“In compliance with His Imperial Majesty’s wishes, I have now most earnestly to request that your Lordship will be pleased to order Dr. Buffa a sure conveyance to the garrison of Gibraltar, and one of His Majesty’s transports to receive the presents given to him, as a reward for his merit, and for his good and steady conduct during his stay with us.  The Doctor carries with him the good wishes of all the Moors attached to my Royal Master; and I have the honour to assure your Lordship, that he has daily exerted himself with me, and lately with His Imperial Majesty, for the service of his King, and for that of his fellow-subjects at Gibraltar.  On this account alone I hope your Lordship will, as soon as possible, afford him an opportunity to join his family, at Gibraltar, in safety.

“I have the honour to be,

“My Lord,

“Your Lordship’s

“Friend and servant,

(Signed)

“MOHAMMED ABDALLAH ESLAWEE,

Governor of Larache, &c. &c. &c.

To the Right Hon. Lord Collingwood, Admiral and Commander in Chief, &c. &c. &c.

LETTER XXIII.

Embark for Gibraltar—­Precautionary Hints.

Gibraltar.

In compliance with the request of the Governor of Larache, His Majesty’s hired armed ship the Lord Eldon was ordered by Lord Collingwood to convey me to this place.  She arrived at Larache about a week after I wrote last.  The bar unfortunately proved so bad, that she was obliged to drop her anchor on the outside; and the Captain, conceiving it an unsafe anchorage, pressed me to repair on board without delay, which I did, after taking a long farewell of my noble friend the Governor, who, with tears in his eyes, embraced me, and otherwise evinced his infinite regret and true friendship.

We embarked all my horses, mules, &c. &c. without any accident, and immediately after set sail for Tangiers.  I cannot find words to describe the interesting, curious, and romantic appearance of the Barbary coast, from Larache to Tangiers, when viewed from the sea.  I took my station on the quarter-deck, and, as we sailed close in shore, my curiosity was fully gratified.  There are several small bays and creeks along this coast, which unfortunately afford shelter to the enemy’s privateers, where, in perfect security, they remain concealed, watching an opportunity to come out and seize any of our straggling vessels that have either separated from, or are waiting for convoy to enter the Straits.

It is a great pity that the number of our gun-boats at this port (Gibraltar) is so limited, as a larger number of them, and a few other small vessels kept in readiness here, and well appointed, would protect our commerce, and prevent our suffering so much from the Spanish boats, and several small French cruizers, which infest this part of the world, and almost daily capture some of our merchantmen, which they carry into Algesiras in sight of this garrison.