as they have no carriages, and are supported only by brick work.
There are no workmen in the country capable of mounting them on
carriages, nor is there wood proper for making them. Did a few vessels
only wait for the sailing of those small frigates, which are almost all
unfit for sea, except only two, nothing would be easier than to prevent
them from returning, and to block up the ports of Mogador, Rabat, and
Sallee. What would become of his commerce, and, above all, his marine,
did the Christian princes cease to assist him, contrary to the interests
of humanity! Would England and Spain unite only for a moment, Tangiers,
his most beautiful port, would soon be so far ruined, that it could not
afford shelter to his subjects, who, destitute of ships, would soon be
obliged to give over their piracies.

If the consuls of different nations have never made these observations,
and if they have never pointed out the means of curbing the insolence of
the Emperor of Morocco, it is because they are at the head of the
commerce which these different powers carry on in that part of the
world. The Spanish consul bought up almost all the corn of the country,
and ships were sent off with it, according to his consignments. The
French consul is the only one who does not engage in commerce. I can
positively assert, that these representatives, instead of furnishing
their courts with the means of diminishing the power of the emperor,
never cease to add to his strength, and to incite him to make new
pretensions. How much we assist these pirates to hurt the advantageous
trade which we might carry on! Their situation renders them very
dangerous; but if we leave them only their situation, it would be
impossible for them to profit much by it. Let impartial people pay a
visit to that country--let them speak with the same sincerity as I do,
and they will no doubt be convinced that the Emperor of Morocco, of all
the princes in the world, would be the least able to do mischief, did
the sovereigns of Europe cease to furnish him with succours.

At length, the hour came, when my chains were to be broken off. One day
the prince, on coming out of the mosque, gave the consul to understand,
that he wished him to attend with his slaves, in the court where he held
his _Mechoir_ (a kind of public audience). "Consul," said he to M.
Durocher, "I hope that you will not be like your predecessor, whose
haughtiness displeased me exceedingly. Observe this young man