Tunisian ship "Porcospino" (Porcupine) was captured by the Maltese vessel "San Giorgio."
The squadron which the grand master had granted the king of Spain to guard his coasts, puts to sea 1721 under the command of the de Langon., and chases a galiot of Barbary that was cruising off of the coast of Sardinia. They cannot come up with her, but take a pink which she had made a prize of a little before. The «St. John» man of war, of which the commodore was on board, meets, some days afterwards, with an Algerine vessel of 40 guns, comes up with her, and takes her after an hour’s engagement. Twenty Christian slaves were delivered, and 260 infidels made slaves. A few days after, they meet the squadron of Tunis, consisting of the admiral, the «Patrone», and the «Porcupine». The two first get off in the night, after a long and smart engagement; but the «Porcupine» was forced to strike, after having stood it out against all the live till ten at night. After which it was captured on May 23, 1721.
They deliver thirty-two Chris¬tians, who were slaves in this ship. This success, which was owing to the valour of captain Algonis de la Grois, casts such a terror over all the coast of Barbary, that no corsair dares stir out to cruise.

Sovereign Order of Malta (SVMO) 1977; 4tari.
Sources: https://wonderfulsail.com/maltiiskii_or ... i_chast_iv and various web-sites.
1GG HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA.