1830.] Present Policy of Europe towards the Barbary States. 617 



uninteresting to examine a little more narrowly into our relations with 

 a people amongst whom Europe maintains consuls, and vice-consuls, 

 from Mogadore to Tripoly, whose chief agency has hitherto been that of 

 transmitting a few lions and tigers in return for our money and horn ige. 

 It must be a matter of curiosity to know something of the borrowers who 

 repay our loans with such bad interest, and regarding whom there is a 

 greater dearth of information, than of the people of the most remote parts 

 of the Asiatic continent. Whilst their threats and menaces are looked 

 upon with dread, and are at this moment the subject of deliberation in 

 more councils than those of France ; it is surely worth while to inquire 

 what adequate end Europe attains by her enormous expenditure, in en- 

 deavouring to maintain their friendship. 



Situate as the dominions of the Emperor of Morocco are at the en- 

 trance of a narrow sea, without any naval force to support his pretensions, 

 nature itself conspiring against the possibility of his forming a navy, by 

 choking up every river and harbour in the kingdom, this monarch solely 

 depends on the dissensions and want of unanimity amongst the European 

 powers for the continuance of that truly advantageous system, which 

 ensures him a certain revenue without any risk or trouble. He entirely 

 trusts to their jealousies of his favour, (which he has certainly hitherto 

 managed to keep alive), to supply his absolute deficiency of real power, 

 or the means of enforcing the contributions he now so easily receives. 

 All his utmost efforts could effect against an enemy would be to cut off 

 unarmed or becalmed ships, and pursue that tedious sort of warfare 

 which might exasperate, but could not greatly injure. The other Bar- 

 bary states, although more or less dependent on the same policy as the 

 sultan of Morocco, possess at least some shadow of maritime strength, 

 and have fortified cities on the shores of the Mediterranean, beneath 

 which they could at least find shelter in case of retreat. 



In the spring of 1828, the sultan of Morocco, Muley Abderachman, 

 visited Tangiers to receive the homage, tribute, and presents of the 

 different European nations, whose delegates had assembled there to court 

 his friendship, or renew their alliances. Public expectation had been 

 kept alive by repeated and broken promises (perhaps with a view of in- 

 creasing the importance of the royal presence) for upwards of three 

 years, and had caused the detention and assemblage of many, whose 

 patience was nearly exhausted. The emperor, however, at last set for- 

 ward from Morocco, accompanied by 5000 of his troops, infantry and 

 cavalry. Whatever gratification this intelligence afforded those who 

 awaited his visit, it was not equally welcome to the bashaws and in- 

 habitants of the provinces through which he passed ; for on the former 

 fell the impost of being obliged to make large presents to their master, 

 and on the latter, that of furnishing provisions for the troops, which, like 

 a flight of locusts, generally leave marks of devastation wherever they 



The royal entry to Tangiers was announced by fireworks, and the 

 discharge of cannon from the fortifications. The emperor took up his 

 residence at the Alcassaba, or castle of the bashaw, the apartments of 

 which, at least those destined for his use, had been previously furnished 

 by general contributions of the European consuls, who, amongst other 

 things, had presented his majesty with a handsome state bed, as well as 

 many articles of ornamental furniture. The troops were not quartered 

 in the town, but formed a regular encampment on a slight eminence 



