was a merchant at Gibraltar, and is a native of Scotland; being unfortunate in business, he came to Tangier to reside, and, at that period, we were about settling treaties with all the Regencies of Barbary; and Col. Humphries, or the Minister at London, confided some arrangements to Mr. Simpson, which were satisfactorily executed; and, on the definitive adoption of the treaty with Morocco, Mr. Simpson was appointed the Consul, and has not left Tangier since that period. He has a very easy situation, and is a very faithful officer, in relation to public duties; he has no ambition, however, to be considered an American, and although enjoying the patronage of the people for a number of years, he never fails to let it be distinctly understood, that he has the honor to be born in Scotland; and has lost none of his veneration for Kings, Lords, and Commons." This is a commentary on the striking impropriety of appointing any officer to a foreign station, who is not an American Citizen,. and familiarly attached to the institutions of the country. The peculiar situation in which the United States was placed, subsequent to the revolution, rendered it necessary to obtain the services abroad, of any capable and honest person, without reference to his country; and if such duties have been faithfully discharged, the government are bound to reciprocate the good faith; and, although at this day, the appointment of Mr. Simpson to that station would be injudicious and impolitic, his removal, under all circumstances, would be inexpedient and unjust.

Near Tangier is a very handsome garden, filled with lime and orange trees, called the Swedish Garden; it is watered by springs and fountains; and a neat house, which was formerly erected on that space, commanded from an eminence, a fine view of Tariffa and the Straits of Gibraltar. The market is kept in an open square, outside of the walls of the city. I saw immense quantities of game, with fine small mutton; eggs, and poultry in abundance ; together with honey, wax, and other articles, all of which were extremely cheap. The castle, built on the hill, and overlooking the town and bay, is extremely ancient; it was originally erected by the Romans; and enlarged and repaired by its subsequent possessors. In this castle, Dr. Thomas Smith discovered a Roman monument, erected in honor of P. Besius, an officer of merit in the time of Trajan; and who, among other titles, was styled PRO. TIG. MAURITANIE TINGITANIE. The Portuguese and English erect

ed churches there, and the Moors established a mosque. This Castle is built in a very strong position; facing the sea to the east and south, the bay to the west, and narrow crags and rocky hills to the north. It is falling to decay in many places. The rooms are small; and, in the upper story, they open into a neat garden, lined with orange trees, and having a fountain in the centre. These apartments, I was informed, were appropriated to the women, the ceilings are stuccoed in the Moorish style, and the floor neatly paved with tiles. The small windows, opening towards the sea, command a view of the Straits, the coast of Spain, and the shipping entering the Mediterranean. It is, however, an immense height from the black rocks below, on which, the waves are eternally dashing, and renders escape, at that quarter, wholly impossible. On the extreme height of Cape Spartel, Mr. Simpson has a country seat, but it is seldom occupied, as the ascent is tedious and difficult; it commands, however, a noble view of the surrounding country, and cannot fail of being a healthy retreat. I called to pay a visit to the Governor of Tangiers; and, after having passed through several narrow and dirty streets, we found this officer seated on a mat, in a low and filthy house; he had a secretary near him, writing on small slips of paper with a reed. The Governor wore a long and venerable beard, spoke Spanish exceedingly well; and was affable and polite : He had been frequently, he informed us, in Cadiz and Gibraltar, and was familiar with Christian habits and manners; he made no ceremony with us, nor offered any refreshment. He looked like a patriarch, with an open countenance, beaming with intelligence and good nature.

As I shall have occasion to dwell minutely on the habits, customs, and religion of the Musselmen, in the course of this work, I shall avoid touching on the subject at present. From comparisons, which I took occasion subsequently to make, I was perfectly satisfied, that the inhabitants of Morocco were infinitely superior to the residents in other parts of Barbary. This could be accounted for, from their origin; as their ancestors, while possessed of Spain, were certainly the most enlightened, liberal, and gallant people, ever inhabiting that country, and whose loss is felt even at this day. Morocco is an Empire, and the sovereignty has been hereditary since the eighth century. The present Emperor is called Muly Soliman, and who must be now at a very advanced age. His

