50 A Visit to Ceuta, 



good capon lined," ventured to put in one word. During the greater part 

 of the debate the worthy man had been buried in an arm-chair opposite 

 to the Turk, to whose portrait his would have formed an admirable ap- 

 pendage, and had ruminated profoundly, in the attitude of a high feeder 

 undergoing the tedious process of digestion. Rising with effort from his 

 seat, and placing himself like an ample screen in front of the fire-place, 

 while his little twinkling eyes peered complacently around, " Gentle- 

 tlemen," said he, " you talk this matter well : but if I were to describe 

 the fate which I once narrowly escaped, if you could only for an hour 

 or two experience the horrors of a surfeit, you would speak in more re- 

 spectful terms of the grim king of terrors. Death has many doors all of 

 them, in my opinion, disagreeable enough ; but take my word for it, it is 

 no joke to be despatched into eternity by an indigestible Strasburgh pie !" 



A VISIT TO CEUTA, THE SPANISH PRESIDIO ON THE COAST OF 



BARBARY. 



FROM THE JOURNAL OF A TRAVELLER. 



AT the time the fortifications of Tangiers were blown up, and that 

 town abandoned by the English, Gibraltar was not an appendage to the 

 British crown. Had the acquisition of that fortress been anticipated, it 

 would have been a want of common sense to have parted with so valu- 

 able a prop of sustenance as Ceuta would be to Gibraltar. But our 

 predecessors are to be blamed for a want of foresight, at a time when 

 the Barbary powers were much more formidable than they are at present, 

 in not retaining a possession on the coast of Western Barbary, from 

 which the Moors might at any time be intimidated by marching a force 

 into their country to frustrate their plans or punish their aggressions. It 

 is useless to refer to the disasters which have happened on like occasions 

 to the French and Spaniards of former times. The military power of 

 the Moors is now next to nothing ! The political state of the empire of 

 Morocco has, as well as that of other countries, undergone revolutions, 

 but change has brought them no amelioration ; on the contrary, it has 

 lessened their effective strength. The Turks in former times fought 

 well, and were deemed a difficult enemy to cope with ; that charm is now 

 dispelled by the unopposed successes of the Russians ! * The eyes of 

 the world are now opened to the actual resistance which can be offered 

 to a European foe by these powers. The possession of any point on this 

 coast from which we could march an army into the emperor of Morocco's 



* All Bey has well foretold where the Osmanli would be found in the hour of danger, and 

 what would be the effect of unfurling the prophet's standard ! That writer has justly 

 pointed out the difference between real courage and the excitement of fanaticism which turns 

 aside from the first check of opposition. The Turks now seek to bury their swords in the 

 heart of the sultan, merely to get rid of one who is but too well acquainted with their 

 treachery! If it were not for the greater danger Europe would incur by allowing Russia 

 to extend her empire over Turkey, such a step would perhaps prove a service to mankind. 



After the successes of Russia in the east and the entrance of her fleet into the Mediter- 

 ranean, it would not be surprising if she should insist on a proper respect being paid to her 

 flag by the Barbary States. The Moors tremble for the result of Russian projects ; for, 

 independent of their real causes of fear, they have a current superstition that the Mahom- 

 medan empire will not endure above 1200 years. The time already elapsed beyond the 

 twelve centuries is considered "days of grace !" 



