impious infidels, and treacherous to a degree; I would not escort a dog of a Frenchman for all the treasures of the Emperor; I would rather lose my head than protect one.  I fought the dogs in Egypt; but I took care not to spare one; I laid many of them in the dust.  It behoves every honest Moor to be on his guard against the intrigues and duplicity of the French.  A Moor can certainly face six of them.  The Emperor’s troops have more bodily strength than theirs.  By the by, it is whispered about, that they intend paying us a visit to plunder us, and ravish our fine women.  Let them come, we will meet them, I warrant you, and give them their due.  Not one will return to France to tell his story.”  I then filled him another cup of port, to drink destruction to the French, whenever they should attempt either his shores or ours—­and here ended our dialogue.  I found him a bon-vivant, willing to overlook certain restrictions of his Prophet, and to drink his wine like an honest Englishman.

The second day of our journey I had raised his spirits to such a height, that he wantonly picked a quarrel with the muleteer, and gave him two or three slight cuts with his sabre, which so much provoked the honest driver, that, being a stout robust man, he soon dismounted my hero, and would actually have sent him to the shades below, but for my interference.  When the Serjeant recovered his senses, he was very much alarmed lest his conduct should be exposed, or reach the ears of the Governor of Larache.  In order therefore to dissipate the fears of this gallant soldier, I made the muleteer and the other swear, by their Prophet, to keep the transaction a secret.  After this we travelled on merrily, without further disputes, and arrived here on the third day.  I waited immediately upon, and delivered my letter to the Governor, who commanded one of his officers to conduct me to the house of the Vice-consul, where I now remain, in expectation of some vessel to convey me to Gibraltar.

LETTER VI.

Ill Usage of a Lieutenant of the Swiftsure—­Disaffection of the Moorish Governor towards Great Britain.

Gibraltar, March 1806

His Majesty’s ship the Swiftsure having arrived at Tetuan, to take in fresh water, I went on board.  The watering-place is about eighteen miles from Tetuan, and six from the customhouse, at which last place is a tower, guarded by a strong detachment, and commanded by a Captain.  When the ship had completed her water, signals were made to strike the tent, and every one to repair on board.

It has always been customary for English men of war going to water there, to make the commanding officer a present of a cartridge of powder, which compliment was duly paid by the second Lieutenant of the Swiftsure; but the Moorish Captain, not contented with one cartridge, insisted upon having two.  The Lieutenant refused to comply with this new and extraordinary demand; upon which he was immediately seized by a party of soldiers, who, after knocking him down, pinioned him, and in this degrading manner marched him up to Tetuan, under a strong escort.