“All the larger cities of Morocco are situate upon the coast, excepting three capitals of the interior—­Fez, Miknas, and Morocco, to which El-Kesar-Kebir may be added.  The other interior places are mostly large villages, where the tribes of the country collect together.  The inhabitants of the cities make gain their only business, and debauchery their only pleasure.  As to their learning, there is an immense difference between a Turkish ulema and a Moorish doctor.

“From the fall of Carthage and Rome, until the fourteenth century, the people of North Africa have had relations with Europe.  The independence of the kingdoms of Fez and Morocco fell by internal dissensions like the Mussulman power in Spain.  After expelling the Mahometans from Spain, the Christians (Spaniards and Portuguese) pursued them to Morocco, and built a line of forts on its coasts.  Those have all now been abandoned except four, held by Spain.  England destroyed the fortifications and abandoned Tangier, which she had obtained through Portugal.  To blockade Tangier at the present time, would do more harm to England than Morocco, by cutting off the supply of provisions for Gibraltar.

“The navy of Morocco was never very great.  It was the audacity and cruelty of its pirates which frightened Christendom.  During the maritime wars of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Emperor of Morocco remained neutral, which was a great benefit to the Christian belligerent powers.  Spain must be at peace with Morocco; she must either be an active friend, or an enemy.  The policy of Morocco, in former times, was so well managed, that it made all the Christian powers pay a certain tribute to that country, to insure themselves against the piracy of its cruisers.

“The history of the diplomatic relations of Europe with Morocco, presents only a chronicle of shameful concessions made by the European powers to the Moorish princes.  At the end of the eighteenth century, the Sultan of Morocco declared that, ’Whoever was not his friend was his enemy,’ or, in other words, that ’he would arm his cruisers against every flag which did not float upon a consular house at Tangier.’

“Muley Abd Errahman sent his corsairs to sea in 1828 to frighten the European powers into treaties.  The plan succeeded, the first squabble being with Austria.  From 1830, or, better to mark the period, since the capture of Algiers, the corsairs and their depredations have ceased.  The progress of France in Africa has produced a profound impression in Morocco, but European powers have not taken their due advantage of this.  Many humiliating acts have been performed by different governments.  England possessed herself of all the commerce of importance since she has been established at Gibraltar.  On the whole coast of Morocco, there are only two mercantile establishments under the French flag.  French consular agents have no influence with the Moorish government.  Morocco and Spain have shewn themselves neighbours.  Mutual assistance has often been given by Morocco and Spain, in cases of national distress, particularly in seasons of famine.