residence is sometimes at Fez, and sometimes in the city of Morocco. The naval power of the Empire, has dwindled to a few frigates and smaller vessels, in a wretched condition, which are stationed at Larache. The policy of the Emperor being distinctly known as pacific, he is, at this day, at peace with all the christian powers. On visiting the camp, near Tangier, once a year, he receives small presents from the Consuls; consisting of tea, coffee, sugar, rice, linen, damask, &c. &c. and the expense of maintaining the public relations, is very inconsiderable. Morocco is the only country in Barbary, in which travelling may be safely prosecuted by Christians; and merchants frequently undertake a journey from Tangier to Mogadore, and in all instances with safety. They have no christian slaves in Morocco; a system of policy, which gives to this Empire a vast ascendency in character, over the other States; and Muly Soliman uses his influence, to obtain any captives which he learns have fallen into the hands of the Arabs, on the southern coast. With a powerful army well organized, and a country which defies invasion, he prudently cultivates the arts of peace; and, without being extremely wealthy, he has, nevertheless, a command of all the resources in the kingdom. His policy is evidently anti-commercial; and he permits but few christian residents in his ports, and has but little intercourse with Europe. To his subjects, he justifies this policy as a preventive to vitiating the religion of Mahomet, by constant intercourse with christians; the real ground of objection is, a disposition to be clear from entangling alliances, or being made a party to any conflict in Europe. When the French were in Spain, and had approached the walls of Tariffa, within two hours sail of Tangier, a French officer told a Moor, probably in jest, that they were about visiting the dominions of his master. The Moor hastened to Morocco, gave the alarm, and, in a short time, cavalry and infantry, to the amount of 100,000 men, were under arms, and all points of embarkation were narrowly watched. The possession of Ceuta by the Spaniards, has always been a subject of deep regret to Morocco, and innumerable attempts have been made, to wrest that place from them. Such, however, is the strength of the fortifications, and the ignorance of the Moors, in relation to sieges generally, that every attempt, though accompanied with great sacrifices, has failed.The Spaniards between whom and the Moors, no great difference exists, except as to religion, now tranquilly occupy

that important fortress, which is also a prison for state captives, and a receptacle for galley slaves. Towards his subjects the Emperor of Morocco is said to exercise great severity; and, in common with other despots in Barbary, he is not remarkable for principle or mildness towards them. An anecdote, illustrative of this disposition, was related to me at Tangier; a Moorish merchant, by the name of Sidi Hamet, well known in Cadiz and Gibraltar, had, in the course of many years of successful commerce, amassed immense wealth; and, for a number of years, although residing in sight of his native country, had not paid it a visit, or rendered to his Sovereign the homage of his respects.— He suddenly came to the determination of visiting Tangier; and, on his arrival there, with a considerable sum of money, brought with him for commercial purposes, he was arrested by order of the Emperor. An intrigue was then set on foot, by some subordinate officers, with a view of obtaining his money, to have him strangled ; and it was represented to Muly Soliman, that for many years he had preferred a residence among christians; had never entered a mosque, or fulfilled the duties of religion; and, in short, had forfeited his allegiance to his sovereign. These, and other inflated representations, induced the Emperor to issue an order for his execution. Hamet, whose presence of mind in this exigency did not forsake him, demanded to see the Emperor, prior to his death; stating, that he had some important secrets to disclose, touching his safety, and that of the Mahomedan Religion. The demand could not be evaded, and he was brought into the presence of the Emperor. He then stated, that in the course of many years' residence among the Christians, the Prophet had blessed him with wealth and prosperity, and feeling desirous of ending his days in his native country, he had, preparatory to his final removal, from Europe, crossed over to Tangier, for the purpose of announcing his intention to the Emperor; that he brought with him $10,000, as a present to his majesty; but, that several persons, with a view of obtaining this money, and depriving the Emperor of his rights, had conspired against his life. He demanded an interview, to secure this sum to his majesty, and soliciting his permission to bring away the residue of his possessions, which otherwise, would fall into the hands of the Christians. This statement turned the tide in his favour; the Emperor received the present, gave permission to

Hamet to go over to Gibraltar, and bring his property away. Hamet returned to Europe; and, since that period, it may be fairly inferred, he has evinced no disposition to revisit Tangier, upon a commercial speculation, after the costly escape he had made. As illustrative of a nobleness and generosity of character among the Moors, another anecdote was related to me. During the war in the peninsula, transports, and other government vessels were frequently sent from Gibraltar to Tangier; but, to prevent quarantine, these vessels had no connection with the shore; and strict orders were given, to permit no Moor to come on board. A sloop of war, arriving from Cadiz, anchored in the bay; and the captain of the port, an athletic man, of fine feelings, and good character, and perfectly conversant with the English and Spanish languages, got into his skiff, and paddled towards the vessel. He got under the stern, and, before he was observed, he reached the deck. The lieutenant on watch, enraged at the violation of orders, and the fear of quarantine, in a moment of forgetfulness, seized a rope, and very severely beat the Moor, who got into his skiff and returned to the port; he made no complaint; told no one of the circumstance; although, a greater outrage cannot be offered by a Christian to a Musselman, he watched an opportunity to retaliate; the lieutenant was compelled to land on business; he returned to the beach at dusk ; the gates of the town were shut; no boat was ready to receive him; the whistling of the wind drowned his voice; he walked the beach in agitation, when the captain of the port accosted him; and, on learning his situation, prepared his skiff and rowed him to his vessel. You may remember, Sir," said he, "when in the execution of the duties of my office, I landed on the deck of this ship; you disgraced me by beating me with a rope; and, without provocation, I could have thrown you from my skiff into the sea, and thus have taken satisfaction; but you entrusted yourself to me, and I guarantee your safety; this Sir," said he, as he pushed off from the vessel," is the vengeance of a Moor." Feelings thus noble and elevated are very rare; particularly on the Barbary coast. An event occurred, while I was in the Mediterranean, of a very different character. An English brig of war, called the Haughty, and commanded by a captain Harvey, while convoying a Portuguese vessel, was brought to by an Algerine frigate, and the captain was ordered to come on board. On his arrival on the deck of the fri

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