“The Sultan of Morocco surveys from a distance the events of Europe, and endeavours to arrest their effect on his frontier.  The residence of the foreign consuls was first at Rabat, then at Tangier.  The object has constantly been to keep the consuls, as far as possible, from his capital and the transactions of his interior, in order that they may not see the continual revolts of his tribes, and so discover the weakness and disunion of the empire.  Communications between Tangier and Morocco require at least forty days, a system shrewdly laid down by the Sultan, who is anxious to be as remote as possible from the consuls and their influence.

“The state of the army and navy, and particularly of the munitions of war, is very bad.  All the coast of Morocco is difficult of access, and the only two ports which would have served for a naval station, are those which have been abandoned, viz., the Bay of Santa Cruz and the ancient Mamora, between El-Araish and Rabat; the rest are only roadsteads.”

M. Rey thus sums up his observations upon European diplomacy directed towards Morocco.  “Voluntary humbling of European nations, always ready to pander to Moorish rapacity, even without reaping any advantage for it; and who submit themselves to be uselessly ransomed.  As to the English, they show suppleness and prudence, and sacrificing national dignity to the prosperity of commerce; the Sultans are not backward in taking advantage adroitly of a situation so favourable and almost unique; such is the picture of the diplomatic relations we have sketched.”

He describes the personal character and habits of the Sultan, Muley Abd Errahman, and gives details of the court.

“A Jew is the master-cook of the Emperor, his Imperial Highness always eats alone.  The Sultan receives European merchants in a very friendly manner, whilst he keeps ambassadors at a respectful distance.  An interview with an ambassador does not last more than ten minutes.  The Sultan replies in a phraseology which has not been varied for three centuries.  The title of the present vizier is not minister, but sahab, “friend” or “companion.”  The Sultan has the soundest judgment of any man in his empire, and great tact in the administration of affairs.  He instructs himself by continual questions.

“His passion is avarice, and he has converted the whole empire into a commercial firm for the accumulation of his gains.  Muley Tsmael left a treasury of 100 millions of ducats, [11] and at the death of Sidi Mohammed, this treasury was reduced to two millions.  The constant occupation of Muley Abd Errahmnan is to replenish the imperial treasury.  Commerce, which was neglected by his predecessors, has all his attention.  The cruelty of the former sultans is exchanged for the avarice of the present.  The history of these Shereefian princes is a chain of unheard-of atrocities.  The present sultan keeps not a single promise when his interests interfere.”