

1830.]] Present Policy of Europe towards the Barbary States. 519 



paid over the sum of 50,000 Spanish dollars, the amount of two years' 

 tribute due to his imperial majesty ; thirdly, and which seemed to excite 

 no little surprise in the spectators, was presented Mr. Douglas, the 

 English consul-general, vice-consul, &c. accompanied by several officers 

 of the garrison of Gibraltar, who had arrived for the purpose of witness- 

 ing this ceremony. The cause of the British consulate not being pre- 

 sented first as on former occasions was said to be owing to an intrigue of 

 the bashaw of the town, who, on account of some differences with the 

 English consul-general, which had for a long time been the subject of 

 a most disagreeable correspondence with the emperor, took this oppor- 

 tunity of wounding Mr. Douglas's pride. Some presents, such as a 

 handsome sword, several pieces of cloth, &c. were laid at the emperor's 

 feet, who in return replied, " that he was happy to maintain the friend- 

 ship and esteem of his good friend and brother the sovereign of England, 

 with whom the Moors could boast an alliance since the time of his pre- 

 decessor Muley Ishmael ; that he always should consider the English his 

 best friends, and hold them entitled to protection and privileges in his 

 country which no other nation could enjoy." In conclusion, the sultan 

 inquired " if the consul had any request to make, which he then pro- 

 fessed himself willing to attend to." The remainder consuls were then 

 successively introduced, but it must not here be omitted to be remarked 

 that the offering of the American consul was merely a bag of rice ! un- 

 accompanied by any tribute money whatever. The Americans, not- 

 withstanding their refusal to degrade themselves by the payment of 

 tribute, enjoy the same protection and privileges as other nations. The 

 Neapolitan consul, whose government had expended a large sum of 

 money in the purchase of presents, was ordered " not to show his face.," 

 as neither his gifts could be accepted nor his office recognized, till his 

 royal master agreed to pay an annual tribute of 20,000 dollars, for which 

 sum Neapolitan vessels would be allowed to navigate the high seas, un- 

 molested by Morroqueen corsairs. This formidable navy, which con- 

 sisted of the two brigs before mentioned, was then at anchor in the 

 Bay of Tangiers, decorated with the flags of the nations with which the 

 emperor was at peace. The ceremony of audience concluded, the dif- 

 ferent packages were opened, and the contents carefully examined, with 

 the lists handed in. In cases of any deficiency, or baseness of quality in 

 the articles, the unhappy consul soon hears of the deception, and may 

 esteem himself fortunate if it is not made a subject of quarrel with his 

 government. The emperor generally distributes part of these gifts 

 amongst his officers, or those whom he is under the necessity of re- 

 warding ; but all specie or plate, as well as watches, of which he is very 

 fond, .are generally reserved for himself. That part which falls to the 

 lot of his faithful servants soon finds its way to the hands of some 

 broker, who, for a very small sum in ready money, becomes the purchaser 

 of articles of great original cost. In this manner a handsome glass 

 dessert service, which had been distributed amongst several competitors, 

 was purchased for a trifle by a person who collected the separate allot- 

 ments. A musical watch, the works of which had become deranged by 

 continued playing, was also sold for a few dollars, a very short time 

 after it had been presented to the sultan. 



The sums of money thus expended in this single port of Barbary 

 amounts to about 50,000', sterling per annum, and should the emperor 

 succeed in compelling the Russians, Austrians, Neapolitans, and the 



